RIP Sears

[JimmyHoward33]

Lampert is an idiot. Delusional. Go back 10 years in an era when Target and Walmart were making record capital expenditures to improve store quality and that yahoo is cutting everything to the bone while touting something called “‘my gofer” and a poorly run rewards membership.

That’s what killed the company, not Amazon and not the marching of time. Lampert himself and his refusal to hire retail people to run a retail operation. You can’t run retail like a hedge fund. Sounds an awful lot like the way some suits run their newspapers.

Few examples of his lunacy here
At Sears, Eddie Lampert's Warring Divisions Model Adds to the Troubles

Eddie Lampert Used Fake Name To Argue With Employees On Sears' Internal Social Network

 

[poindexter]

Hopefully, Sears employees won't get screwed out of their pensions like the employees of this grocery chain after PE vultures got their hooks into the company

https://www.washingtonpost.com/busi...?utm_term=.1d679f6c4f82&wpisrc=nl_most&wpmm=1

 

[The Big Ragu]

Court gives Sears new life, allows Chairman Eddie Lampert another chance to save retailer

Sounds like the court is giving Lampert more time on his bid to buy the company out of bankruptcy. He has to put up $125 million as a deposit by 4 pm tomorrow. The court originally rejected his bid because it didn't cover bankruptcy costs. He said that the bankruptcy had gotten too costly. It sounds like they will hold an auction later this month, and then compare Lampert's bid to whatever they can get to liquidate. If his bid is better, Sears may end up surviving, although who knows in what form.

 

[DanOregon]

The last purchase I made at a Sears was a digital camera five or so years ago. Don't know when the last time I used it was. Also - from what I've read the Lampert idea I think was more based on the real estate holdings than turning the company around.
Toughskins, Craftsman, Kenmore - I'll blame the Kardashians.

Sears’ Kardashian Kollection is Officially No More

 

[playthrough]

Hopefully, Sears employees won't get screwed out of their pensions like the employees of this grocery chain after PE vultures got their hooks into the company

https://www.washingtonpost.com/busi...?utm_term=.1d679f6c4f82&wpisrc=nl_most&wpmm=1

That story hit home in my neck of the woods. But Marsh would have gone under on its own eventually, with Don Marsh spending lavishly on himself and so many of the stores being terrible. I could have cried when we moved from Florida (and all those glorious, clean Publixes) and I went to the local Marsh for the first time. Disgusting.

As for Sears ... loved me some Craftsman tools.

 

[ChrisLong]

I always considered it a good Christmas season when I DIDN'T have to go shop at Sears. Never liked the place. It was always an old, dreary place.
The one in my hometown closed a few years ago, but the building was tabbed a historical landmark so they can't tear it down.

 

[DanOregon]

I am surprised someone hasn't come up with a way to utilize all of the empty big box stores and grocery stores that litter America. I realize malls themselves are in trouble - but turn them in to fitness clubs, or make them mini-malls for small business owners, or indoor crafts markets...

 

[swingline]

That story hit home in my neck of the woods. But Marsh would have gone under on its own eventually, with Don Marsh spending lavishly on himself and so many of the stores being terrible. I could have cried when we moved from Florida (and all those glorious, clean Publixes) and I went to the local Marsh for the first time. Disgusting.

As for Sears ... loved me some Craftsman tools.

Craftsman tools now at Lowe's, where the employees seem to be trained to walk around and ignore you as much as possible.

 

[FileNotFound]

Craftsman tools now at Lowe's, where the employees seem to be trained to walk around and ignore you as much as possible.

My mechanic friends tell me that Craftsman tools have declined significantly in quality. They’re all about DeWalt now.

 

[Inky_Wretch]

My mechanic friends tell me that Craftsman tools have declined significantly in quality. They’re all about DeWalt now.

Not Snap-On?

 

[FileNotFound]

Not Snap-On?

Too expensive.

 

[swingline]

My mechanic friends tell me that Craftsman tools have declined significantly in quality. They’re all about DeWalt now.

Sure, for power tools I'm going DeWalt or Bosch or maybe Rockwell. For wrenches, Craftsman is still probably a good choice unless you're a part- to full-time mechanic.

 

[Jake from State Farm]

I remember getting a set of Ted Williams weights from Sears when I was a kid
In later years, the only time I went was to get, or get fixed, my Craftsman garage door opener
Gotta add the classics line from Bull Durham

YARN | Best Clips of Bull Durham (1988)

 

[Vombatus]

Court gives Sears new life, allows Chairman Eddie Lampert another chance to save retailer

Sounds like the court is giving Lampert more time on his bid to buy the company out of bankruptcy. He has to put up $125 million as a deposit by 4 pm tomorrow. The court originally rejected his bid because it didn't cover bankruptcy costs. He said that the bankruptcy had gotten too costly. It sounds like they will hold an auction later this month, and then compare Lampert's bid to whatever they can get to liquidate. If his bid is better, Sears may end up surviving, although who knows in what form.

Good. Gives me time to return that Die Hard battery tomorrow. Whew.

 

[Vombatus]

Craftsman tools now at Lowe's, where the employees seem to be trained to walk around and ignore you as much as possible.

The Craftsman brand was sold to Stanley about a half dozen or more years ago, and of course the quality went to ****.

 

[Slacker]

I am surprised someone hasn't come up with a way to utilize all of the empty big box stores and grocery stores that litter America. I realize malls themselves are in trouble - but turn them in to fitness clubs, or make them mini-malls for small business owners, or indoor crafts markets...

America already is overloaded with strip malls and mini-malls, too.

 

[DanOregon]

Okay - how about housing for the homeless?

 

[Slacker]

Yeah, that's a better idea. Needs funding, though. Another crisis issue!

 

[wicked]

Not an expert on this but as was said elsewhere, looked like Eddie Lampert was all about the real estate. Didn’t he sell off much of the real estate to his company? I do wonder how much a lot of that suburban real estate is worth nowadays, especially in the demalling era.

And yes, the Dead Malls website is fascinating.

 

[Vombatus]

Okay - how about housing for the homeless?

Maybe filming locations for movies?