RANT: Sears Sucks!

[Heretic]

OK, so I finally decided to pick myself up a new tool box and of course the first place I think of is Sears. I go in and pick out a bottom top combo in black on sale for $249.00 and pay for it on April 10. They don't have it in stock and say it will come in on May 6th. Fine, I can wait.

I receive an automated call on Wednesday May 5 saying that its in. Great! I go to pick it up and after about 20 minutes a guy brings out the wrong toolbox. After some back and forth where I have to explain that this isn't what I ordered he finally realizes the error and goes back to the receiving area. After another 20 minutes another guy comes out and states that the box had the label for the tool box that I ordered, but that he will check into the problem and make sure that my tool box gets there soon. Last Sunday, I received another automated call saying that it was in. Great! Go in and use the bar code scanner thing outside receiving (which says that its in stock) and about 20 minutes later a guy comes out and says thats its not in. I state that this is the second time I have received the call and still nothing and I want to talk to a manager. 20 minutes later another guy comes out and states that the manager is on the phone, but I can talkt to him. He goes on to tell me that the automated message is sent out when something is SUPPOSED to be on the truck, not meaning that it actually is. :ummm: but regardless it not THEIR fault that the distribution place made a mistake. He further states that they DON'T send out that call on Sundays like hes trying to call me a liar. He says that the receiving manager will look into it and call me on Monday. Monday comes and no call (not surprised). Tuesday I call and ask about the status. No one knows. The guy I talk to answers every question I have with 'It must be on back order' and states that he has no idea when it will come in and there is no way to check. I ask to talk to a store manager and he sends straight to a generic store voicemail. GRRRRR!

What every happened to customer service? Virtually everyone I have talked to there about this DOES NOT care. Sears used to be top notch. They had people who were knowledgable and cared about their job and their customer service. I suppose all these people were fired long ago because they could hire some 19 year old corkscrew who doesn't give 2 sheets about their job for half what they were paying the career guys.

The pisser is I really don't have anywhere else to go to buy a reasonably priced toolbox. I would ask for my money back immediately if I could go somewhere else and buy a comparable box for the same money. This pisses me off. :bang head:

Thanks for letting me vent.

 

[Lew L]

I could say pretty much the same --- just substitute Home Depot for "Snears"

 

[spursmech]

Hey, at least when you get the tools they will work and will be good quality. You will have them for many years and when they break you get new ones. Sometimes S**t happens and our plans go in the tube. Several months form now when you are enjoying those quality tools, the wait won't be important. Hang in there, Spurs unk:

 

[maleko89]

Howard, go to Menards or Harbor Freight. Sears/craftsman isn't what it used to be.

 

[RaWarrior]

You can get a toolbox at Harbor Freight for slightly more than your belly button lint, but slightly less than all the money currently hiding in your car. Yeah yeah, it was probably made by a 12 year old in some massive Chinese factory instead of hardworking American toolmakers. While the patriotic guilt-trip might work if it was a few dollars difference, but there just isn't enough difference to justify 5x the price to buy American.

Plus, most HF stuff has a lifetime warranty as well(which used to be the big kicker for Sears), so if your $3.99 ratchet breaks you can just bring it back and get a new one instantly.

 

[06VMAXIMUS]

Thats why our country is in the shape its in.

 

[bheinz57]

But he wants black!! I like my black Craftsman tool box setup. Unfortunately you have had some miscues. Tell them to take some $ off to make you feel better about all the mishap, gas being used to go to the store....Are you talking about the CB store, or Oakview?

You know, the new Sears catalog type store just opened in the old DJ's Dugout spot on Cornhusker...Maybe they can help you if you went elsewhere.

Brian

 

[texmax]

Did you pick this combo from a floor display? If so, I'd tell em to knock off some of the price & give you the floor display. Then they can replace it when yours comes in.

 

[Heretic]

Yeah yeah, it was probably made by a 12 year old in some massive Chinese factory instead of hardworking American toolmakers. While the patriotic guilt-trip might work if it was a few dollars difference, but there just isn't enough difference to justify 5x the price to buy American.

Plus, most HF stuff has a lifetime warranty as well(which used to be the big kicker for Sears), so if your $3.99 ratchet breaks you can just bring it back and get a new one instantly.

You know, I've noticed that more and more of the Craftsman tools are being made in China. I did just buy some snap ring pliers from Sears that were surprisingly still stamped USA. I try to buy my tools at Sears if they are made here, but if its made in China damn straight I will go to Harbor Freight and spend 75% less for a substantially identical piece.

I will still go to Sears, I'm just upset about the utter lack of service that they are providing me. Maybe I'll suck it up and just get the red one that they have in stock.

 

[dannymax]

Howard, go to Menards or Harbor Freight. Sears/craftsman isn't what it used to be.

Unfortunately...this is true. I've purchased some fairly expensive Craftsman tools in recent years that turned out to be junk. It's very disappointing!

 

[m-cman]

If you have a Harbor Freight nearby, I bought a black toolbox set (3 pieces) from them and am very satisfied with the quality for the price paid. That set is on sale right now for $149.99 in one of their catalog flyers which is the lowest I have seen it. I paid $169.99 on sale. Item number is 67421-1MWB. They do ship but it would be expensive as the set is heavy.

 

[FREERIDER]

Heretic, DEMAND an upgaded box or MOST of your money back!
****........................ Had my whole view on Sears and Craftsman almost complete when I back paged and lost it all. ****.......................
It aint what it used to be.
I have a 1964 Sears refrigerator cooling my,,,,, oh **** Im outa beer.
Chainsaws are ****....... 3.5 months to get one back from a warranty turn in. And they always blow up.
Biggest and worst yet,,, Kmart bought Sears and uses it the Sears name on most of its stores now. Ever seen a Kmart turn into a Sears Essentials?
I WILL PAY MORE FOR AMERICAN MADE ITEMS.


STAND UP FOR CHANGE.



WE WANT TO MAKE IT HERE NOT IMPORT IT.

FREERIDER INC.

MADE IN AMERICA .

 

[Rhoy Carter]

Sears went to **** when Kmart bought them

 

[2fear]

Sears went to **** when Kmart bought them

The other way around, Sears bought Kmart....

 

[nd4topspd]

this is what I found on google monster lol
K-Mart bought out Sears and their stock is called Sears Holdings. K-Mart kept the Sears for marketing purposes since the name Sears is an old and favorite in the USA.

Their official site
Sears Holdings Corporation, the publicly traded parent of K-mart and Sears, Roebuck and Co., is the third largest broadline retailer in the United States.
http://www.searsholdings.com/

 

[woodsman30]

Sounds like bad luck some stores are just worse than others you may have a store who just dont care. I like craftsman tools "hand tools only" not into the other crap they sell thats just junk. As far a chainsaws and lawn mowers you get what you pay for. I have owned and ran Stihl chainsaws for 20+ years and would by nothing but Stihl for the reason it just works. my lawn mower is Huskavarna with a big v twin Kohler engine top notch equipment my lawn is over 5 acres cant rely on junk. I like to buy what I see not into ordering with a month wait time I think I would have looked else-wheres myself even with freight charges you would get it faster that what have dealt with so far. just saying....

 

[06VMAXIMUS]

I think Woodsmans right. Hand tools are still good quality, but it seems like ever since they got in bed with Kmart, they hired young kids who could care less to run the store.

 

[4gasem]

Well that sucks... I bought a top box from them a month or so ago and they didn't have black on hand so I took a red. It was on sale pretty cheap. Plus I had to have ball bearings...

I've also bought about 5000 dollars worth of Range and Refrigerator from them and had zero issues with the service.

Chris

 

[RaWarrior]

I've got a late sixties Sears "Coldspot" bar fridge for my dorm room. Thing purrs like a kitten and still works great, despite being run for about 40 years constantly. I had to repaint it, since it was originally baby-**** brown, just rattle-canned it to a flat gray.

Snap-On is guilty of importing too, just like Sears/Craftsman. You can usually pick them apart though. For sears, "Craftsman" branded tools are typically made in the US, while "Companion" branded tools are imported.

For snap-on, "Blue Point" branded tools are imported and cost less than the "Snap On" branded equivalent, but that isn't saying much.

The US just can't compete with the Asian labor market. People there are willing to do more work for less money. The US labor market is unioned up the yingyang and American companies can't compete price-wise while paying union salaries.

 

[spursmech]

unk: Hey, the only reason any of us get a good wage or benefits is because unions fought for our rights. There is no reason to knock the unions. Unions will happen in third world companys someday too. Till then buy american, the job you same may be your own. Later, Spur