Thread: Sears sure has changed, for the worse!

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First off let me say I grew up with Sears stuff in our home and farm. Couldn't wait every year for the new catalog to arrive. When you went into the store the clerk in that section knew his or her stuff and could actually suggest how to use the product and Sears stood behind the items they sold.

Fast forward to the past couple of weeks. My Son Dan bought me a Sears low profile jack for my birthday last July. Not cheap, about $ 219.99. Soon after it started to slowly drop when under a load. We used it mainly to get under our low cars, then would have to put a second jack under the car because we didn't trust the Sears jack. We weren't going to risk getting hurt or killed.

I finally got around to taking it back to the local Sears store a couple of weeks ago and the first thing they asked for was a receipt. I told them it was a gift, bought 7 months ago. No good, they need a receipt even though that jack has a one year warranty. I asked to speak to a Manger, but only an Assistant was on duty, and he "graciously" offered me 10% off of a new jack! Why should I buy a new one when I have an almost new one that is defective? I moved up the ladder and called Sears Customer Service and they created a file as this was felt to be a safety issue, and promised me the store manager would call me within 2 days.

Four days later he hadn't called yet, so I called them back. They then sent it up the ladder to the Regional Manager, and said he would call me within 2 days. Next day the store Manager did call and the best he would do is give me 30% off of a new jack! No way! So here it is a week later and still no call from the Regional Manager. No wonder Sears is in trouble and being bought out by companies like KMart.

I went on Sears own site and read the reviews on this jack, and out of 109 respondants the vast majority say that it is pure junk and dangerous. Here is the link:

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...39#reviewsWrap

It didn't matter to the people at Sears that I have a shop full of tools and equipment from them. Nor did it matter that I mentioned I felt obligated to let my fellow forum members know how Sears refuses to address something that could be potentially harmful or deadly. I guess they figure it is cheaper to pay any lawsuits resulting from injury or death than to stop selling crap.

I'll take the old Sears Roebuck any day over this new incarnation.

Don

their recent model shop vacs suck too. cheap crap

I found out about that stuff a long time ago. You buy something from them and need parts--only the parts you get from them will work. They usually cost more than say, Black and Decker who makes the stuff . Junk for sure!

I just called the Customer "Care" Center (boy is THAT an oxymoron ) and told the lady that the Regional Manager hadn't called me back. She said since the store Manager had offered me 30% off of a new one it was a done deal and no one else would get involved. "Goodbye and thank you for choosing Sears."

When I worked for a large marine discounter a customer was mad because we wouldn't take back an inflatable boat that he had obviously abused and damaged, so he parked his car out front with the boat on the roof with a large sign saying we sold junk and wouldn't take it back. We called the cops but it was not illegal for him to be doing that, so for a week he sat there with every customer coming in the store reading his billboard. The home office finally called us and said "Give the guy his money back and get him the h*** out of there."

I'm retired and have nothing better to do, so I just might be parking my butt and sign in front of the local Sears store for a while. Or, maybe I will call the local TV station "Troubleshooter." I'm not giving up that easily.

Don

Fortunately I save all the maintenance and parts brochures with everything I have purchased and is still running.

I needed a crank handle for my 8" Craftsman Table Saw and if I hadn't had the parts number from the brochure they wouldn't have been able to help me.

First I called "the Oxymoron" LOL, I like that and he told me that since the Saw was as old as it was they probably didn't have parts any longer so I looked up the part number in my brochure and ordered it online at Sears.com and received a new handle in less than 10 days.

The good old days of Sears and Rareback and Monkey Wards is long gone, I'm afraid.

Originally Posted by Itoldyouso

I'm retired and have nothing better to do, so I just might be parking my butt and sign in front of the local Sears store for a while. Or, maybe I will call the local TV station "Troubleshooter." I'm not giving up that easily.

Don

When I lived in So. Cal. in the late 60's there was an older Mexican gentleman that had always wanted a new Continental. He was finally able to buy one, but it seems the dealership had it more than he did as something was always going wrong. It was a "lemon" and Ford wouldn't do anything for him so he loaded it on a trailer behind a pickup with a large lemon sign on the car and drove all over the place. I saw him on numerous occasions. I guess it finally got to him so one night he he managed to get it on the front lawn of the Ford assembly plant in El Segundo, I believe, and set it on fire. He got in some trouble with the local cops, but Ford gave him a brand new Conny.

It's not just limited to Craftsman. I have an old Snap-On trans pressure gage - bought the set about 25 years ago - and the high pressure gage needs a re-calibration as it's low by 20 or so pounds. Snap-On sent it back with the response that they can't re-calibrate the gage since no one does that anymore, but I can buy a new one for about $86.00. And here I thought that Snap-On was a lifetime warranty.
Lost faith in Snap-On hand tools years ago when they took so much metal out of the broach of the wrench that when you pull on the wrench, it feels like it's cutting you hand. Switched to Matco without regret.

Originally Posted by robot

their recent model shop vacs suck too. cheap crap

Shop vac SUCKS???? Sorry I had to do that

Don I've been buying tools from sears for over 45years the only thing I've had trouble with was there electric stuff, drill motors, sanders. etc.etc. Sorry I know how you feel, you would think in todays market they would bendover backwards to make it right.

And to think they used to sell HenryJs! ("Allstates") I wish they still did. :-(

Monkey Wards now that's a name that I haven't heard for a while.

I've has issues with Sears and a Craftsman torque wrench. I wanted them to verify its accuracy. They told me I would have to buy a new one. When I bought it, there was no limit on its warranty, maybe I was just dreaming of a better day gone past

Keep after them Don. Keep us informed.

Jack.

Don

does Dan have a receipt? or credir card receipt? or Sears member number?? use the date bought to research---

I don't like to buy parts for my air compressors from their parts store 3 miles from me---they won't let me pick up the part at the store but ship it UPS at a very high rate which has to go from there store to the UPS center for them and then miles away to the center for our street( old unincorp area) I went all the way to CEO since there home office is near here-----the people at the local store don't like me anymore---

It's not Sears anymore......... It's just a K-Mart in disguise. I do installations for a locally owned Sears store, and I see the same import junk with the CRAFTSMAN label on them. I guess it's the way of the wold....... I won't buy Sears anymore...... If I am gonna get the Chinese junk might as well save the money.

At least Harbor Freight tells you their tools are cheap.

In 1964, I was a 16 year old standing in the tool dept at Sears lusting for a tool set that cost $49.95 and had at least a million wrenches when an old man asked me if I wanted to buy his tools....he had just retired from the railroad and didnt need them any more. I went to his house and he showed me a complete 3/8" drive socket set, a 1/2" socket set including a long handled ratchet, a box end wrench set up thru 1 1/4", a combination wrench set up thru 1 1/4", a hip roof craftsman box, and some screwdrivers.....he wanted $16 for all so I bought it......he said the tools were new in the 1950's.

Those are still the best Craftsman tools that I own......I converted to Snap On about 12 years ago and seldom buy a wrench or socket at Sears.....and dont use their stuff anymore. We use their shop vacs....I just bought 4 a month ago but they suck....we have 20 year old Sears shop vac that pulls more air.

As bad as their wrenches are, they are still better than HF.....and the Sears store doesnt stink like the HF store does (from cheap Chinese plastic).

Even Snap On seems to be cutting corners these days...just not as much.....yet.

mike in tucson