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Sears Puts Kenmore, Craftsman Up for Grabs
Yahoo Finance ^ | August 26,2015

Posted on 08/26/2016 12:59:16 PM PDT by Hojczyk

Sears, which booked a 2Q loss, says a variety of companies are interested in the floundering retailer’s familiar appliance, tool and auto brands. More

Sears Holdings (NASDAQ:SHLD), which booked another loss in the second quarter, has received interest from a variety of companies eyeing the floundering retailer’s familiar appliance, tool and auto brands.

The Illinois-based company has grappled with challenges at Sears and Kmart, two chains that struggling to turn things around in a tough environment for retailers. Target (NYSE:TGT), Kohl’s (NYSE:KSS) and others have recently reported weaker sales as shoppers spend more online. Sears is facing some broader issues. The company has posted red ink for the last six fiscal years, and 78 additional Sears and Kmart stores will be closed by the end of the summer.

In May, Sears announced plans to seek out buyers or partners for its Kenmore, Craftsman and DieHard brands, hoping to unlock the value of three brands that are well-known in their respective categories. The company provided an update on Thursday, saying it continues to explore strategic alternatives for the brands—housed under a division known as KCD—and Sears Home Services. Sears is considering “potential partnerships or other transactions that could expand distribution of our brands and service offerings to realize significant growth,” the company said in a statement.

(Excerpt) Read more at finance.yahoo.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy
KEYWORDS: appliances; craftsman; kenmore; manufacturing; sears; searsstock
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To: Hojczyk

Two of my FAVORITE brands!

Actually both are one of the few who actually makes GOOD products anymore.


61 posted on 08/26/2016 1:52:49 PM PDT by TexasFreeper2009 (You can't spell Hillary without using the letters L, I, A, R)
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To: chrisser

Still using the complete Craftsman 3/8 and 1/2 inch socket sets I bought from Sears in 1973 when I was starting out as a field service engineer. The 3/8 ratchet pawl slips a bit, but, other than that, all in as-new condition! Really remarkable.


62 posted on 08/26/2016 1:57:02 PM PDT by ProtectOurFreedom
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To: yarddog
I think Craftsman was the first with the push button socket release.

They did, well they stole the design from someone. Got caught and had to pay the original designer $16,000,000. This was back in the late1070's.

63 posted on 08/26/2016 1:57:49 PM PDT by painter ( Isaiah: �Woe to those who call evil good and good evil,")
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To: Hojczyk; flaglady47; oswegodeee; Maine Mariner; pax_et_bonum; Chigirl 26; DoughtyOne; BillyBoy; ...
One branch of my family was almost all Sears-connected. In the forties, my aunt's brother-in-law was Chief Treasurer and Comptroller for world-wide Sears. Several of my uncles were Sears buyers, travelling the world to buy products for their particular departments. These were lucrative jobs in those days.....topped-off with the added benefit of Sear's pioneering, almost unheard of (at that time) profit-sharing plan.

Since I was a blushing bride decades and decades ago all my appliances have been Kenmore no matter where I moved. My kitchen and other appliances today are still Kenmore. They have all worn like IRON.

Any minor repairs have always been promptly and perfectly carried out by Sears' skilled repair crews.

Although I have known the company's downfall was and is inevitable, this knowledge gives me the real blues in a big way.

It's not like most other big companies going under...while you were growing up and when you became an adult homeowner Sears was always somewhere in your house just like a member of the family.

....and the wishbook catalogue....

(....gloom)

Leni

64 posted on 08/26/2016 2:01:26 PM PDT by MinuteGal (GO, TRUMP !!!)
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To: IronJack
And dump K-Mart entirely. There’s a brand that deserves to die.

My last trip through a K-Mart store was sad. I mean, literally sad. Like a wake for a person who had died suddenly and tragically. Like the Going Out of Business Sale had happened six months ago, only no one bothered to tell the employees.


65 posted on 08/26/2016 2:06:15 PM PDT by Buckeye McFrog
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To: Hojczyk

I’ve got a Kenmore water heater that must be pushing 30 years old. It’s covered with rust but still going strong. I reckon I’ll have to replace it someday.


66 posted on 08/26/2016 2:14:55 PM PDT by aomagrat (Gun owners who vote for democrats are too stupid to own guns.)
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To: Cowgirl of Justice

I don’t know where your sister-in-law lives, but where I live in Georgia, a Sears-branded repair service is about the only company that will make house calls to fix appliances, and they will work on any make.


67 posted on 08/26/2016 2:19:19 PM PDT by riverdawg
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To: Doogle

The warranty may be the same, but Craftsman tool quality isn’t what it used to be.


68 posted on 08/26/2016 2:20:53 PM PDT by riverdawg
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To: the OlLine Rebel

For decades, most Kenmore appliances were made for Sears by Whirlpool. In recent years, the Kenmore brand may actually be an LG or Electrolux, not necessarily a bad thing.


69 posted on 08/26/2016 2:25:52 PM PDT by riverdawg
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To: riverdawg

She lives in Georgia, too. North of Atlanta. This was about 3 years ago.


70 posted on 08/26/2016 2:26:39 PM PDT by Cowgirl of Justice
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To: NewsJunqui

Kenmore has always just been a nameplate that Sears used, in partnership primarily with Whirlpool. In recent years, Kenmore products have also been made by LG and Electrolux, not necessarily a bad thing. Our kitchen range is Electrolux and it is quite nice.


71 posted on 08/26/2016 2:30:26 PM PDT by riverdawg
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To: MinuteGal

I agree Leni.

What I would urge Sears to do, if it wishes to continue to be a national entity, is start selling on E-Bay like a lot of other businesses do.

Craftsman was a great product. Not sure if it still is, but I wouldn’t refuse to join the 21st Century and die.

We used to get the Sears and J. C. Pennys catalogues Those things were great to look through. I was always looking at various gadgets in them.


72 posted on 08/26/2016 2:31:27 PM PDT by DoughtyOne (He wins & we do, our nation does, the world does. It's morning in America again. You are living it!)
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To: lacrew

We have a five-year-old Kenmore kitchen range that was made by Electolux. It’s excellent. Some of the Whirlpool-made appliances from a few years ago were poor quality when Whirlpool was having problems at one of its factories.


73 posted on 08/26/2016 2:34:40 PM PDT by riverdawg
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To: Axenolith

My parents had a set of washer stock from Westinghouse, when it was stupill all e same company as my dad’s employ. My sister and I bought them a new set finally because the rust situAtion was getting ridiculous after 30 years. Otherwise they were great (not counting the jerry-rigged dryer door we jammed closed with a broom for 15 years as the clip broke).

Mom still has her Sunbeam toaster feom the ‘50s and electric Sunbeam skillet from that time. Of course lots of Revere wear. I love them so much I will look on-line for old working pieces.

BTW, one of the last things from W I bought myself, a vacuum in the ‘90s. Wow, that thing was jaws!


74 posted on 08/26/2016 2:39:04 PM PDT by the OlLine Rebel (Common sense is an uncommon virtue./Federal-run medical care is as good as state-run DMVs.)
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To: shotgun

bbb


75 posted on 08/26/2016 2:39:18 PM PDT by thinden
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To: Red Badger

My observations:

LG appliances and TVs are excellent.

Electrolux appliances are excellent.

Maytag was going downhill before Whirlpool bought them. I think Whirlpool actually rescued the brand.

My in-laws bought a GE washer three years ago when furnishing their retirement home, thinking they were buying the same quality they did 40 years ago. The transmission on the washer went out last month.


76 posted on 08/26/2016 2:41:46 PM PDT by riverdawg
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To: faithhopecharity

IMHO: Sears died when Kmart came into the picture.


77 posted on 08/26/2016 2:44:13 PM PDT by AFreeBird (BEST. ELECTION. EVER!)
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To: Hojczyk

I grew up a loyal Sears customer. Nothing Craftsman tools, and lots of them. Often Kenmore appliances.

Now it’s what ever Walmart or a building supply store sells.

Sears cancelled lifetime warranty on many tools years ago, which is one reason. Another is a tiller I bought in the 90’s. It was used, painted up as new, and sold as new. They refused to honor the warranty. Had to go to file a consumer complaint with the atny general to get satisfaction.

Seldom go there anymore. Besides, just about any brand now days is the same as the other.


78 posted on 08/26/2016 2:49:19 PM PDT by redfreedom
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To: Hojczyk

I was still buying big ticket items there until a few years ago (no tools any longer) but the last time I was there two employees tried to sell me an extended service agreement.
Somehow I got passed to a third who made the same pass.
I told him I wasn’t interested. “Don’t you even want to hear about it?” whines the peeved register puncher.
“If you don’t want to blow this sale (snowthrower I believe) you won’t say another word.”
Yeah, I know they were pressured to push the things, but he had a to bitch a few more words and that was that for Sears and me.


79 posted on 08/26/2016 2:59:20 PM PDT by tumblindice (America's founding fathers: all armed conservatives.)
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To: painter
This was back in the late1070's

Just after the Battle of Hastings in 1066 :)

80 posted on 08/26/2016 3:15:00 PM PDT by DrJeff
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