OLD SEARS "free appliance" thread - ignore this one and post in new thread!

[spec411]

Edit: this thread lost the "hot deal" and went off topic...will be reposted!


New thread:
http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.cfm?catid=40&threadid=377827

 

[spec411]

wow, no replies to free appliances???

this proves the theory why NO ONE has tried this!! I guess the age of people who frequent here arent interested in appliances

 

[Vincent]

This seems like something we could take advantage of, but the stipulation that you have to buy the appliance first makes this deal less desirable for people who just want the gift check but don't really want the appliance.

Does anyone know what the current challenge items are?

 

[stso]

Do they challenge online stores?

 

[VenGog]

the problem is No one else sells Kenmore!
They had this before, and even if you show them the same crap made by the same company which puts kenmore sticker on top, they managed to say it not the same.
Thats why IT IS KENMORE CHALLENGE, not the other appls. they sell

 

[spec411]

I dont think they match online vendors...but you definitely CAN match with different branded "comparable" products, thats what the "challenge" is about...you are supposed to try to find OTHER brands that have all the features of a Kenmore at a lower price!


often I have matched all the challenge requirements for the specs of the item, but Sears will have a 0% financing or free delivery deal, and all those bonuses must be matched as well...this week I dont think you need to match any financing offers, and I know that 2 vaccuums are part of the challenge, as well as (i think) a washing machine and a dishwasher...

Its easy to avoid having to "purchase" the item such as a bulky appliance....First you obviously dont buy until youve found a "challenge" beating match. Then buy the item, but put it on hold in their inventory instead of taking it with you!

Just say your getting a friends truck on the weekend or some bs and theyll keep the item there! Then after you meet the challenge, simply cancel the deal!

 

[mateasmom]

The person who posted said the appliance could be any brand. You can buy the appliance at a differnt store (ie. best buy), tell them you would like to do a customer pick up, then drive over to sears (less than a mile for me), do the price comparison, drive back to best buy, and return the item. You never had to pick up the item. It was in the best buy warehouse the whole time. Sounds like a plan to me. I think I will have to try this out some time. Sounds fun, and rewarding.

 

[alkemyst]

It is really up to the manager how the handle this. I tried the challenge before (though several years ago), then it was it had to be the same model #. The problem is almost all the big retailers have the items rebranded with slightly different numbers, that's why everyone says "If you can find this _exact_ item for less we will give it to you FREE!". Granted Sears seems to be opening its price matches more.

I got my Dunlop SP8000s from them, they will PM online and mailorder vendors EXCEPT they will add $25 per tire for shipping even if the vendor ships free. Still I got all four mounted, balanced, and with road hazard for $762, when the same tire was still for over $200 a piece everywhere else.

 

[hychka]

About four years ago my daughter dropped a glass dish on the top of her mother's brand new (29 day old) glasstop electric range (a $600 repair on a $900 range!!) and Sears refused to fix it under warranty as my daughter had "abused the range." The local Sears guy finally caved in after 4+ months of fighting and appeals on the eve of our Small Claims Court hearing. They came and got the broken stove and repaid us the original price plus tax plus court filing fee, plus $150 of inconvenience, but left two very angry women plus me behind. (How w e won was that the warranty had a 30 day period for glass components and ours broke on the 29th and I ordered the repair that very day; had a repair parts order slip documented by Sears with a date stamp on it.)

Without a doubt this was an unusual circumstance in which I happened to run into a "troubled" and soon retired regional mgr. Sears is a better place than my experience with the broken stove would show. HOWEVER,....

Since then (at first out of spite and then later out of watching out for my best interests) I have taken "the Sears challege" everytime I want to buy something they sell,.... new washer/dryer, dishwasher/'fridge, water softener and ranges for my six upscale rental homes, two push and one riding mower, an air compressor, batteries for three cars, a shelf sized stereo, SONY WEGA, several VCRs, a dozen or two phones, carpeting and installation for three 2500 sq ft homes, vinyl siding for two homes, ... and I beat their price with the identical or better alternatives from other retailers. Day in and day out, sale or no sale, Sear' prices are higher than their competition's. (Well, everything EXCEPT Craftsman tools on Christmas Early Bird sale ... can't beat a dozen of those screwdrivers for $10!!)

To paraphrase those immortal words you first heard here at Anadtech, Sears is the ORIGINAL $uck!

 

[spec411]

hychka...you've gotten all that for free from the Sears price challenge??!! If so, WOW!! Or did you just mean you found better deals than Sears so decided not to give them your business?? Ive never seen some of those items advertised as a "challenge" (Wegas, carpeting, siding)....


Maybe we have now lit the match on this hot deal!! Lets organize and mOVE OUT!! Lets all get free appliances this week!


BTW: you DONT need to buy the comparable item from another store, as long as you have some proof (ad, pull tag, etc) showing the features and price...then all you need to do is purchase 1st at sears, then show em the better deal!

 

[DealMeIn]

This sounds great.
Where did you see the challenge, and how long is it for?
I'm thinking its the flier you pick up at the store entrance.

thanks

 

[Marauder-]

yeah, I bet Kennmore has an exclusive Sears contract.

But as far as price matching nearby stores w/heavy feature generic branded items, I'm sure it can be done.

 

[ObviousMan]

There is not Kenmore, as someone already mentioned. It is the name owned by Sears, just like Craftsman is. The actual items are manufactured by Maytag, or KitchenAid, or GE, or MTD They just branded Kenmore at the factory. That is why there are identical items in other stores under their OEM name. Oftentimes they do cost less.

 

[ericboo]

Spec411,

So how do we find out what items are a part of their challenge. For those of us in need of new appliances, it is something to research. I know someone who is a Sears appliance repair person and could tell me who makes what.

Sounds like a good deal if you could get your money back. I just had them install carpet for me the other day, and was not aware of this.

 

[hydrobum]

spec411 do you know what kind of vaccums are on the price challenge?

Thanks

 

[Jumby]

Since you guys talk about Sears.....Let me add a TRUE story for ya.
This happens a few years ago.

A friend bought a whole Computer System from Sears.(Don't ask me why ;P)
After almost a year of usage, he got some hardware problem.
So he brought it back to Sears for service/complaint, the sales manager end up replacing him with a CURRENT Model New Computer System.

I was literally shocked after he did it! Computer system price plunged fast during that year. And should I say awesome Customer Service from Sears??

Just want to share this for the heck of it

 

[AAjax]

hychka:
If Sears did that for me I would never shop anywhere else, I am very confident that they really didnt owe you anything, after all if you had a warranty on a car and you knocked a baseball through the windshield, why would they owe you a new windshield? It was your own fault....?
I think that often people are far to hard on retailers..
As for this deal I need a new Washer myself, so off I go to comarison shop, I will let you all know how it go's, Im gonna try Best Buy, Lowes, and a local retailer HH Greg. Hope I find sumthin that will compare as this sounds like a sweet deal if it works out..
Jax

 

[Zwingle]

The reason Wards is going out of business is because they didn't have the customer service that Sears has....I am glad to see Wards go down the tubes.....Sears rules.....!

 

[Kwad Guy]

Hychka's story reminds me of an old bumper sticker:
"The meek shall inherit the earth...if there's anything left."

Your daughter broke your range and you sued Sears to fix it?
And they did? Sorry, but they owed you NOTHING. The range wasn't
defective. Your daughter broke it. Too bad. Sh*t happens. If your
daughter burns down your house by accidentally knocking over a
candle, do you expect the company that built your house to give
you another? If your daughter accidentally rams your car into
a tree, do you expect GM to give you another? Well, you probably
do. And you'd probably sue. And they'd probably settle out of
court just to get things over with. And we'd all pay for your
little settlement.

I grew up next door to someone who did stuff like this. Their
family were the pariahs of the neighborhood.

What amazes me most is that the people who play these little
games are usually well off to begin with. Of course, that's
probably how they got that way in the first place. "I took
the challenge for my six upscale rental homes" and you took
the time to rip off the system when your daughter broke your
range? Very nice.

Kwad

 

[laugh]

I am with you, Kwad. And those are very very good literals!!!

 

[SinMen]

Kwad, nicely said. Agree with you 100%. That's what's wrong with America, too many law suits.

 

[Pin2]

This is great I need a dryer for my home! I will try this.

pin2

 

[Thunderbirdaholic]

Let's keep this on topic thanks for sharing the stories but is anyone having any luck matching stuff?

Thunderbirdaholic

 

[sygyzy]

Good job Kwad.

 

[namlook]

Hope I can get a free water heater, dishwasher, refrigerator and washer and dryer with this deal.