How can Sears stay in business?

[beer]

Does anyone you know ever even go to Sears anymore?
No one I have ever known has ever bought anything from Sears. It's just one of those arcane institutions of modern society that is a relic from years past. And yet, I never read about Sears closing down, etc.....

....how can they stay in business versus Wal-Marts and Best Buys?

 

[Colt45]

people still shop there obviously

 

[Sephiroth85]

they will go out of business soon. they can't compete with other stores. people don't shop from sears anymore because their prices are mostly higher than other stores. i can't wait till they have a going out of business sale.

 

[dOrKuS]

In the past they've relied heavily on catalog sales but I have to imagine that's all but gone.

 

[faZZter]

Yep I still buy some stuff there........tools/lawn stuff. Not much though.

 

[Colt45]

oh yeah - BB and walmart dont do mail-order do they?

people still mail-order from sears, right? lol

 

[beer]

Well their website isn't anything special...and catalogs seem so ancient

 

[Eli]

My guess would be that they turn a profit by selling merchandise at retail prices.

Just a guess though.

 

[hawkeye81x]

Think it's holding on the last of its brand-loyal customers.
Those will soon be gone and with it Sears.
I give it 5 years tops.

 

[squirrel dog]

I just bought a 5.5 hp lawn mower from Sears for $253.00 It has a Honda engine.

 

[ApacheXMD]

it's a reliable place to go for tools when you need em

-patchy

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: squirrel dog
I just bought a 5.5 hp lawn mower from Sears for $253.00 It has a Honda engine.

Yeah, and if you take care of it, it will last 20 years.

Most people don't do sh!t for lawnmower maintenance though.

 

[vegetation]

Pretty sad too, Sears could have easily captured a huge chunk of the internet market sales just because it's name is so familiar. But nope, they just run a crappy third rate site instead.

 

[T2T III]

Originally posted by: squirrel dog
I just bought a 5.5 hp lawn mower from Sears for $253.00 It has a Honda engine.

Me too. Actually, I paid $269 about 5 months back. Honda engine on a Craftsman deck. Best mower I've ever owned ... and the Honda engine doesn't need priming like the Briggs and Stratton engines do. However, the other day, I did see a Lawn Boy mulching mower outside of Home Depot which was a returned mower - still looked brand new and the price was only $99. I thought long and hard about buying it as a 2nd mower. But, then realized, I had some serious other work to do and the Lawn Boy mower was 2-cycle mower and I get kind of sick of having to mix oil and gas.

OK, back on-topic with Sears. Sears now sells Lands End clothing in their stores. For those who like this merchandise, it might save Sears. If Sears can sell clothing that is not available anywhere else, they will draw in more customers. Plus, I don't think that all who shop at Sears are "loyal" customers because of their name. For example, my wife has hated Sears -- but, surprisingly, she has been buying some clothes for my daughter there because some items have been fitting better and the prices were good, too.

I hope Sears survives - if not for just their tools.

 

[kranky]

Originally posted by: Eli

Originally posted by: squirrel dog
I just bought a 5.5 hp lawn mower from Sears for $253.00 It has a Honda engine.

Yeah, and if you take care of it, it will last 20 years.

Most people don't do sh!t for lawnmower maintenance though.

My Sears lawnmower just will not die. Bought it 17 years ago, the cheapest gas mower they sold at the time, figuring that it would tide me over until I could afford a better one. I want a self-propelled one but I refuse to get it until this one is shot. Still starts on the first pull.

 

[T2T III]

Originally posted by: squirrel dog
I just bought a 5.5 hp lawn mower from Sears for $253.00 It has a Honda engine.

Actually, it's still on sale this week - normally $329. Craftsman mower with Honda engine

 

[Thegonagle]

Two words: Kenmore and Craftsman.

 

[Pliablemoose]

One of the reasons Sears stays in business is that they extend credit to marginal customers and charge a usurious interest rate.

Who do you turn to if your washer/drier/HVAC system fails? Sears & put it on your CC @ 21% interest.

 

[m2kewl]

Craftsman tools and auto/home products helps me keep them in business.

 

[Blieb]

Originally posted by: Thegonagle
Two words: Kenmore and Craftsman.

Between their corner on the market here, and automotive ... oh, and siding, and contract home improvement ...

They could slim down, but they do TONS of bidness, fo sho

 

[shekondar]

Originally posted by: Elemental007
Does anyone you know ever even go to Sears anymore?

I go there almost every time I go to the mall... nobody else ever goes there, so I can always find a good parking space by Sears

(Of course, I don't actually BUY anything there!)

 

[Schadenfroh]

they are a walmart that is evolving into a JC Penny

 

They usually have good deals on batteries/tires. And they get me in the same day, and the service is usually done while I wait. I only take my car there for tires/electrical stuff. Also, I use Sears Optical b/c my insurance covers me there, and I don't have to go to some downtown boutique place just to get new contacts.

 

[Codewiz]

Ummm, I used to work at Sears. They do better than you think. Lots of people buy their kids clothes there because some of the programs that Sears offers.

As already mentioned, there are tons of people that buy tools there. When I worked there, I worked in the shoe department. I couldn't believe all the people that would buy shoes at Sears. I don't who the people are but Sears still does pretty well.

 

[Bulk Beef]

Originally posted by: Blieb

Originally posted by: Thegonagle
Two words: Kenmore and Craftsman.

Between their corner on the market here, and automotive ... oh, and siding, and contract home improvement ...

They could slim down, but they do TONS of bidness, fo sho

I think I heard recently that Sears was going to be dumping product lines that were putting them in competition with Wally World and Target, and sticking to tools, appliances, etc.