[Dan in Pasadena]

legion, Jeff, I worked for Sears during highschool and college. ('70 to '76ish). In those days I sold paint, wallpaper and air compressors, spray equipment. People don't remember it much these days but then if you wanted paint? you went to Sears like many people go to Home Depot now. We sold HUGE quantities of paint and supplies on the Memorial, 4th and Labor Day weekends. Now in a Sears paint department? Crickets!

But I know for a fact that their stuff was good (though a bit overpriced) in those days. We sold DeVilbiss spray guns in the higher end lines and the Campbell Hausfeld stuff was domestically made then. I agree with you that a majority of their stuff is now made overseas...I don't really know if its in China and what does it matter if the quality is poor? Its too bad but to me, Sears is on a looonnng slide to the end. They got rid of their catalog operations which had been their mainstay for generations (does anyone else remember being excited to get the Christmas "wish book' catalog in the mail as a kid?), they let a then-upstart Home Depot take away their market share in a number of areas, hell they don't even have a candy counter anymore which I used to love. Craftsman really meant something in those days. Going to Sears was a family outing (which itself has gone the way of the dodo bird) much like going to the mall is now. But not anymore.

I don't support them anymore because I think they are just irrelevant and largely unable to compete. I wish they'd prove me wrong!