What Happened To Sears? The Forgotten Sears History Revisited

[@johns80schick]

They didn't invest in online retail. Also consumers became more concerned with "Do you have the product I want, at the price and quality I want?" People were not shopping at department stores out of brand loyalty. Some department stores still feel stuck in that mentality. They need to realize that with the internet people can shop anywhere, even globally. They are not the only store in town.

[@billrivenbark8983]

I agree. Also lack of customer service and shortage of customer service employees. Before ours closed it was like walking in an empty building. No customers or employees.

[@hojo70]

Totally disagree! You really think Sears trying to compete selling a Keurig coffee maker online would have saved them? LOL. Why try to compete online with giants like Amazon and Walmart, you will LOSE. They needed to abandon everything except DieHard, Kenmore and Craftsman and focus on making money where Amazon could not. This means Kenmore appliances with installation and delivery, Sears auto care with mobile service, even selling carpet and flooring with delivery and installation is profitable. There are a ton of other areas they could have entered that Amazon could not touch. Yes, you can buy tools online but Craftsman had such a massive cult following that it wouldn't have mattered.

[@hojo70]

Bringing on Eddie Lampert and buying Kmart were the two main fatal mistakes made. Had they not done either and instead reduced their offerings (by abandoning kitchen and housewares, clothing, etc) to focus strictly on their strengths in hardware, appliances, and auto care particularly through their well-regarded brands like DieHard, Kenmore, and Craftsman then they would be alive and well these days. But Eddie individually parted out and sold each piece of the company like a valuable sports car, gutting it thoroughly for his own maximum profit. He destroyed the most famous and iconic store in the history of America.

[@zxdek]

Poor employee training or care. used to go and have to wait 5 or more minutes for someone to come check us out even though we could see 5 employees standing around talking. After few times of that you kinda dont want to shop there anymore.

[@ИвайлоСтоянов-б3м]

The just failed to adapt to the dynamic market, I guess the management wasn't up to date.

[@jimmccandless4307]

China