There was a time when Sears was the go-to department store for Americans. It was the place to find everything from appliances to clothing to tools. However, in recent years, Sears has fallen on hard times. The company has closed hundreds of stores and laid off thousands of employees. So, what went wrong? In this article, we will look at Sears and try to answer that question. We will explore its history, its products, and its marketing strategies. We will also discuss the company's current state and offer our thoughts on its future.
Sears was founded in 1886 by Richard Sears and Alvah Roebuck. It started as a mail-order company selling watches and jewelry. In the early 1900s, Sears began selling other products, including clothing, appliances, and cars. By the mid-1900s, Sears was the largest retailer in the United States. It was also one of the most innovative companies in America. For example, it was one of the first retailers to offer a money-back satisfaction guarantee and one to offer customer credit.
Sears' success continued into the 1970s and 1980s. However, in the 1990s, things started to change. The rise of discount stores like Wal-Mart began to eat into Sears' market share. At the same time, Sears made a series of poor strategic decisions. It sold its profitable credit card business and invested heavily in failing businesses like the 1970s-era Sears Tower (now called Willis Tower).
As a result of these missteps, Sears has declined for more than two decades. The company has closed hundreds of stores and laid off thousands of employees. In 2018, it was bought by Eddie Lampert, a hedge fund manager who had been its largest shareholder. Lampert has promised to turn Sears around, but he has not been successful so far.
Sears Hometown Store - Closed
Appliance Store
1140 West Three Mile Road Sault Ste Marie, Michigan 49783Friendly, clean little pricey.
Sears Hometown Store - Closed
Appliance Store
828 North Washington Forrest City, Arkansas 72335Great customer service ! Had answers and connections to resolve my problem quickly. This is how you do business... Need more of these people in my life. Thank you. Leigh
Sears Hometown Store
Appliance Store
14283 Fenton Road Fenton, Michigan 48430Good store. Sad that it's going out of business. Good sales now tho.
Sears Hometown Store - Closed
Appliance Store
1249 N. Fraser Street Georgetown, South Carolina 29440I love the staff my review is about corporate Sears! I bought my washer in mid December 2021 and it has flooded my washer room twice now it's resetting over and over at 4 ... more
Sears Hometown Store
Appliance Store
920 South Arkansas Avenue Russellville, Arkansas 72801Great service
Sears Hometown Store - Closed
Appliance Store
638 East Houston Street Cleveland, Texas 77327Great place for appliances and more.
Sears Hometown Store
Appliance Store
69 North 28th St, Suite 400 Superior, Wisconsin 54880Want to patronize local, so we went to purchase a dishwasher & asked salesman Saturday evening whats the difference between a couple models & he said "the price" (thank y ... more
Sears Home Appliance Showroom
Appliance Store, Discount Store, Electronics Store
25704 Northwest Fwy Suite A Cypress, TX 77429It is a very nice for your home shop.
Sears Hometown Store - CLOSED
Appliance Store
15561 W. High St. Middlefield, Ohio 44062Recently purchased a washer from Middlefield Sears. Throughout the process Treavor was helpful, knowledgeable and professional. Thank you.
Norfolk Hometown Appliance Furniture and Mattress
Furniture Store
2110 Market Ln Norfolk, Nebraska 68701Best place to buy appliances
Sears Hometown Store
Appliance Store
105 West 24th Street Connersville, Indiana 47331We live in Ohio and our refrigerator we bought from sears 4 years ago died. After months of dealing with Sears customer service with no end in sight, I reached out to thi ... more
Sears Hometown Store - CLOSED
Appliance Store
301 Fairview Crossett, Arkansas 71635Very good
Sears Hometown Store - Closed
Appliance Store
1535 Dabney Drive Henderson, North Carolina 27536Mr. Floyd is beyond helpful. He found out we were purchasing an appliance as a donation. He donated the delivery and needed attachments. CJ is great to work with. All aro ... more
Sears Hometown Store - Closed
Appliance Store
1503 West Ehringhaus Street Elizabeth City, North Carolina 27909Very helpful staff. Very pleasant. Had what we were looking fir
Sears Hometown Store
Appliance Store
632 Wilton Rd. Farmington, Maine 04938The gentleman working there was very helpful. Probably like many stores, they didn't have much inventory.
Sears Home Appliance Showroom CLOSED
Appliance Store
2001 Widewaters Parkway, Suite A Knightdale, North Carolina 27545I bought a dishwasher from them a year and a half ago with the service plan. Dishwasher is now throwing an error code and is not washing well. After GREAT difficulty gett ... more
Sears Hometown Store
Appliance Store
204 West Bypass Andalusia, Alabama 36420If I could rate zero starts a absolutely would. My elderly parents bought a washing machine and it stopped working completely within a week. The extra warranty was purcha ... more
Sears Hometown Store - Closed
Appliance Store
340 East Laurel Eunice, Louisiana 70535Awesome store. The staff are informative, helpful and knowledgeable about the products. They go out of their way to help you find your product. I have bought a stove, ... more
Sears Hometown Store - CLOSED
Appliance Store
501 West North Avenue Flora, Illinois 62839Friendly sales people, great prodicts.
Sears Hometown Store
Appliance Store
275 Southside Mall Road, Suite 10B South Williamson, Kentucky 41503Great staff and store!
Sears Hometown Store - Closed
Appliance Store
19 Litchfield Plaza Litchfield, Illinois 62056I am not please with your employee, Janet. Why does she think it's okay calling other employees idiots right in front of customers. Very rude and disrespectful. If I coul ... more
Sears Hometown Store
Appliance Store, Discount Store, Electronics Store
9356 Mansfield Rd Suite 200 Shreveport, Louisiana 71118Very friendly and helpful staff. Great store.
Sears Hometown Store
Appliance Store
170 Town Mountain Road, Suite # 1 Pikeville, Kentucky 41501Everyone there was so friendly and helpful
Sears Hometown Store
Appliance Store
1005 Highway #49 West West Helena, Arkansas 72390They are really nice people when you're buying but the moment you have a problem with they're merchandise (lawnmower & air compressor yes, we bought both) all they want t ... more
Sears Hometown Store - Closed
Appliance Store
209 Shopping Way, Suite B West Memphis, Arkansas 72301Sale employee angry and rude. Purchased a washer. After only a few days load became unbalanced, I unplugged to correct the problem and washer would not resume cycle Con ... more
Hibbett Sports
Shoe Store
1544 Temple Ave N Fayette, Alabama 35555Clean, organized store. Expensive.very expensive.
Sears Hometown Store
Appliance Store
101 N. Fourth St. Atchison, Kansas 66002Friendly staff eager to render assistance. I bought several appliances that were at competive prices and delivery was no problem.
Sears Hometown Store - Closed
Appliance Store
1010 Hwy 25 B North Heber Springs, Arkansas 72543I went to pick up an oil filter to get ready for the season and 2 looked to be 17 year old kids informed me that they don't sale those but reassured me that the new mower ... more
Sears Hometown Store - Closed
Appliance Store
28 Hawthorn Ln St. Marys, Georgia 31558Worst service ever. Tried to have a Craftsman tool replaced under the lifetime warranty. Store employee refused to honor the warranty when the tool set was on their shelf ... more
Sears Hometown Store CLOSED
Appliance Store
2515 - 10th Street Great Bend, Kansas 67530Gave one star because I had to give at least one, but deserved zero. The hours posted on website are incorrect. Went to buy a refrigerator this morning & the refrigerato ... more
Sears Hometown Store
Appliance Store
2601 Central Dodge City, Kansas 67801I bought a pressure washer there and it is by far the best pressure washer I have ever used and this is one you buy for home not rental or commercial use but home I have ... more
Sears Hometown Store - Closed
Appliance Store
107 Meadow View Drive Mountain View, Arkansas 72560Always got what I need
Sears Hometown Store - CLOSED
Appliance Store, Discount Store, Electronics Store
1013 Old Hwy 52, Suite G Moncks Corner, South Carolina 29461Great store and always willing to help. Knowledgeable staff with appliances.
Sears Hometown Store - Closed
Appliance Store, Discount Store, Electronics Store
11554 Columbia St., Suite B Blakely, Georgia 39823Really nice people that's were I buy all my appliances
Sears Hometown Store
Appliance Store
2919 W. Pine Arkadelphia, Arkansas 71923Courteous service
Sears Auto Center
Auto Repair Shop, Auto Parts Store, Brake Shop
131-08 20th Ave Flushing, NY 11356I made an appointment for an oil change at 11 AM. I arrived on time and after waiting in line and listening to the sales associate ask the man in front of me if he had an ... more
Sears Hometown Store
Appliance Store
901 W. Morton Avenue, Suite 18C Jacksonville, Illinois 62650I wanted another Kenmore vac and this was the nearest store. Even though it was over a hundred miles away.Tried calling them several times and half the time I would be pu ... more
Sears Hometown Store
Appliance Store
405 E Navajo Dr Hobbs, New Mexico 88240Service Not good! Will shop online from now on.
Sears Hometown Store CLOSED
Appliance Store
9525 Lincoln Highway Bedford, Pennsylvania 15522NEVER WILL I EVER PURCHASE A THING FROM SEARS AGAIN GOT A FRIDGE GOING ON 8 MONTHS AGO JUNK FROM THE START NEVER FIXED IT STILL REFUSE TO REPLACE IT AND TO TOP IT OFF I H ... more
Sears Home Appliance Showroom
Appliance Store, Discount Store, Electronics Store
3838 William Penn Hwy Monroeville, PA 15146They are really helpful and good at there job.
Sears Home Appliance Showroom - Closed
Distribution Service
3951 Costco Drive Tucson, Arizona 85741Worst service ever seen in my life
Sears Hometown Store - Closed
Appliance Store
67 Fowler Street East Ellijay, Georgia 30539Sears Hometown Store - Closed
Appliance Store
115 W. Esperanza, Suite 115A Green Valley, Arizona 85614Staff not well trained but they give it their best. Good prices but not a large selection of appliances to choose from in-store. Refrigerators with ice makers are back or ... more
Sears Hometown Store
Appliance Store
601 N. Commercial, Suite 10 Harrisburg, Illinois 62946I bought my washer and dryer almost 2 years ago and for the first time I had something wrong with my washer. Well with 4 kids, one put a triangle piece of wood inside of ... more
Sears Hometown Store
Appliance Store
1202 S Park St Carrollton, Georgia 30117Friendly and very nice staff
Sears Hometown Store
Appliance Store
2417 S Main Street Moultrie, Georgia 31768Neato store, appliances and stuff to fix them. Very light on your generic hardware supplies but the employees assessed my needs and were able to direct me to a landscape ... more
Sears Hometown Store - CLOSED
Appliance Store
2128 Freedom Rd. Trinidad, Colorado 81082They try their best under challenging circumstances.
Sears Hometown Store
Appliance Store
19A Franklin Village Mall Kittanning, Pennsylvania 16201Got the new washer delivered and it went fast/smooth. Thanks again
American Freight (Sears Outlet) - Appliance, Furniture, Mattress
Furniture Store, Appliance Store, Bedroom Furniture Store
1701 US-22 Watchung, New Jersey 07069High priced garbage. Nobody helps you. Employees laying down on beds and mattresses. When you go up to them and ask for help, they start making up information. They t ... more
Sears Hometown Store - Closed
Appliance Store
1000 N. Main Street, Suite 3 Gunnison, Colorado 81230I've tried calling about 10 times in the last 4 days and get no answer. It doesn't go to a voice mail because it says it's full. I'm sure it is fill since nobody ever ans ... more
