Thread Number: 42676  /  Tag: Conventions, Mini-Meets, Parties
The END of Sears, finally.
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Post# 447829   11/15/2021 at 10:34 (864 days old) by gottahaveahoove (Pittston, Pennsylvania, 18640)        

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The last Sears store closed this past weekend in Chicago, marking the end of an era. Ours closed a few years ago. The closest one left was near Philadelphia. It held on as long as possible. I loved their paint. So sad to see an American icon go. Will Hemb must be in mourning as we speak.

Post# 447830 , Reply# 1   11/15/2021 at 11:07 (864 days old) by texaskirbyguy (Plano, TX)        

Sad indeed (in a way). We lost our store a couple years back. I liked the tools and hardware, and once liked everything 20+ years ago. However as they cheapened up in the 2000s or so, the quality of a lot of stuff tanked, so I found myself going there less and less. Their website soon turned to crap as they tried to play amazon. Unfortunately, they did this to themselves; I wish it went better...

I still have the last plastic bag I got from them from 2 years ago, and several catalogs from back when they were still great. I still have some nice 90's clothes from there, as well as my 1995 laundry set and fridge, all still working great. These are all my memories of a once great store.

I used to ride my bike up there a lot in the 80's to drool over the tools, fans, appliances, automotive stuff and hardware. I will always remember that signature 15khz whine I had heard from all of the CCTV cameras (back when they used tubes).


Post# 447831 , Reply# 2   11/15/2021 at 12:08 (864 days old) by Human (Pines of Carolina)        
Sad times...

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My dad was a huge Sears fan. He would only buy Craftsman tools, most of which I now have, and they're the older made in USA variety, not the newer Harbor Freight quality chinesium crapola they now sell at Lowe's. That stuff is Craftsman in name only.

We've still got one here that's hanging on, including the auto center. Several years ago, they remodeled the building and leased out most of the ground floor, including the front entrance, to Whole Foods. Sears' main entrance was moved around to the side of the building. Sears actually owns that building so I'm sure Whole Foods is bringing in more revenue to Sears than their own store there is. Frankly, it's probably the only reason it's still open.

I haven't walked in there in two or three years. The last time it looked pretty pathetic. They were stretching the merchandise pretty thin to cover even their significantly reduced footprint. The only thing even more sparse looking is the parking lot.

It's sad but time is moving on without them. You just can't stay stuck in 1981 for ever.


Post# 447832 , Reply# 3   11/15/2021 at 12:39 (864 days old) by bnsd60m9200 (Akron OH)        

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The last sears store in Illinois closed yesterday, not the entire company. apparently there are still 10 other sears and like 7 kmarts left. Sears to me died many years ago. they cheapened thier wrenches and hand tools about 10 years ago, and didnt offer anything people wanted in many years. to me sears died when they changed from the serif logo in 1984. they were going downhill even then.

Post# 447835 , Reply# 4   11/15/2021 at 13:54 (864 days old) by texaskirbyguy (Plano, TX)        

I agree with the cheapening of the tools. Even Channelock went downhill about 10 years ago.

I still have my Craftsman tool cabinet and chest, and 300-400 piece hand tool set that I got as Christmas gifts in the 80s. Best gifts I ever got...
All I have to do is replace the dried grease in the ratchets every 10 years or so - no problem. Rest of the tools have been faithful and did lots of great work for me. They were worth the high price we paid for them then.

The Channelock 16" pliers I got there 10 years ago rusted in no time, when none of my other tools did (even the Harbor Fright ones).

I got a couple extra sets of Craftsman screwdrivers before our store closed - they were as good as the 80's ones I have.

I got a couple small Craftsman tool boxes with drawers two years ago from Lowes and those were very flimsy. One went in the house, but still flimsy for there.

A good friend gave me a 70's Craftsman tool cabinet that was in a barn for years. I cleaned it up and lubed the slides - works great!

I will miss the real Craftsman, but at least I have the last of the best to hopefully last me until my own expiration.


Post# 447836 , Reply# 5   11/15/2021 at 14:27 (864 days old) by gottahaveahoove (Pittston, Pennsylvania, 18640)        
Wow, I heard on the news this morning

gottahaveahoove's profile picture
that "Sears is finally no more, as the last one closed this weekend in Chicago". Maybe that was not true. If not, I fear it won't be long.
My late brother loved Sears, as did his wife. They had a coffee brown matching "Lady Kenmore" laundry set, as well as a tractor, etc. from Sears. When I took over the conservatory in the Philadelphia suburbs, there was a Sears canister vacuum. I gave that away.


Post# 447838 , Reply# 6   11/15/2021 at 15:39 (864 days old) by Vinvac (Dubuque IA)        

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Sears and Montgomery Wards were our go to stores back in the day.

Sears went downhill once they started offering all brands. When they stayed with the Kenmore brand things were much better. I know the Kenmore brand was other brands with their name, but they were also upgraded products.

Montgomery Ward was my moms favorite. She waited for that catalog. Not sure why as I don't ever remember her buying anything from the catalog...but she enjoyed looking.





Post# 447839 , Reply# 7   11/15/2021 at 17:45 (864 days old) by suckolux (Yuba City, CA)        

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I did Montgomery rewards often, and Sears occasionally because it wasn't as close. When I was young my first vacuum I bought with my own money was a hand vac from Sears I believe made by Douglas, when I saw the writing on the wall I went back to the same store and bought a canister back from them not that I needed but I wanted something from that store before it closed. Thankfully a friend of mine was working that department that day so he got to handle the transaction also

Post# 447846 , Reply# 8   11/15/2021 at 20:30 (863 days old) by vacuumlad1650 (Wauponsee, IL)        

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It was sad to see my closest 4 Sears stores closing over the last few years, but the Illinois based company no longer being here in IL really puts it into perspective.
They should have held onto their catalogues for a few more years...they could have been today's Amazon.


Post# 447856 , Reply# 9   11/16/2021 at 07:36 (863 days old) by jscarlato (Clairton, PA)        

Back in the early 80s, we bought a Lady Kenmore washer and dryer. The washer lasted until 2002, when replacement parts became unavailable. We replaced the washer with a Kenmore Elite HE washer. The Lady K dryer is still going strong.

Back in 1970, I bought a Sears Coldspot refrigerator in avocado green (sign of the times). That fridge lasted for 35 years. Although it still worked and was a real conversation piece, we replaced it with a more energy efficient Kenmore model.

Sears paints covered my walls for many years.


Post# 447859 , Reply# 10   11/16/2021 at 09:34 (863 days old) by dysonman1 (the county)        

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When I was a kid, the Sears store was in the mall very close to our house. I would go there with my Mom, and we would go down the escalator to the lower floor and there it was. The appliance department. Greeting us at the bottom of the escalator was the dishwasher. With the clear front and the lights on the inside. Running. I would stare at that thing until my mother said to stop. The vacuum department was on that level, and I would stare in amazement at the salesmen selling the Kenmore vacuums. I knew I wanted to be a vacuum salesman at the moment.

Today, I get to sell Kenmore vacuums labeled as Titans in my store. I love demonstrating them. And I sell a lot of them. So in a way, I'm glad Sears is no more because with Titan vacuums to sell, I can still be a Sears salesman but I make all the profits. Not just a commission.


Post# 447862 , Reply# 11   11/16/2021 at 10:25 (863 days old) by gottahaveahoove (Pittston, Pennsylvania, 18640)        
Rob, yes, the quality indeed changed.

gottahaveahoove's profile picture
But, that has happened everywhere. I always bought paint at Sears. My uncle and my late brother were very good Sears customers. I still see Craftsman, etc ant Lowe's, etc. It would be awful to think someone would be glad to see them go..... go to only make a profit at another's expense.
People who loved the 'catalogs', will treasure them now.
I hope JC Penny isn't next.


Post# 447865 , Reply# 12   11/16/2021 at 10:35 (863 days old) by maytag142c (Somewhere over the rainbow. )        

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Sears used to be one of my favorite department stores, they had absolutely everything. At one point they even sold houses through the catalog and I’m fortunate to own a Sears built home. As a matter of fact a lot of the houses in my area are Sears built. Sears was always known for good quality and long Lasting products. We had 2 stores in the area, one closed about 4 years ago while the other only 2 years ago with the auto center being the last. I’m wondering though if they still do the Sears steam cleaning because about 2 weeks ago I saw a Sears van with a steam cleaning system being used.

Cassie


Post# 447904 , Reply# 13   11/16/2021 at 20:28 (862 days old) by keither (California )        

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Incredibly sad. I was never a Sears fan, but nonetheless, this was still a household name for most of our lives. Is JC Penny the only major department store left over from our childhood? Grants , Jefferson's and Woolworth were our number one department stores back in the day.

Post# 447913 , Reply# 14   11/17/2021 at 00:34 (862 days old) by tolivac (Greenville,NC)        

Loved the "beach ball" display in the Sears vacuum dept as a kid-could watch it for hours if I could!They were the only store that had such a display.

Post# 447920 , Reply# 15   11/17/2021 at 08:45 (862 days old) by parunner58 (Davenport, FL)        

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When we lived in Philadelphia, we lived within walking distance to the main Sears store on Roosevelt Blvd. I loved going there to watch the beach ball in the vacuum department. They had fresh candy, hot pretzels and fresh fried peanut, loved watching them fry the nuts. Then went to major appliances and watch the Roto-Rack Dishwasher. They had a record department that had a free juke box that you could listen to the current pop hits, it was out side the restaurant.

Post# 447921 , Reply# 16   11/17/2021 at 09:00 (862 days old) by dysonman1 (the county)        

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I remember as a kid when the Sears salesmen wrote the word KENMORE with kapok on the red plush carpet in the vacuum department. When they could snag an interested woman (person) they would say "The new PowerMate cleans like a Dream" and then vacuum up one letter. If the people said they had pets, they vacuumed up all the letters. It was the coolest thing to watch. Today, I sell Titan (used to be Kenmore) vacuums and I still use Kapok and write "Titan" on the rug. People are just fascinated with how fast the machines pick up.

Post# 447929 , Reply# 17   11/17/2021 at 12:02 (862 days old) by Human (Pines of Carolina)        

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Keither,
You got me thinking and you're right. Very few of the stores I knew from my childhood are still with us. One regional chain that is still alive and well here in the Southeast is Belk. Another one that was big in this area was Rose's. They almost went under in the '90s but have managed to survive in a smaller format, usually anchoring struggling strip centers. Another one we frequented when I was growing up was Richway, which was eventually acquired by Target. Woolworth's still exists as a corporate entity but it has evolved into Footlocker. We do still have a Woolworth's storefront here but it's preserved as a historical site and civil rights museum, having been the site of a 1960 sit-in.


Post# 447930 , Reply# 18   11/17/2021 at 12:07 (862 days old) by gottahaveahoove (Pittston, Pennsylvania, 18640)        
My parents met at Woolworths.

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My mom was a book keeper and my dad. later was sent there as the manager. I still have the 2 little very badly scratched Coke glasses they used at the "fountain". He sat across from the building as they were tearing it down. Perhaps he should have never watched it come down.

Post# 447935 , Reply# 19   11/17/2021 at 13:16 (862 days old) by vacuumdevil (Vacuum Hell )        

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@gottahaveahoove You still have them on the East Coast?
Those stores have been closed west of the Mississippi for years.

They just finished demolishing the last building here in Colorado thankfully it was an eyesore for a long time sitting abandoned for years.


Post# 447939 , Reply# 20   11/17/2021 at 13:45 (862 days old) by whiteley03 (Tulsa, OK)        

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So sad. I love Sears and remember fondly going there nearly weekly as a kid to go play with the vacuums, and video games.

Post# 447941 , Reply# 21   11/17/2021 at 14:22 (862 days old) by gottahaveahoove (Pittston, Pennsylvania, 18640)        
no, Woolworth's is long gone.

gottahaveahoove's profile picture
I know Bill Woolworth, the grandson.

Post# 447951 , Reply# 22   11/17/2021 at 20:49 (861 days old) by texaskirbyguy (Plano, TX)        

Yes, I know quality has decreased everywhere, as well as newer items' appeal to my eyes.
Not only did I stop shopping at Sears, but at other new retail places also.
I got more into antique stores and thrift stores to buy older, higher quality and more attractive and stylish (to me) items.

We just lost our last close JCPenney store last year, and it has now been razed, along with the rest of the mall it was in. So now there is no close department store other than Kohls, which to me is a bit small. I save them for towels or decent shoes or such. In this crowded city I live in, I am not sitting in traffic for an hour to get to a store, and an hour back.

I have a bunch of Sears and JCP catalogs and I still like looking through them, taking me back to a place I wish I was. These things are quite costly on ebay now.

I remember Woolworth - I got many cartoon books from there when I was young. I still have some little bunny erasers, which were the first items I bought on my own with my own money, with my mom's help...
That store later turned into Bowater Home Center, then Home Depot, and now Fiesta.
I miss Woolworth - times have really changed.

Then in the early 90s, Venture popped up! It was like above Target I suppose.. I got lots of stuff for my new home from there. It did not last long until it was gone...
So now close to home it is Wally World, Target, and Kohls; big whoop...


Post# 447953 , Reply# 23   11/17/2021 at 22:05 (861 days old) by eurekaprince (Montreal, Canada)        

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It’s been a pretty sad story up here in Canada too. As a child, I remember our three national department store chains: Eaton’s, Morgan’s and Simpson’s. I can’t remember the exact order of events, but at some point, Simpson’s signed an agreement with Sears and their stores were rebranded Simpson-Sears.

Each national chain would have their daily full page advertisement in the Montreal Star in the 1960’s: Simpson’s would be the back page of the first section, then Morgan’s as the back page of the middle section, then Eaton’s on the back page of the final section (which I think was always the sports’ section).

At some point, Morgan’s was rebranded as The Bay (the venerable Hudson Bay Company that has been around since before Canada was established in 1867).

Each department store had a six or seven storey main building in downtown Montreal, Toronto, Winnipeg and Vancouver. And each chain had an “anchor store” in all the big suburban malls across Canada. I remember these mall stores at Montreal’s Fairview Centre and at Toronto’s Yorkdale Mall.

And of course, each chain sold their own brandname appliances, including vacuums: Simpson’s sold Sears Kenmore, The Bay sold Baycrest (and later Beaumark) appliances, and Eaton’s sold Viking appliances - including vacuums made by Eureka at the Onward Manufacturing company in Kitchener, Ontario.

All of our department stores had thick catalogues akin to the big American Sears catalogue. Which was very convenient for Canadians living far from our big cities as you could order whatever you wanted over the phone.

Eventually, Sears USA bought our failing Eaton’s chain and a few years later Sears filed for bankruptcy here and closed half of Canada’s department stores. The only survivor is The Bay which apparently has gobbled up the American Lord & Taylor chain. Our Bay stores only sell Miele and Dyson vacs now. Pretty sad…☹️


Post# 447959 , Reply# 24   11/18/2021 at 03:36 (861 days old) by MadMan (Chicago, IL, USA)        

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140+ years ain't a bad run.

Post# 447977 , Reply# 25   11/18/2021 at 18:53 (861 days old) by fan-of-fans (USA)        

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I remember summer of 2012 the BOL Kenmore Powermate canister in lime green was on sale for $99. I decided to get one, I got to buy a brand new vacuum from Sears before they went out of business. It's actually still new in the box, never used it.

Even then Sears was pretty busy back then when I went to buy it. Our Sears closed in 2019, I do miss it.


Post# 448060 , Reply# 26   11/21/2021 at 15:03 (858 days old) by Detroitdirtbag (Bottom of the Bag)        

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That started to hose you on tool returns, I got into it with a mgr who gave me a green garden hose for the lifetime black, the green one went fast. Lifetime on auto stuff stopped too. That’s when I stopped going. I did. Uh a Sears bbq a few years ago. Lowe’s carried the black model only. They did it yo themselves. Like Kmart.

Post# 448066 , Reply# 27   11/21/2021 at 17:07 (858 days old) by Collector2 (Moose Jaw, Sk)        

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Hey Brian:

Never heard of Morgans. Simpsons and Eatons were the two major ones out West with a few Hudsons Bay stores.

In 1949 The Robert Simpson Co. made an agreement with the Sears Robuck & Co. to create a new chain - Simpson Sears. Simpsons turned over their catalog order to the new chain and the deal was that they would operate ONLY in smaller cities that DIDNT have a Simpsons store. After a specified period of time (either 30 or 40 years - I can't remember which) Sears had the option of buying out Simpsons, which they did. And the Simpson stores and Simpson Sears stores all became Sears.


Post# 448069 , Reply# 28   11/21/2021 at 17:53 (858 days old) by eurekaprince (Montreal, Canada)        

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Hi Doug, thanks for that information. I really liked Sears Canada stores….used to buy everything from jeans to vacuums and other appliances there.

I’ll try to find a webpage on Morgan’s and provide a link here….


Post# 448070 , Reply# 29   11/21/2021 at 17:55 (858 days old) by n0oxy (Saint Louis Missouri, United States)        
Sears and Titan vacuums

I used to really enjoy visiting Sears stores in the 1980's, I was a kid back then but I used to love the appliance department. This was before my time but if there was a such thing as a time machine, I would love to transport myself back to around 1972 or 1973 and visit a sears store to see the vacuum department. Apparently the Kenmore canister cleaners were redesigned in the early 1970's and I wouldhave loved to have seen those displayed in a Sears store.
I bought a Titan canister from Tom earlier this year at the vacuum collector's convention, I think it's the Titan 1400. I absolutely love that canister, as soon as I saw it I knew I had to have one, it's a great light weight and powerful straight suction canister.
Mike


Post# 448071 , Reply# 30   11/21/2021 at 17:58 (858 days old) by eurekaprince (Montreal, Canada)        

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Here is some history about the Henry Morgan store…see link below….

CLICK HERE TO GO TO eurekaprince's LINK


Post# 448072 , Reply# 31   11/21/2021 at 20:38 (857 days old) by human (Pines of Carolina)        
Replacements...

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Detroitdirtbag wrote:
That started to hose you on tool returns, I got into it with a mgr who gave me a green garden hose for the lifetime black, the green one went fast.

I reply:
I think one of the last transactions I had with Sears here was about ten years ago when I got a Craftsman ratchet on eBay and it turned out the mechanism was frozen up. I could have sent it back to the seller but I just took it back to Sears. I was a little afraid they would give me a brand new made in China ratchet as a replacement but instead, they reached into a toolbox behind the counter and pulled out a rebuilt American made ratchet without mincing words. They actually rang it up for inventory purposes, charging a penny for it, then refunding the penny. The way I look at it, since that replacement ratchet was American made and 100 percent chinesium-free, it's actually better than new. I miss that level of customer service.


Post# 448076 , Reply# 32   11/21/2021 at 22:07 (857 days old) by Collector2 (Moose Jaw, Sk)        

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Another very stupid move on the part of Sears was to place the cosmetic areas right at the mall entrances. For people with allergies (of which there are an awful lot) it meant that you couldn't even go into the store from the mall. And who wanted to bother going back outside just to get into the store unless there was something specific you were looking for.

Post# 448087 , Reply# 33   11/22/2021 at 15:47 (857 days old) by human (Pines of Carolina)        

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That's fairly common for mall department stores to put the perfume/cosmetic departments close to the entrance. I remember when I was growing up in the '70s the girls at the perfume counters were a little aggressive about spritzing the scent they were hawking in the direction of passers by. I always had visions of somebody spritzing them back with a little mace! Thankfully, they're a little more restrained about it now.

Post# 448093 , Reply# 34   11/22/2021 at 20:38 (856 days old) by WindsorFan (Fallbrook CA USA)        
I loved Sears

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When it was still open I remember playing with and sometimes even testing the kenmore vacuums. I remember being super fascinated by the Kenmore Intuition I saw when I was like 6 years old or so.

Post# 448097 , Reply# 35   11/22/2021 at 22:13 (856 days old) by fan-of-fans (USA)        

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Belk Department store here also has the cosmetic counter at the main mall entrance.
I remember they used to send those circulars in every Sunday paper that had those perfume and cologne scent samples in them that would make the whole newspaper smell like some stinky perfume. LOL I don't know if they still do that or not.

I always liked how even in recent years Sears had carpeting in that department and the Hoover rug and would let you test the vacuums. Most stores don't do that. When I got my Kenmore Progressive on clearance at the other Sears the salesperson plugged it in and let me try it out. She was very knowledgeable about the features as well.



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