Ohh why can't they see?

[livnxxxl]

Sears has gone the way of the dinosaur....it's business practices are so outdated now...plus their employees don't care about customer service (nothing but rudeness there), I swear...I almost had a nervous breakdown trying to return a bad fridge...they are the worst...I was so mad...I left their crap there...and went to Lowe's instead...I'm shocked they are still in business.

Really...I'm not shedding any tears for Sears...good riddance.

Yes, I hear that Sears/K-mart's return policy really blows compared to Wally's. It is no surprise why people want to shop Wally's vs the hassle at Sears/K-mart.

I always thought that Lowes was also owned by Wal-Mart. The colors of both stores are a dead give away.

[Hector]

Yes, I hear that Sears/K-mart's return policy really blows compared to Wally's. It is no surprise why people want to shop Wally's vs the hassle at Sears/K-mart.

I always thought that Lowes was also owned by Wal-Mart. The colors of both stores are a dead give away.

I don't think Walmart and Lowe's are connected...there are rumors that Walmart might own 40% of Lowe's...but it's unconfirmed.

This article pretty much sums up what I said earlier about Sears being outdated...

"But the big problem, analysts say, is Sears hasn't invested in remodeling, leaving its stores uninviting.

"There's no reason to go to Sears," said New York-based independent retail analyst Brian Sozzi, "It offers a depressing shopping experience and uncompetitive prices."

Sears to close 100 to 120 Kmart, Sears stores - Yahoo! Finance

[thunderbolt]

The service and such is no better at Wal-Mart than sears/Kmart, so I really don't get the allure of Wally World. We don't shop there anymore, food prices are comparable to Publix and Super Target so why bother with them?

[Nostalgiabuff]

the prices are the big issue. KMart/Sears tends to be overpriced on many items
i do like the tool area of Sears though.
I will miss Kmart if they close, i prefer not to shop in Walmart and the closest one for me is 45 minutes...in any direction

[Rallygirl]

The last K-Mart around these parts closed about five years ago and the building is still sitting empty. We have a store front Sears (appliances and tools only) in the next town, but for a full-sized Sears one has to drive almost 50 miles. Hubby still likes Sears for the Craftsman tools. If one breaks, you simply walk in, hand them the broken tool and grab a new one,...no receipts, no hassles. Heck, we even found a mangled Craftsman screwdriver on the road once and returned it for a new one. I always found Sears to be competitively priced for household items like blankets, sheets, kitchen items.

Because of health issues, I don't drive far or on highways anymore, so I rarely get to a Target, which are in both neighboring towns. Now my only "choice" in our town is Meijer, because I would not shop Wal-mart if they were the last store on the planet. So until Tractor Supply starts carrying groceries and household items, Meijer it is!

[bluebird]

I think 2012 is going to be a tough year all round. Finding a job here in the UK is very tough, lucky enough I am working but last year was quieter. and the jobless figures are getting higher, wages are staying the same but yet the big companys gas, electric petrol keep putting their prices up. At the end of the day its just greed and not just the big fat cat executives of these companys, but the Government as well. The rich are getting richer and the working man as to suffer.
Sorry if I have gone a bit off subject here but the number of companys folding here in the UK is quite frightening.

[emeraldknight47]

My folks and I used to shop at K-Mart all the time, but then they started letting their stores get trashy and their employees just don't give a rat's arse. I browse through their circular in my Sunday paper and they do have good sales on some things, but usually, if I go to the nearest K-Mart (which is about twenty miles from me), they either A]. don't have the item in stock or B]. the lines at the checkouts lanes are soooooo long that I just wind up putting the item back and going to (ulp) Wal-Mart and getting them to price match it.

I still have a Sears nearby, but when I go in the store, it's usually pretty dead (it was even pretty dead on Xmas Eve) and their help isn't really any better than K-Mart's. Plus, I usually only go in to pick up an occasional Craftsman tool or look at a Kenmore appliance. I've never bought any electronics from Sears because I find them to be a bit overpriced.

It IS sad to see the big, old-school retailers die off, but if they don't adjust to the times and hire the help they need to keep the customers happy and keep the merchandise in stock, they will all find they'll go the way of the dinosaur...

[Toyman_Chris]

I agree K-Mart is and has been crap for a very long time. Ad why Sears thought buying them would make things better for both is still beyond me.

This is semantics, but K-Mart is the one who bought Sears.

[Cmonster]

Don't worry about all those folks that lost their jobs. They will all be working at Wally World by the first quarter of next year... They will be assimilated by the Borg, uh-- I mean Wally World.

Here's something I'll share about WW that you'll all find quite amusing; I live in a pretty affluent beach area of Orange County. The nearest Walmart is a bit of a drive, but I'm there at least twice a week. When neighbors or even people I work with at the studio, see the Walmart bags, they chuckle and ask why I shop there, calling it "ghetto". When I reply to them that stuff is way cheaper, I get a lot different responses, but this one takes the cake; My neighbor Steve, is a higher up, muckety muck for a big food distributor (he told me once which one, but I forgot. I think it's Kraft). He told me that Walmart is their absolute worst buyer. They apparently grind them down so low on the prices and bully them into selling them their product SO cheap, that their profit margin with that particular contract is VERY low. Granted it's their biggest account and they move more stuff to Walmart than all their other buyers COMBINED, but he says he still can't bring himself to shop there. Kinda dumb. I dunno--

SC

[livnxxxl]

the closest one for me is 45 minutes...in any direction

I highly suspect that will change in the near future. Wal-Marts around here are like McDonald's there is one on every corner or so it seems anyway. And they are STILL building more.

[livnxxxl]

The last K-Mart around these parts closed about five years ago and the building is still sitting empty.

For whatever it is worth these days we still have a couple of K-marts here and there, but they are pretty far spread out.

We also have a K-mart that closed a long time ago and the building has been empty every since as well. Makes for a good place for the rats to live I suppose. Too bad instead of leaving it rot down to the rafters that it was not put to a better use. Say like to help the home less or something like that. I guess that would have made too much sense though.

[livnxxxl]

I think 2012 is going to be a tough year all round. Finding a job here in the UK is very tough, lucky enough I am working but last year was quieter. and the jobless figures are getting higher, wages are staying the same but yet the big companys gas, electric petrol keep putting their prices up. At the end of the day its just greed and not just the big fat cat executives of these companys, but the Government as well. The rich are getting richer and the working man as to suffer.
Sorry if I have gone a bit off subject here but the number of companys folding here in the UK is quite frightening.

Wow! Nick, I had no idea that it was THAT bad there to. That sucks! I hope things get better there really soon.

[emeraldknight47]

For whatever it is worth these days we still have a couple of K-marts here and there, but they are pretty far spread out.

We also have a K-mart that closed a long time ago and the building has been empty every since as well. Makes for a good place for the rats to live I suppose. Too bad instead of leaving it rot down to the rafters that it was not put to a better use. Say like to help the home less or something like that. I guess that would have made too much sense though.

Turning some of these empty Big Box retail stores into homeless or low-income shelters would be an excellent idea, but the money-grubbing landlords would never go for it because there'd be no profit in it for them....

[kennermike]

Another 10,000 people unemployed and kicked to the curb !Gee Big Surprise!

[emeraldknight47]

Another 10,000 people unemployed and kicked to the curb !Gee Big Surprise!

Yeah---looks like 2012 is gonna pick up where 2011 leaves off employment-wise; in the sh***er!!!