buy tools etc. at Sears

billyboy · 06-08-2006, 07:23 PM

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Folks:

I assume you have all seen the reports about how Sears is treating its reservist employees who are called up? By law, they are required to hold their jobs open and available, but nothing more. Usually, people take a big pay cut and lose benefits as a result of being called up...Sears is voluntarily paying the difference in salaries and maintaining all benefi ts, including medical insurance and bonus programs, for all called up reservist employees for up to two years. I submit that Sears is an exemplary corporate citizen and should be recognized for its contribution.

Suggest we all shop at Sears, and be sure to find a manager to tell! them why we are there so the company gets the positive reinforcement it well deserves.

Pass it on.

So I decided to check it out before I sent it forward. I sent the following email to the Sears Customer Service Department:

I received this email and I would like to know if it is true. If it is, the Internet may have just become one very good source of advertisement for your store. I know I would go out of my way to buy products from Sears instead of another store for a like item even if it was cheaper at the other store.

Here is their answer to my email......................
Dear Customer:

Thank you for contacting Sears. < BR>
The information is factual. We appreciate your positive feedback. Sears regards service to our country as one of greatest sacrifices our young men and women can make. We are happy to do our par t to les sen the burden they bear at this time.

Bill Thorn
Sears Customer Care
webcenter@sears.com
1-800-349-4358

Please pass this on to all your friends, Sears needs to be recognized for this outstanding contribution and we need! to show them as Americans, we do appreciate what they are doing for our military!!!!!!!!!!! It's Verified By Snopes.com

Wrecked944 · 06-08-2006, 07:26 PM

Thanks for the tip. I need to get a rubber mallet this weekend. I will be certain to purchase it at my local Sears!

Joeaksa · 06-08-2006, 07:28 PM

Agreed and my shopping at Sears has increased since finding this out.

http://www.snopes.com/politics/military/sears.asp

legion · 06-08-2006, 07:31 PM

I'm not changing any of my habits because of this...

I already buy all of my tools at Sears!

jyl · jyl's Garage

I've been pleasantly surprised with Sears in the past year. It had been years (decades?) since I'd shopped at Sears. I'd thought that you had to go to a category-killer to get the best selection and price - to Best Buy for electronics, Bed Bath for housewares, Home Depot for hardware, etc.

Then for whatever reason I visited a Sears, and lo and behold the selection was good, the employees helpful (and you could find them), the prices very reasonable, and it wasn't a zoo. I've started buying more and more at Sears - not just tools.

Recently: we want a new bed, and spent hours this past Memorial Day visiting the sales at the mattress discount places, dealing with sleazy people and pressure tactics. We then went to Sears, where the offerings were high-quality, the employee was low-key, and their everyday price was as good as the "super holiday sale" prices at the discounters.

So, I'm a convert of Sears. Their policy toward reservists is the icing on the cake. Thanks for pointing it out.

Porsche-O-Phile · Porsche-O-Phile's Garage

Sears has gotten better in the last few years. I just bought a decent pressure washer there to the tune of about $200 a couple weeks ago. Still waiting for that damn Digitorque 3/8" drive torque wrench to drop below $100 though! The day that thing goes on sale I'm all over it like Oprah on a baked ham.

BlueSideUp · 06-08-2006, 09:46 PM

I recently "rediscovered" Sears for items other than tools as well. We were looking for a 26" HD LCD television for our bedroom and I had visited every electronics store you can think of.

For whatever reason I went to Sears to check their selection and found the TV I was looking for. Unfortunately they didn't have a new one in stock so they matched the price on a higher end model. The manager really did what she could to get me taken care of....

Based on my recent experience with Best Buy and this thread I'll be shopping at Sears more often.

red-beard · red-beard's Garage

I like buying craftman tools. My Pressure washer is a Craftsman with a Honda engine. My sawzall was purchased at sears. I'll have to look at the prices for other things. Generally, I buy electronics at either Costco or Directbuy.

billyboy · 06-09-2006, 08:17 AM

If i were "sears", I would be rather embarrased to have been improved by "k-mart"

Moneyguy1 · 06-09-2006, 08:47 AM

Better they were bought by K-Mart than by WalMart.

We bought a hi def tv (Panasonic) from Sears two years ago. After 3 months it tanked. One call. No problem. They delivered and set up a high end Sony HiDef and didn't charge the difference in price. A few months ago we bought a small freezer. It had a very small dent. Within a week we had a $50 gift card.

glenncal1 · 06-09-2006, 09:35 AM

As Tim Allen says"Gotta go to Sears". I have ratchets that my dad gave me in high school in the early '70s. A few years ago my 1/2" drive went bad, took it in got a new one. Standing by a 30 year old item is ok by me.

msk1986911 · 06-09-2006, 06:55 PM

My Dad was a consummate bargain hunter. He picked up an otherwise useless rusted out 12" Craftsman adjustable wrench at a yard sale for about $1.00 (I think). He took it Sears and got a replacement, no questions asked.

kach22i · kach22i's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by red-beard
I like buying craftman tools.

You can buy them at K-mart now too, selection not as good though.

bigchillcar · bigchillcar's Garage

go sears!

techweenie · techweenie's Garage

This came up during the Gulf War too. It's a longstanding Sears policy.

As a consequence, I always shop Sears first for tools. And the local Sears has great service, which is a nice bonus.

sammyg2 · 06-10-2006, 12:37 PM

Problem is, I consider sears to be a store that sells crap for lots of money as opposed to target or walmart who sell the same crap for less.
If I were to shop there I would be throwing away money. I might as well donate to to charity instead (which I do consistantly and generously).

pwd72s · 06-10-2006, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sammyg2
Problem is, I consider sears to be a store that sells crap for lots of money as opposed to target or walmart who sell the same crap for less.
If I were to shop there I would be throwing away money. I might as well donate to to charity instead (which I do consistantly and generously).

So, your tools are all snap-on?

sammyg2 · 06-10-2006, 05:34 PM

No, some of my tools are snap on, some are proto, some are mac, some are craftsman, some are harbor freight, etc.
I've been collecting tools for 30 years so I have a hodge podghe of different brands. I made a living with them for over a decade and have run three different high end mechanical and machine shops. Based on that experience, craftstman tools are seriously overpriced and over-rated. They do have a very strong marketing presence though (read hype). You can get tools that are just as good as craftsman for half the price if you know what to look for and where.

msk1986911 · 06-10-2006, 05:45 PM

Could the higher price be because of their rather comprehensive warranty policy? With few exceptions, I believe Craftsman hand tools are warranted for life.

pwd72s · 06-10-2006, 05:53 PM

And...the guarantee is honored at any USA Sears store. No chasing down a snap-on truck, no mailing in of tools...nothing like that. Bust a wrench, walk into a Sears store, walk out with a new one. A hard guarantee to beat, as long as there is a Sears store in damned near every town.