Beginning of the End for Sears and K-Mart?

[cashnocredit]

The paradox of this is that Sears Roebuck & Co was founded as a catalogue/mail order business that thrived by circumventing the brick and mortar establishments.

 

And this isn't the beginning of the end, this is late stage terminal.

 

Many a SR&C catalog met it's fate in outhouses. Along with shucked corn cobs. 1950's in the tobacco country of the South.

[IndyPoolPlayer]

Interesting commercial I just watched for Ace Hardware - Ace is carrying Craftsman tools. Is this something new or going on for a while that nobody noticed because - well - who actually shops at Ace Hardware anymore?

[Bad Doctor Frost]

Interesting commercial I just watched for Ace Hardware - Ace is carrying Craftsman tools. Is this something new or going on for a while that nobody noticed because - well - who actually shops at Ace Hardware anymore?

Ace Hardware is actually quite common in local neighborhood malls. You'd think neighborhood hardware stores were a thing of the past, but as soon as the one in my old neighborhood closed, another moved right in because there's demand for it. They're one of the few places that actually have customer service like it should be. Sure, big box stores like Home Depot and Lowe's are great, but having a neighborhood hardware store is great for when you're in the middle of a project and need to get something quickly.

[TheVig]

ACE has been carrying Craftsman tools for years. Blackhawk Hardware in Charlotte is an ACE. Great helpful staff, but always very crowded.

[lakewalker]

My local Orchard Supply Hardware also carries Craftsman.

[mendelssohn]

 

Interesting commercial I just watched for Ace Hardware - Ace is carrying Craftsman tools. Is this something new or going on for a while that nobody noticed because - well - who actually shops at Ace Hardware anymore?

Ace Hardware is actually quite common in local neighborhood malls. You'd think neighborhood hardware stores were a thing of the past, but as soon as the one in my old neighborhood closed, another moved right in because there's demand for it. They're one of the few places that actually have customer service like it should be. Sure, big box stores like Home Depot and Lowe's are great, but having a neighborhood hardware store is great for when you're in the middle of a project and need to get something quickly.

From the Northeast down to TX, I've never seen Ace Hardware in a mall. I've also noticed that neighborhood hardware stores in TX don't seem to exist.

[IndyPoolPlayer]

 

 

Interesting commercial I just watched for Ace Hardware - Ace is carrying Craftsman tools. Is this something new or going on for a while that nobody noticed because - well - who actually shops at Ace Hardware anymore?

Ace Hardware is actually quite common in local neighborhood malls. You'd think neighborhood hardware stores were a thing of the past, but as soon as the one in my old neighborhood closed, another moved right in because there's demand for it. They're one of the few places that actually have customer service like it should be. Sure, big box stores like Home Depot and Lowe's are great, but having a neighborhood hardware store is great for when you're in the middle of a project and need to get something quickly.

From the Northeast down to TX, I've never seen Ace Hardware in a mall. I've also noticed that neighborhood hardware stores in TX don't seem to exist.

 

Around here the Ace Hardware stores are like the convenience stores of home improvement. Higher priced and not a lot of quantity compared to Lowe's, Menard's, or Home Depot but if you need just a small box of nails to finish a project its usually nearby

[Bad Doctor Frost]

 

 

 

Interesting commercial I just watched for Ace Hardware - Ace is carrying Craftsman tools. Is this something new or going on for a while that nobody noticed because - well - who actually shops at Ace Hardware anymore?

Ace Hardware is actually quite common in local neighborhood malls. You'd think neighborhood hardware stores were a thing of the past, but as soon as the one in my old neighborhood closed, another moved right in because there's demand for it. They're one of the few places that actually have customer service like it should be. Sure, big box stores like Home Depot and Lowe's are great, but having a neighborhood hardware store is great for when you're in the middle of a project and need to get something quickly.

From the Northeast down to TX, I've never seen Ace Hardware in a mall. I've also noticed that neighborhood hardware stores in TX don't seem to exist.

 

Around here the Ace Hardware stores are like the convenience stores of home improvement. Higher priced and not a lot of quantity compared to Lowe's, Menard's, or Home Depot but if you need just a small box of nails to finish a project its usually nearby

 

Yep, around here, the big box stores are usually in commercial/retail areas surrounded by apartments, away from all the residential areas. The hardware stores are typically in neighborhood strip malls where the grocery stores are, so they're near the residential areas. Maybe we just have zoning laws, but our areas tend to be broke up so high density housing is thrown in with commercial stuff so it doesn't lower the value of single family housing.

[cashnocredit]

 

 

 

 

Interesting commercial I just watched for Ace Hardware - Ace is carrying Craftsman tools. Is this something new or going on for a while that nobody noticed because - well - who actually shops at Ace Hardware anymore?

Ace Hardware is actually quite common in local neighborhood malls. You'd think neighborhood hardware stores were a thing of the past, but as soon as the one in my old neighborhood closed, another moved right in because there's demand for it. They're one of the few places that actually have customer service like it should be. Sure, big box stores like Home Depot and Lowe's are great, but having a neighborhood hardware store is great for when you're in the middle of a project and need to get something quickly.

From the Northeast down to TX, I've never seen Ace Hardware in a mall. I've also noticed that neighborhood hardware stores in TX don't seem to exist.

 

Around here the Ace Hardware stores are like the convenience stores of home improvement. Higher priced and not a lot of quantity compared to Lowe's, Menard's, or Home Depot but if you need just a small box of nails to finish a project its usually nearby

 

Yep, around here, the big box stores are usually in commercial/retail areas surrounded by apartments, away from all the residential areas. The hardware stores are typically in neighborhood strip malls where the grocery stores are, so they're near the residential areas. Maybe we just have zoning laws, but our areas tend to be broke up so high density housing is thrown in with commercial stuff so it doesn't lower the value of single family housing.

 

 

The only ACE hardware store I know of is in a place called 4-S. It's in a strip mall plopped in a semi rural, upscale, bedroom community in North San Diego. Gf shops there for odds and ends. I mostly go to Home Depot or Lowes. They are all over the place.

[brazen]

They closed our Ace. I preferred it to the bigger chain stores.

[cv91915]

 

 

 

 

 

Interesting commercial I just watched for Ace Hardware - Ace is carrying Craftsman tools. Is this something new or going on for a while that nobody noticed because - well - who actually shops at Ace Hardware anymore?

Ace Hardware is actually quite common in local neighborhood malls. You'd think neighborhood hardware stores were a thing of the past, but as soon as the one in my old neighborhood closed, another moved right in because there's demand for it. They're one of the few places that actually have customer service like it should be. Sure, big box stores like Home Depot and Lowe's are great, but having a neighborhood hardware store is great for when you're in the middle of a project and need to get something quickly.

From the Northeast down to TX, I've never seen Ace Hardware in a mall. I've also noticed that neighborhood hardware stores in TX don't seem to exist.

 

Around here the Ace Hardware stores are like the convenience stores of home improvement. Higher priced and not a lot of quantity compared to Lowe's, Menard's, or Home Depot but if you need just a small box of nails to finish a project its usually nearby

 

Yep, around here, the big box stores are usually in commercial/retail areas surrounded by apartments, away from all the residential areas. The hardware stores are typically in neighborhood strip malls where the grocery stores are, so they're near the residential areas. Maybe we just have zoning laws, but our areas tend to be broke up so high density housing is thrown in with commercial stuff so it doesn't lower the value of single family housing.

 

 

The only ACE hardware store I know of is in a place called 4-S. It's in a strip mall plopped in a semi rural, upscale, bedroom community in North San Diego. Gf shops there for odds and ends. I mostly go to Home Depot or Lowes. They are all over the place.

 

 

I occasionally frequent the one in Hillcrest and the one in Liberty Station. There are several others.

[david_weaver]

The paradox of this is that Sears Roebuck & Co was founded as a catalogue/mail order business that thrived by circumventing the brick and mortar establishments.

 

And this isn't the beginning of the end, this is late stage terminal.

 

I know hindsight is 20/20, but...

 

Sears decided to quit the catalog business in 1993, just as the internet was exploding. With vision and the infrastructure they already had in place as the world's leading catalog vendor, Sears could have been Amazon. But they were terrified over having been passed by Wal Mart as the world's largest retailer. So they ditched the catalog and spent most of the 1990's stripping away every part of the Sears empire that was not a bricks and mortar store: Dean Witter, Coldwell Banker, Discover, Homart, the list goes on. They decided to put all their eggs in one basket, and that basket became the worst choice they could have made. People blast Eddie Lampert for his follies as CEO the last few years, but the death blow for Sears happened more than 20 years ago.

 

Sort of like Kodak, builders of the first workable digital camera with commercial applications...in 1975. But Kodak was a film company primarily, and decided THAT was the way forward. So for more than 20 years, as film sales dwindled and technology changed, Kodak continued to look backwards instead of forwards. By the time they woke up, like Sears, it was too late to do anything but die a slow and painful death.

 

That said, while a shell of its former self and having sold off most of its assets (right down to the patents) and despite having gone through a bankruptcy, Kodak still exists. So does Woolworth's, also once a holder of the title of world's largest retailer. The only piece left is Foot Locker, but it lives on, Even as Sears/K-Mart plow forward with additional asset sales and an eventual bankruptcy, it is likely Sears will remain in some limited form going forward as well.

[DallasLoanGuy]

die, sears, die.

we have been trying to return a fridge for months. they keep sending repairmen

[jasonw]

I always liked sears and kmart. Was mad when they closed the super kmart by me but the employees did alot of the damage to the store by stealing and such. The sears by me has basically chopped its store into 5 others stores now. I have not been inside it in a couple years, just went to get clothes last time I was there. But since I am a bigger man now I need to hit up the destination XL as yeah.. I need big mans clothes XD.

[TeeSharice]

The local Ace is actually just as close to me as Home Depot....

It has limited business hours. Like half day on Sunday. Only on 9-5 on Saturday. Closed by 6pm on M-F.

 

They have the best prices on rock salt for the winter and then whatever they advertise as the weekly special. But for the most part they're useless.

[Glacier]

Heard that they will be bringing Paula Deen back to Kmart.

The Craftsmen tools they sell at Ace are "last years models"

[cv91915]

Heard that they will be bringing Paula Deen back to Kmart.

 

That hillbilly butterhog will be perfect for their target market.

[cashnocredit]

Ah Sears. One of my earliest memories at ages 6 to 8 was running to the shoe section in the big store in Boston. Then sticking my feet in the X-ray machine, wiggling my toes, and marveling at my foot bones.

 

It wasn't many years afterwards that those machines were removed. You could get one hell of a radiation dose from those early X-ray fluoroscopes.

Edited July 7, 2016 by cashnocredit

[Glacier]

 

Heard that they will be bringing Paula Deen back to Kmart.

That hillbilly butterhog will be perfect for their target market.

 

True. I just figured they were bringing her back to try and sell the remainder of her stuff in Kmart Stockrooms since they kicked her out last time.

[Bad Doctor Frost]

A few xmasses ago, my mom wanted a plant stand. I found the perfect one at KMart, only it was cheaper online. Everyone price matches, right? I go in there, pick it up, and nope. They don't do that. I said, "So let me get this straight, I can buy it online using my phone, and choose in-store pickup, and save $10, but I can't just buy it here and get the same price?" The manager was like "Yep." So I went out to my car, bought it, went back in, went back to the same person and said "OK, I bought it, and I'm here to pick it up." He was less than amused. I can't work up any sympathy for businesses who treat their customers like that, nor can I for their employees.

[cashnocredit]

A few xmasses ago, my mom wanted a plant stand. I found the perfect one at KMart, only it was cheaper online. Everyone price matches, right? I go in there, pick it up, and nope. They don't do that. I said, "So let me get this straight, I can buy it online using my phone, and choose in-store pickup, and save $10, but I can't just buy it here and get the same price?" The manager was like "Yep." So I went out to my car, bought it, went back in, went back to the same person and said "OK, I bought it, and I'm here to pick it up." He was less than amused. I can't work up any sympathy for businesses who treat their customers like that, nor can I for their employees.

Amazon is rapidly automating the warehouse. Robots that rapidly travel from where stuff is stockpiled to shipping/receiving are replacing sapiens. And they don't take vacation, charge for work over 8 hrs/day, or have sick leave.

 

Along those lines, Mr Robot season 2 premiers next week. "Shall we play a game?"

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecPeSmF_ikc

[unleashedfury]

If Sears would Axe the brick and mortar stores and become an Amazon style web site going back to their catalog roots in the 21st century. They could possibly save their marigolds. A lot of the infrastructure is already present, just need to beef it up.

 

Our neighborhood Ace is geared more towards the proffesional vs the DIY'r but that's what keeps them in business. Similar is the local NAPA stores, can't find motor oil if you needed it, but call them from a business account you have what you need in 10 minutes.

[david_weaver]

If Sears would Axe the brick and mortar stores and become an Amazon style web site going back to their catalog roots in the 21st century. They could possibly save their marigolds. A lot of the infrastructure is already present, just need to beef it up.

 

Our neighborhood Ace is geared more towards the proffesional vs the DIY'r but that's what keeps them in business. Similar is the local NAPA stores, can't find motor oil if you needed it, but call them from a business account you have what you need in 10 minutes.

 

Too late for Sears to try that. They simply lack the capital needed to ramp that up. And even if they did manage to build it, would anyone suddenly start shopping at the Sears portal instead of Amazon?

 

No, the time for Sears to make that move was 20+ years ago. In the time since they have actually gone the opposite way from the Amazon model. Sears has closed many of their distribution centers, while Amazon seemingly opens a new one every few months to continue building coverage and speeding delivery.

 

Also, Sears cannot leverage assets like they might have been able to 20 years ago. Back in the 1990's, I managed several apartment communities build int he early 1970's. Most still had their original Kenmore dishwashers. Even as colors changed from Avocado Green to Harvest Gold to Black, the dishwashers scrubbed on as they had extra panels in the door to make quick color changes. These days, a Kenmore is basically a Whirlpool or some other plastic piece of crap, with many models like LG or Bosch far exceeding them in quality. Same goes for Die Hard. That was great when people kept cars 20 years or more. I don't think I have bought a battery in 20 years. Same for Craftsman. Long ago, people bought tools and kept them 50 years. They were even passed down in many cases. But people worked on things. Now, you can maintain most of your entire home with a 6-way screwdriver, a hammer, and few pairs of channel-locks. Lastly, most of their remaining real estate is in malls, which are dying off. They have sold a bunch of their stores to malls (if the mall was still a going concern and could fill the spaces) and set some up in a REIT to be divided and lease to generate some cash flow. But most of the K-Mart locations suck and are doomed to be empty spaces and none of the newer, hipper shopping meccas want a Sears, so they are relegated to mostly urban malls.

 

Times changed and Sears did not. They can play games and maybe keep going another decade or more, but they will never come back.

[IndyPoolPlayer]

These days, a Kenmore is basically a Whirlpool or some other plastic piece of crap,

 

Actually many Kenmore appliances were built exclusively by Whirlpool for many years. The difference is back in the day the dishwashers, refrigerators, and such were built in places like Evansville, Indiana and Benton Harbor, Michigan. Nowadays it's built in places like Reynosa, Matamoros, or Qingdao with lower cost parts. And BTW, quite a few Kenmore models are now sourced from LG.

[unleashedfury]

Wow childhood memories, I remember being in my grandmother's home with all those avocado green appliances from Sears.

 

Otoh Amazon does have the internet market stronghold. Not bad for a guy who just started selling books out of his garage in the 90s.

 

As a professional mechanic, I will say that the craftsman and die hard names have lacked quality over the years. Back when I first started my adventure in high school it was easy to swing up to Sears and buy an affordable set of quality tools and avoid buying off the tool trucks at high prices.

 

Then came the lines Evolv for the basic homeowner who just wanted to do small projects and probably change their own oil or something. And the Proffesional line designed to be for the working tradesman.

 

In the end, they never really specialized. Sears used to be the one stop shop for everything. Get tires on your car, shop for new clothes, get dad a lawnmower. And a new appliance.

 

Now you head to Lowe's or the home depot. Can get better products with a better price. Walmart for clothing. Etc.

 

Kmart tries to compete with the other. Big box stores while, not having the inventory nor the prices.