Sears to sell Craftsman?

[flatbutt]

and Kenmore and Diehard? Sigh


Sears may sell Kenmore and Craftsman brands - May. 26, 2016

[unclebilly]

I don't think it matters at this point. Craftsman tools aren't what they were even 10 years ago. They are now about the same as Harbour Frieght but with the Craftsman name in them.

Kenmore appliances have been rebadged LG, Whirlpool, etc for over 30 years.

The Sears generation is past their money spending days and the current generation doesn't identify with the Sears branding.

I'd say they are a dollar short and a day late...

[VincentVega]

[jyl]

Sears is basically a real estate portfolio now. The retail business has zero or negative value. Last I checked anyway.

[Arizona_928]

Originally Posted by jyl

Sears is basically a real estate portfolio now. The retail business has zero or negative value. Last I checked anyway.

+1
Lowering business hours. Sears online is pretty much a drop ship for a lot of products they don't even stock.

[intakexhaust]

Lampert is about hedge funds, and he's never thought retailer.

In a way, Sears was so far out of whack in competitive pricing it was always a waste of time shopping there. Their model was to get the suckers on paper and finance everything from your kitchen blender, tools, appliances, mower. But even with the juice generator, competitors were more creative and buyers drifted out of the Sears ether.

The real estate holdings are turning sour too. Valuation is not what they originally thought. Those stand alone building sites are getting the wrecking ball and other prospects / big box operations are picking new locations, fresh start.

Though its sad another institution has gone to the ground and more job losses.

[tabs]

Another venerable American icon bites the dust. As Sears has gone so has America.

[unclebilly]

More importantly, where will the pimps and queers go now?

[wdfifteen]

Sears was the Amazon.com of the 20th Century. It's not the 20th Century any more. Every dog has its day, and Sear's day has passed. Years from now someone will be mourning the eclipse of the venerable Amazon.com by the next Big New Idea.

[VincentVega]

I went to sears last summer to see what kind of work boots they had. Sure enough that had a few decent options the met my needs. I went on a saturday afternoon, myabe early evening. I was the only person in the shoe dept. I couldnt see another customer and only found a few works playing with their phone and talking with each other after a few minutes of looking. I hadnt been in a few years and cant see going back.

Really a shame, ~20 yrs ago the pro craftsman tools were pretty good. As mentioned now they are harbor freight with clothes. No thanks.

[byfdinky]

Sears/Kmart? Both are done. Sad story and I bet all of us have some Craftsman tools and I would bet we all started with a Craftsman tool chest! I believe all those tools were made by Fuller.

[JD159]

Originally Posted by VincentVega

I went to sears last summer to see what kind of work boots they had. Sure enough that had a few decent options the met my needs. I went on a saturday afternoon, myabe early evening. I was the only person in the shoe dept. I couldnt see another customer and only found a few works playing with their phone and talking with each other after a few minutes of looking. I hadnt been in a few years and cant see going back.

Really a shame, ~20 yrs ago the pro craftsman tools were pretty good. As mentioned now they are harbor freight with clothes. No thanks.

Perhaps, but for most people, a harbor freight tools will do just fine. Reduced serviceable of products = reduced need for quality repair tools.

A big box store can really only cater to the masses. If you want your quality tool, you can still get it.

I predict many more job losses as many more venerable American icons bite the dust. Who knows how internet shopping and the death of the big box store will change things. I wouldn't say it is the death of America though.

Tabs, Sears closing for you represents the collapse of America?? All that's holding up America is the big box store?? You don't give your ppl enough credit!

[cashflyer]

Sears is still ranked in the top 20 of US retailers, but Craftsman tools have been on the decline since Kmart bought out Sears in 2005 (IMO).

Lowes, Home Depot, and many other retailers sell hand tools that are just as good or better than Craftsman. And many have the same type warranty.

[vash]

Sears is going away.

who shops there anyways? you go into a store and only the appliance section has any life.

i havent worn clothing from Sears since my salmon colored pair of tough skins.

[gorthar]

Originally Posted by vash

Sears is going away.

who shops there anyways? you go into a store and only the appliance section has any life.

i havent worn clothing from Sears since my salmon colored pair of tough skins.

Truth.

I stopped in a Sears at a local mall a couple of weeks ago just for the hell of it. Man, the place is just a shell of what it once was. Lot's of wide open space where once there was merchandise and the whole store just felt low rent. Not a whole lot of 'name brand' stuff in the clothing department and not many people in the store. The end has to be near.

[FastCarFan]

Several years ago Sears transferred ownership of the Craftsman, DieHard and Kenmore brands to a newly-created entity. So Sears could go out of business and the brands will live on. They are already selling some Craftsman products at Ace hardware stores.

[intakexhaust]

When Lampert took the helm, I don't think his directive was to adapt to changing retailer market and marketing. Brilliant, self made numbers guy, he just doesn't seem to give a ratz-azz about 'what makes the biz'. If he could buy and flip, break apart divisions, damned be the employees, well thats what you get from him.

Its his game of chess and he's not hurting.

[jcommin]

I was in the Lincoln Square neighborhood in Chicago. There is a very large Sears store with the "Going Out of Business" signs on the windows and doors. Sears is in the rear view mirror of retail. Nothing lasts forever.

[creaturecat]

the female underwear ads were great.
when i was 11 years old. circa '66.

[Charles Freeborn]

Our local Ace sells Craftsman. Sears has been in a death spiral for some years. The entire retail model is morphing along with it. Radio Shack is another example. The old guard is pretty well finished - it's all over but the crying.