Comments on: Eddie Lampert’s latest bid to lift Sears

By: bob,frederick,md

bob,frederick,md — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 02:23:02 +0000

sears will not make it, they will go chapter 11 soon

By: Frank P. Midland Park N.J.

Frank P. Midland Park N.J. — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 11:57:56 +0000

worked for Sears for 40 years in home service,appliance repair. It got to the point that there was never enough time to do the job right but always enough time to go back and do it over again. most of the experienced techs left after the merger includeing myself. I hope they go out of business, they deserve it.

By: Jim Cleveland Ohio

Jim Cleveland Ohio — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 20:43:35 +0000

There’s a difference between “pruning”
and “sucking the life out of”.
Sears will survive.
As Montgomery Wards did.
Online.
No brick and mortar overhead. Or help.

By: Sue, Chesapeake.Va.

Sue, Chesapeake.Va. — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 03:44:20 +0000

I have worked for Sears as a sales associate, for 11 years in Electronics department. When I look at the company I cannot,believe this is the same company I started working for years ago. My manager is salaried and should work only forty hours a week, but she is forced to work on her days off for the same amount of pay or risk losing her job so instead of working forty hours a week, she is at sears on average 60 or more hours a week for the same pay . sears is getting away with unfair labor pratices. another example commission sales people are often asked to become housekeppers and clean,stock merchandise and sign which should be done by mca associates but sears saves money and gives the salespeople a second job with no extra pay.which causes us to miss sales and have less time to wait on customers to try to make a living. It seems like every year I am there they figure out abother way to cut the pay. I know your saying why do you stay. I have only stayed with the company because of the vacation time I have accumulated. I have finally had it and decided to look for another job after yet another cut in our commission rates.also there use to be only experienced and knowledgeable salespeople in my area now almost anyone can get a job there on the salesfloor I have seen so many former fast food workers and all kinds of inexperienced partimers come and go.there average life exspectancy at sears is one to three months.gone or the days of the slogan good life great price. This is what Eddie Lampert has reduced this company too.

By: ed, raleigh, nc

ed, raleigh, nc — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 02:40:29 +0000

I sometimes receive mall gift cards that can be used for all but the smallest stores and kiosks. Because most of the stores in the mall don’t interest me, I usually use them at Sears to buy socks, underwear, jeans, small appliances, and the like.

Every time I give the cashier the gift card I hear that “BEEP” when she slides it through the machine. “Sorry, but the card is not coming up”. She stands there befuddled. ITS A GIFT CARD AND YOU’RE SEARS! I wait in line for the manager, who converts the gift card to a SEARS gift card. Then proceeds to use it to ring up my purchase. Twenty minutes on line to purchase a rice cooker! This has happened in more than one store over the past few years. I wonder how many disgruntled customers decided to take their gift cards and business elsewhere after the computer rejects it. Even the small seasonal stores in the mall have no problem processing a mall gift card, while one of the biggest retailers are turning away business because they can’t update their system.

By: Luke

Luke — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 12:01:08 +0000

I work for Sears as an associate, since Lampert came Sears hasnt been the same. Its under-aggressive and avertises to the wrong market. Its now the second thought in peoples mind for appliances and fith thought for other merch like tracktors and electronics

By: Jake

Jake — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 02:33:56 +0000

Justin is absolutly right. I am a K-Mart manager and I see many POSITIVE changes and sales starting to increase. The stores are getting remodeled and going to open spaces like Target stores. The product lines are excellent with the name brands they have. Joe Boxer, Martha Stewart, Craftsman, Kenmore, DieHard are MUCH better then Target and Wal-Mart store brands. Also, once all the K-Marts get remodeled and change the culture, the company will go on a aggressive marketing campaign to invite customers back. People will start to flood into K-Marts again. Eddie Lampert knows what he is doing and it isn’t a quick fix but it Sears holdings will be fixed.

By: Michael Hilton Head, SC

Michael Hilton Head, SC — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 15:30:48 +0000

I worked for Sears as a Store Manager, since Eddie came around it has been cut expenses to the point of taking all but 1 lamp out of the lighting fixtures to save on a electric bill. NEVER did Sears focus on SALES. Sears still does have a great name recognition but they do not use it to their advantage. Anyone looking for appliances goes to Sears to look first but buys at another retailer because Sears is not aggressive in investing in a sales culture where no matter what no customer walks without the best deal in the industry. With the high margins this can and does work, I watched many many times as a customer wanted to buy over 10k in appliances but walked because of a 10% coupon or a measly 50 dollar delivery. Its retail people…get back to the basics Eddie if you don’t sell anything then why open the doors, people can get all the info in the internet then buy at Lowes!!!
Sears will be gone in less than 2 years if he does not move on it now and become America’s Working Class Retailer!!!!

By: david ,vidalia ga

david ,vidalia ga — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 11:13:24 +0000

the greatest secret weapon that sears has is the dealer organization.great service,low overhead full assortment
5% sales increase…..8oo stores..the answer is simple shut down or scale down the malls and ramp up the dealer
stores dance with the one that brought you david

By: Tony, St Louis, MO

Tony, St Louis, MO — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 23:14:54 +0000

As a former Kmart/Sears store manager, I completely concur with the opinion that Sears is down and will be going out soon. To the former associates from Florida, all I can say is you are absolutely correct, management doesn’t care about you anymore because we were too busy trying to save our own rears. Having been in the same southern division as you, I probably have figured out who your district and regional managers were, and they are too busy trying to save themselves too. We cut and cut and cut, and unless they invent robots to take the money and wait on the customers, you might as well close the doors now. When I joined the company 3 plus years ago, it was during a period when Kmart “re-invented” the stores, dividing into task and customer service associates. That didn’t last long. Soon we were back to our old ways of having to do 25 to 30 planogram resets a week, and taking 35 to 40 pictures of what we did, because our senior management questioned Kmart’s ability to “execute”. Customer service was always mentioned as being the most important, yet it is an afterthought. Prices became competitve with Walgreen’s, not WalMart. Associate morale in all the stores on both sides of the company is below low, in fact, they have to look up to see bottom. If you are betting on Lampert to pull out a miracle, don’t worry, he owns the real estate, the only thing that has value besides the Sears brand names. Go into the stores and look around, you see dirty and old, worn out carpeting, in Kmart you see fixtures in need of repair, or those that have been fixed so many times that the duct tape marks are permanent. I, happily have joined a new company whose outlook is much brighter even in a down market, so there is hope, just not for SHC

By: Eric Khrom, Brooklyn, NY

Eric Khrom, Brooklyn, NY — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 16:53:31 +0000

In answer to your question, net worth usually does have a correlation to how smart you are. In the case of Lampert, it certainly shows. In your case, your envy certainly shows.

It is usual for envious mediocrities to pop up and laugh when a man who has been successful for decades, suddenly has a temporary setback. They don’t concentrate and concern themselves with the fact that they never went out there and did it any better–they wouldn’t even dare try. Their time is spent looking for greatness that looks like it has fallen, and telling them: “You see, who were you to think you’re any better than me.”

But the catch is: people like Lampert never spend time thinking about you–the envious critics. That’s why they are back on their feet in no time, and why you have to move on to look for someone else’s failure to relish.

By: Michael, TN

Michael, TN — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 04:19:08 +0000

I believe research has been done and the result is that net worth has no correlation to IQ. Please direct me if I am wrong..

By: Seel, Detroit, Michigan

Seel, Detroit, Michigan — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 02:27:47 +0000

Do they accept anything other than the Sears card yet? I never forget going to Sears at Christmas with $400 in gifts, slapping down my Visa only to hear them say we don’t accept Visa would you like to set your items down and fill out an application for a Sears card? Are you fricking kidding me, I’ve never been back.

If this company is not out of business in 5 years I will buy a pair of Crocks and wear them too.

By: Marla Sarasota, Florida

Marla Sarasota, Florida — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 23:51:41 +0000

I used to work for Kmart and left. They are so wrapped up in budget control that there is no focus on customer service. We used to have some talented management who liked people but they left. I worked in southwest Florida too and the management in place is tyranical to their help. I watched more verbal abuse and lack of work ethic from the people who were suppose to set examples. I actually listened to the district manager tell the hourly associates they did not deserve their jobs. It happened with the store open. The stores were dirty and every year they go through a spring cleaning. Why don’t they keep it clean all year? Merchandise is not handled correctly and customers used to get so frustrated. There was no training in place for management on people skills or harassment. They would talk horrible about the customers and would brag about firing people. Lowes and Home Depot carry great tool brands. Craftsman is a good brand but it is not the only brand. Since I left the company and I am glad I did. I was getting tired in working in buildings where the air conditioner did not function and I would be one of the few people on the floor where my boss would sit for hours hiding in the office. I liked the customers. They were my neighbors and part of my community. Since I left there I have not shopped Sears or Kmart once. It left such a bad taste in my mouth. From my personnel experience they have mistreated their customers and their employees. It is a people business and you can spend millions on advertising but if you don’t do people right there will be no business. Any fancy marketing gimmicks they employ will not attract my family or myself to spend money there. After working the last eighteen months with cut after cut which hurt my family and more verbal assaults then I needed to see in one lifetime ( on my co workers ), I don’t care what they do. I am comfortable shopping at my old competitors which I have become their new loyal customer.

By: Brian McDonald, Wasco, CA

Brian McDonald, Wasco, CA — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 22:08:36 +0000

This is the same old cycle Sears has been going through forever. When things go south, it is cut-cut-cut-cut, then when that can’t achieve anymore; they get a bew CEO, a new vision, bright shiny campaign, they restructure some or all of them business, etc, etc and they regain some of there market share and things are good. However, Sears doesn’t continue this like some retailers. They stop, rest on their laurels and collect that money until things go south again and then it is cut-cut-cut, etc. You get the picture! Sears seems to not be able to remember how they have fixed these down spins in the past. I have seen three of them since 1990 myself. Someone needs to remind them that they have to plug away everyday like their retailing life depended on it. Always looking for opportunity, better ways, better merchandise/branding, marketing, store appearance, customer service, and then cost cutting without sacrificing the reasons why people shop at Sears. They always shoot themselve in the foot because they only have this focus when things are bad, then they loose it when things are good. Sounds like 90% of companies in existence..and it is. But it is that 10% that is Target, Wal-Mart, etc. that are taking Sears’ market share and kicking there butts everyday. Why? Because they found out what works and coninutually do it. They never stop. Sears only does it when it needs to or else!

By: Linda, Venice, Florida

Linda, Venice, Florida — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 19:02:32 +0000

I have worked for Kmart for over ten years. Lambert is an investor and not a merchant. There are so many problems within Kmart and Sears. Customer service is not a priority. They emphasize selling smart plans (insurance plans) to customers. You can actually get fired for not selling them. There has been a management focused effort to getting rid of older employees. The store manager we had tells us we are all disposible and we did not deserve our jobs.This is while the stores are open and customers are walking around. He would make fun of the older customers and say he hated them. I work in southwest Florida and we have alot of older people here. This guy is held up as a model store manager and I have never seen people so poorly treated. When going to shop at other stores I found out management has been quitting left and right. So if you do not care about the people who work for you then how do you care for those (customers) who pay your paycheck. It has been worse since Lambert took over. Our payroll has been cut in half and I know the economy is slow but this is a discount chain. People should be going there but who wants to deal with no service or cashiers. As for the corporation having their focus together. We had merchandise piled sky high in our stock rooms for months because manaement was told it is more important to level the shelves than to stock the merchandise. That is what they would have our night crew do. No freight on straightening. By the time things were dug out alot was on clearance or out of date. Maybe more investment in actually running a store should be spent instead og gloryifying Eddies returns. He is one man and thousands of people are going to out of work if this guy does not trying to be something he is not. A aggressive investor is not a business manager or merchant. Wall Street did not invent Kmart or Walmart. The men who started the companys did. The reason they were successful is because they knew people. They knew and cared about their employees. You need people to want to come and work and spend money in your business. That is their failure and continues to be one.

By: Jim, Denver, CO

Jim, Denver, CO — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 17:48:39 +0000

It is Eddie’s lack of team management that continues to hurt the core of his business, consumers’ are more frustrated at their inability to purchase sale items that they (Con) are chased away to the “Evil Empire” (Big W) When Eddie does hire store and district level mgt. they are “Forced” into relocating across country with-out regard for family or forced to resign, We are talking MBA level employees! This leaves yet another sour taste in our mouths.

By: Dan, Boston MA

Dan, Boston MA — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 17:41:06 +0000

Having worked in the Sears big ticket dept for over a decade, I see a continuous tightening of return polices and a reduction of customer services. Have a problem with a just deliverd Frig? Call the store and if you can get someone to answer the phone you will be told someone will call you within 48 hour to try to resolve your problem. Nice.. as your ice cream melts and your food spoils. Cost saving by cutting customer service may yeild short term profit gains but kills the goose that lays the golden eggs.

By: Ben Wright, Riverside CA

Ben Wright, Riverside CA — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 17:33:50 +0000

I am an associate at Sears in the large appliance department. I think Sears can be fixed, however some money has to be spent at the store level. Yesterday I was helping a customer making a store to web purchase (we were in the electronics section) and it was taking a long time for the computer to load the page. He turned to me and said how come you have all these nice state of the art TV’s and the computer moniter we were using to help him purchase 2 new laptops was a 14 inch dell from the 90’s. I did not have an answer. Also relating to appliances according to our reps we have first right of refusal on alot of new items but our competition gets it first because our buyers are still stuck in the past. No wonder our market share is going down.

By: Dave C. Plattsburgh, NY

Dave C. Plattsburgh, NY — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 16:32:06 +0000

Personally I think Eddie Lampert is truly a genius. His wealth is @ stake. I know if my wealth was at stake I would be doing everything in my power to maintain and grow it. He did not achieve his wealth without a significant amount of brilliance. I trust that he has a few things up his sleeve to help regain the dominance. I would not count out SEARS/KMart as being down and out just yet. In fact, as a SEARS investor I am currently buying all I can @ this price! I will even go so far as to thank Eddie prematurely now! THANKS!
A faithful follower!