Posted on 07/01/2007 3:19:55 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
CHICAGO, June 29 (UPI) -- In a bold move to jump-start years of declining sales, Sears is reportedly placing some free-standing stores inside some K-Mart facilities. The discount chain is renting about 7,000 square feet inside existing Kmarts to Sears dealers in four towns -- Claremont, N.H.; Freedom, Calif.; Pell City, Ala.; and Zephyrhills, Fla. The dealers sell hardware, appliances, lawn equipment and some consumer electronics, the Chicago Tribune reported.
Some observers see it as another step toward an expected merger.
During the past year, Sears Holdings Corp. has been moving its best Sears brands into Kmart in an effort to reach more shoppers and rekindle sales.
Craftsman tools and DieHard batteries are on Kmart shelves and one out of every 10 Kmart stores now sell Kenmore appliances.
Huh? Kmart and Sears have been merged for several years.
Sears lost its way when it decided to compete with Wal-Mart and K-Mart to a lesser degree.
Sears’ strength in the modern era is its profits from credit card financing. In fact, the sale of its Discover Card division was the only thing that kept the retailer afloat at one time.
Merging two bad businesses won’t make a solid new company. Wal-Mart will continue to gain market share at their expense. Idiots.
For years my folks bought every thing in the way of appliances out of the big book.
Then Sears screwed up and got away from selling out of a catalog.
Their appliances used to be the best on the market.
I still have my dads set of Craftsman wrenches and there about 70 years old and I would not trade them.
Craftsman used to mean Made in USA. Then they came out with the Companion tools, which means Made in China. I bought a highly recommended Craftsman compressor a while ago. Made in Mexico.
Yes, Sears called me this week also and wanted to know if they could drop by next week when they were in the neighborhood.
I told the lady, why yes they can.
What exactly do you have in mind for them to see me about.
She said they would be inspecting our roof.
I told her that was fine but that I was only living here temporarily while my wife attended school for the Summer.
She then said you don’t own the home your living in and I said no this is a new apartment complex.
She then hung up.
The last time I went into Sears it was to buy a shop vac filter. $16.99 GOUGING SUGGESTED LIST PRICE (which I hate paying) vs $10.99 regular price in Walmart.
I call them the Comrade tools. I have noticed that the Companion tools are not as polished and refined as the Craftsman tools and I have wondered how durable their cheaper tools are. I thought that was an odd decision to sell cheap tools that compete against their more expensive, American-made tools. Unless they plan on dumping the Craftsman brand or having Craftsman tools made in China. I hope their management is not that stupid.
Their real estate alone is worth a lot, but it’s a shame about the company itself.
Yeah, right. Can you buy a washer and dryer like I did from Walmart?
That didn't come out right.
Can you buy a good washer and dryer from Walmart like I got from Sears?
I can buy ANY washer or dryer from ANYONE at full list price. Unless Sears has a sale, they are ripping you off big time.
Does it matter about their flagging sales? Thanks for Eddie Lampert, SHLD is making 30-40% of its profits from hedge fund activities.
I wish all my stocks "lost their way" the way Sears Holdings has...
At least locally (Southern California) they just don't compete against Macy's and Penny's for the real business that is conducted in the malls of America: selling clothing and cosmetics to the the gals. They cannot compete with Target or Walmart price-wise in the appliance and general goods arena.
Although they have the best hardware selection by far that is just not enough to carry them. Their stores look like ghost towns even at Christmas. I give them 5 years tops.
craftsmen tools are the only reason to shop at sears.
Bingo! K-mart and Sears are two dying dinosaurs, remember Woolworth and Montgomery Ward to name a few ghosts from the past?
I am not sure if it is still the case, but Whirlpool made a lot of appliances under the Kenmore name.
Black & Decker & Emerson make a lot of power tools under the Craftsman name.
Sears does not manufacture anything those "outstanding" brands are just private labels.
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