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Date:         Fri, 9 Nov 2012 19:33:59 -0600
Reply-To:     mcneely4@COX.NET
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@COX.NET>
Subject:      Re: Craftsman Tools, Ace Hardware
Comments: To: Jim Felder <jim.felder@GMAIL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <CAFnDXk3v4F6bVXRmW97cJw+UYWmgSGdefL1fnjibOatuiT+HDA@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8

---- Jim Felder <jim.felder@GMAIL.COM> wrote: > I wouldn't worry about the quality of craftsman tools, it's one of the few > things sears has going for it. The problem is, they have not been able to > translate their Craftsman brand loyalty into traffic that buys anything > else inside the store. People who want Craftsman stuff walk in, buy a tool, > and walk out without visiting the ready-to-wear department, the home > entertainment department, or the appliance department to name three. The > big box specialty retailers are now doing to them what they did to the mom > and pop stores two generations ago. JC penney is on the skids as of today. > I agree with what Ron says, expect a filing for bankruptcy by Sears soon > and hope you can still buy craftsman stuff at Ace and Kmart. Sad, but the > department store business model isn't working anymore for most everyone. > There are a few exceptions, but it probably won't be enough to keep a > corporate chain of stores alive. It is a shame because I have always found > Craftsman to be a reasonably priced, high quality (in most cases) source of > tools. I have some great Craftsman stuff I have had for almost fifty years. > I guess their problem is that I still have it!

Their problem is that your kid and his kid and his kid find shopping at Sears to be not worth the trouble. I feel the same way -- outside of tools and appliances (and those not so much any more), Sears has poor quality and terrible service. At one time, Sears almost controlled the DIY paint market. Then they stopped staffing that department, just clerking the merchandise. Three days in a row I was told at my local Sears store to come back the next day to get paint mixed, because someone who knew how to do it would be there then. After the fourth try, I bought my paint at Sherwin Williams.

When I bought carpet (another department they trashed) at Sears, when the stuff was delivered, the underpad was not the quality I ordered. The stuff on display was a quite dense foam. The stuff delivered crushed to nothing when stepped on. I took a piece of it and went back to the store with it. I showed it and the display sample to the person who sold it to me. He argued that they were of equal quality. A customer happened by, and I asked her if she would comment on the two pieces. She examined them, and stated immediately that one was much inferior to the other. The red faced salesman still argued, losing a second customer who saw what was going on. Finally, I resorted to his supervisor, then the store manager. When he argued, I pointed out that Oklahoma has a felony statute for "Theft by Deception." At first he was still resistant. I got a district manager, explained the situation, offered to bring the two samples to his office. Instead he sent someone to my home, and that person quickly saw the difference in quality, and asked what I wanted.

It would take another six weeks to get a new pad delivered. I accepted their offer of $3000 off my $9000 purchase, but I have not bought anything from Sears since. I have had to replace the carpet only ten years later because the pad wore out, so my $3000 off was not worth it.

Yes, they'll declare bankruptcy. Any wonder why?

mcneely > > Jim > > On Fri, Nov 9, 2012 at 6:10 PM, The Bus Depot <vanagon@busdepot.com> wrote: > > > > I now see Craftsman branded tools at Costco and now others mention Ace. > > > And I think I have seen Craftsman tools other places? > > > > > > Sears Holdings (which also owns Kmart) is in serious financial trouble. > > Their stores have been underperforming for years, and in many cases they > > could actually make more money subletting the leases than they make > > operating them as retail stores. They are hoping to expand their brand > > reach > > outside of their own retail locations as a way of stemming the red ink, > > since they can't seem to get bodies into their stores. Besides Craftsman > > they also own Kenmore, Die-Hard, and Lands End, all valuable trademarks > > even > > if their retail arm eventually fails. I would be shocked if the company > > makes it much past the holidays without filing bankruptcy and/or divesting > > significant assets. Inevitably they will either join Montgomery Ward and > > Gimbels as a relic from retail history, or sell their trademarks to someone > > else. They are a dead man walking. > > > > - Ron Salmon > > The Bus Depot, Inc. > > www.busdepot.com > > (215) 234-VWVW > > > > _____________________________________________ > > Toll-Free for Orders by PART # : 1-866-BUS-DEPOT > >

-- David McNeely


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