New Sears policy

[JDP]

Re: New Sears policy

I have had a few upsetting moments at Sears as well. First one happened about 7 years ago. My mother in law bought us a new lawnmower for our anniversary and bought the service package to go along with it. Took it in for the first service and went to go pick it up and they couldn't find it. The lady at the counter said it appeared that they gave my mower to somebody else by mistake. Let me tell you I was hot. The lasy at the counter looked like she was going to cry and so she got the manager. They looked for about 30 minutes and called every employee that had touched the mower and questioned them about the whereabouts of my mower. After about an hour they decided they were going to just give me a new mower. The manager helped me load the new mower still in the box into my truck. I got home and realized that they had given me a better mower than I dropped off. The new mower was a self-propelled rear bagger with a bigger motor. The one I dropped off was a basic side bagger with no bells and whistles. So it actually worked out in my favor but I was still mad that they lost my mower.

The second time was there vision department. At the time my insurance would only cover a couple of vision places and Sears was the only one we had. I got to Sears and went to the vision counter. Nobody there. I waited for a few minutes and then went to customer service to asked about the person that was supposed to be at the vision counter. She paged her a total of 5 times. Nobody ever showed up. Took almost 3 weeks to get an eye exam and then another 6 weeks to get glasses because thay kept getting the prescription wrong. Glad I have different insurance now and don't have to deal with them again.

 

[IVAZ]

Re: New Sears policy

Sears is definitely not the same store it used to be. As a kid I would go with my dad when he needed to purchase something. There used to be older guys that worked there that new their department really well.
About 12 years ago it changed. It used to be its own stand alone store now its part of the mall. Young kid?s works there that know nothing about the products they are selling. My wife?s first job was at sears selling electronics (about 10 years ago). She thought it was funny that someone would ask her something and she would know nothing about the product. Some of her friends also worked at Sears in different departments and were just as informed as her. For the most part they still hire very young kids that are clueless

 

[Thad]

Re: New Sears policy

SEARS...Where do I start?!?!?

Few years ago, went in to buy a tractor. Found the one I wanted without a sales clerk! Started to wheel it to the counter when all of the sudden...two sales clerks! Told me I could not do that. I replied, "I am buying it". Told me I had to get one of them and they would order it. Told them I wanted this one, they said they would order me a new one crated. Asked them if it had gas in it...ansewred no, I replied "it is new then"...I left mad, went to a Sears in the city, same deal. I threw a fit...usually $$ talks. They told me if I paid for it now and let them order it, they would knock another couple hundred bucks off.
OK, fine, They called and said it was ready and that I could pick it up. Drove to the city to have them tell me I owed for set up. Went to the manager and blew up. He said not to worry about it he would take care of it.
Go back to load up my new tractor...they took the deck off of it!
In the mean time, I had a broken ratchet, they gave me one that looked to be pretty banged up, I said something and I was told that they repair them and use for exchange. I still have MY broken ratchet! Serves as a reminder not to go to Sears.
Back to the tractor, when I got home, I called main office, calmly explained my disapointment. Later that week I got a $200.00 sears gift card and a small socket set in the mail.
I went to a little Sears outlet close by, spent just over $210.00 on a new blower and have not been back since.
Somewhere in there I forgot to say "I don't like SEARS"

 

[The_Kid]

Re: New Sears policy

Nope. Sears is owned by Sears Holdings Corp. which also owns K-Mart.

While that is true now, Kmart Holding company originally acquired Sears from the then owner, Hoffman Estates. After the merger, Kmart Holding company changed their name to the Sears Holding company.

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: New Sears policy

About 10 or 15 years ago Sears lost a lot of its customer base. That is when new brands were offered. Now that the customer base is up again, they are switching policies chasing the customer base away. I've seen this happen in many other business's. I haven't been in a Sears for over 25 years and still don't have any need for their products.

Just because its new does not mean it is not junk. I've seen some things that are over 30 years old going strong still............Just look at Bob_VT and JB,,,,,,both of them are still going strong

 

[Tacklewasher]

Re: New Sears policy

Good example is Staples...... if you purchase supplies or technology online it is higher than the in-store prices.

Hmm.

One of my last Staples purchases was for a copy of Simply Accounting. $100 online and $150 in the store. Had to show them what their website showed so they would price match.

 

[OMCboater]

Re: New Sears policy

I used to buy all my tools at sears. good prices and quality, and of course the lifetime replacement warranty on the hand tools. I eventually needed to collect on this warranty due to a broken ratchet, so I popped into my local sears 'outlet'. Tells me they will order in the replacement mechanism and it should be here in a few days. ????? um, no....you don't understand. The ratchet broke because I was using it, and I need the new one to finish fixing what it broke on - today, not in a few days.

Since then I buy my mechanic tools at Canadian Tire. When one breaks (and they have) then I just go to the store and pick up a new one - today!

I wonder if 15-20 years from now I'll be writing on a forum..."I used to buy all my tools at Canadian Tire, until I went into the 'outlet' for a replacement ratchet....etc..."

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: New Sears policy

Hmm.

One of my last Staples purchases was for a copy of Simply Accounting. $100 online and $150 in the store. Had to show them what their website showed so they would price match.

Whats the term oh EDUCATED CONSUMER

Yup the quality of the sears ratchets has vanished. I do have an old one from 25 years ago that broke and when I went to exchange it I got a real pices of junk in return. The quality has gone way down.

 

[Tacklewasher]

Re: New Sears policy

Since then I buy my mechanic tools at Canadian Tire. When one breaks (and they have) then I just go to the store and pick up a new one - today!

I wonder if 15-20 years from now I'll be writing on a forum..."I used to buy all my tools at Canadian Tire, until I went into the 'outlet' for a replacement ratchet....etc..."

Depends on what you buy from crappy tire. I wouldn't trust their Jobmate line to not break in a 5 year olds hand. But the price kinda confirms that.

But I'm in the store once a week or so while I only go to Sears to look at clothes.

 

[P 0 P E Y E]

Re: New Sears policy

The world is changing I guess.

When I was a kid, If I wanted money I would rake the neighbors yard, shovel snow, move wood. As I got older I would put on a mask and fins and scrub boats, remove barnacles and cut line out of the lobster-man's wheel. The days of a hand shake deal and looking your client directly in the eyes.

Turned 15 and started wrenching

Kids now look to the world for a hand out, spend time trying to avoid work and calculate ways to get something for nothing. When you talk to them, they are afraid to look you in the eye. (generally speaking)

Perhaps this shift in priorities is starting to show up in businesses?

 

[Shizzy]

Re: New Sears policy

The world is changing I guess.

When I was a kid, If I wanted money I would rake the neighbors yard, shovel snow, move wood. As I got older I would put on a mask and fins and scrub boats, remove barnacles and cut line out of the lobster-man's wheel. The days of a hand shake deal and looking your client directly in the eyes.

Turned 15 and started wrenching

Kids now look to the world for a hand out, spend time trying to avoid work and calculate ways to get something for nothing. When you talk to them, they are afraid to look you in the eye. (generally speaking)

Perhaps this shift in priorities is starting to show up in businesses?

its possible you hit the nail on the head. While Im only 32, I feel I was raised "old school" my parents gave me a place to sleep, 3 meals a day and put basic clothes on my back. anything else was up to me.

I got laid off in March and went out and got a job at Walmart since it is the only place currently hiring. I make less then half what I was making at my last job but I work just as hard.

BTW, ill sell a display right off the floor even if there are 10 in the box right next to it if the customer asks. Patio furniture and grills come to mind. many people dont want to assemble the thing themselves or wait 1-2 days to have us assemble it. Ill loose the sale unless I sell them the display. WHY WOULDNT I?

 

[OMCboater]

Re: New Sears policy

Depends on what you buy from crappy tire. I wouldn't trust their Jobmate line to not break in a 5 year olds hand. But the price kinda confirms that.

Absolutely true. I never have and likely never will buy a jobmate tool. the Mastercraft line, OTOH, warrantied for life and generally pretty good quality.

 

[SooLineRob]

Re: New Sears policy

Sears...

Twenty years ago I walked into Sears one evening after work wearing my Pontiac uniform to replace a cracked chrome socket.

Sears refused to exchange it, saying their Craftsman Tools were "..not for commercial use ... since I was wearing a Pontiac mechanic's uniform". Pitched a fit with every manager I could find, but to no avail. And NO, I didn't break the socket by using it with an air tool (as the manager accused me of doing).

I've never purchased a Craftsman tool again, even though I'm no longer a mechanic. Their loss; over a 3 dollar socket. To this day, I still buy my tools off the local Snap On and MAC trucks.


Ironically, I'm currently in a dispute over a lawn furniture rebate with Sears. I submitted the online rebate 3 days AFTER the non-existant "30 day time limit" from the date of SALE; not the DELIVERY date. As best as I could understand the customer service representative (heavy accent), I no longer qualify for the rebate since I purchased the items over 30 days ago; even though the items arrived at the store (where I picked them up) 28 days ago. Nowhere on my sales receipt is there any mention of a 30 day time limit whatsoever. Will advise of the outcome.

 

[Old Gray Hair]

Re: New Sears policy

Ive got a couple Sears stories but I really dont blame the corporation for the first one. Wife need/wanted a little riding mower. We looked at the new ones inside the store and the used/repaired ones outside. Found a little "repaired" mower for $600.00. New inside they were asking $1,100.00. All the other Used mowers were only marked down about 15% or so. We asked why this one had been marked down so low and if that was the correct price. We were told it had been returned because the previous owner complained that it made a funny noise. We were told the mechanics had "gone thru it" and could find nothing wrong. The manager in charge confirmed the listed price was correct. We started it up at the store. I too heard the funny noise. I turned it off, looked under the deck and found copper wire wrapped around a shaft. I removed the wire, started it up and the noise was gone. Drove it around and worked every feature. It operated flawlessly. Paid $600.00 plus tax and drove away. The next day, the main store manager called my wife and demanded she return to the store and pay another $350.00 for the mower as they had put the wrong price on the mower and stated that we had basically stolen it. My wife stated that we had inquired about the price, asked that it be verified it was correct with the top manager at the time and was indeed confirmed it was the correct price. She stated we did not owe them another penny for the mower. The manager said he would call the police, My wife said bring it on. The manager then stated he would not honor the warranty. My wife replied that it was bought as-is with no warranty, but if it had been purchased with warranty he could bet his rear-end it would be honored. He then stated that if we ever brought it to their repair center they would not work on it if we did not give him another $350.00. She told him we had already repaired it once in his parking lot ourselves and would do so again if necessary.
We did not like the way it cuts the grass at home and after a couple seasons she went back to the push mower. I now use that mower at the shop to cut the grass behind my office. We just never could get the grass to cut level on both sides no matter what we did to it. It always cuts the grass un-even.

My second issue is that when every I go into the store for a replacement, I am always told to order the part myself online. Happens every time. No customer service!!

And another thing, I bought a set of 50th anniversary ratchet/socket set. Every time I use it the ratchet switches by itself. If Im tightening it will switch over and Im suddenly loosening and vice versa. Very erritating!!''

 

[BoatBuoy]

Re: New Sears policy

We just never could get the grass to cut level on both sides no matter what we did to it. It always cuts the grass un-even.

I could tell you how to fix that, but it will cost you $350. You want my PayPal ID or will you be sending USPS money order?