Sears Files for Bankruptcy

[rugsucker]

"horrible dusting brush"

I have had at least 3 customers that had the dust brush jam in wrong position causing the wand release button to not latch.All long time Sears customers buying the 'best'and having a 'horrible'problem that they could not fix in their home.

 

[fan-of-fans]

Those Titans look like the 3rd gen Kenmore Progressive suction unit and hose from Panasonic. The first looks like it has the Ultraplush nozzle currently sold with the Elite canister at Sears. The second power nozzle looks like the Panasonic/Centec CT20DXQD that was used on 2nd and 3rd gen Progressives and the orange/lime canisters, yet it appears to be fitted with LED headlights instead. I did not know that power nozzle was still being made, it's not used on the latest Kenmores.

None of the current Kenmores use that dusting brush either, it was only used with the 3rd gen Progressives. I have one and could never get used to that brush. The dusting brush currently used with the Elite canisters is much smaller and has thicker bristles and I've been considering getting one for my Progressive since it will fit that style hose end.

 

[gottahaveahoove]

But, Chad............................

How a little more detail?? I mean, really. lolol
I, too, remember Sears when it was on top.
I loved Sears paint.
My late brother had SEARS everything! Lady Kenmore laundry set, Craftsman tractor, everything.
A shame about it all. Now, both my brother AND Sears, gone..................

 

[eurekaprince]

I was ecstatic when Sears converted their Canadian Simpsons-Sears stores to real American-style Sears stores. During its history in Canada, Sears became my “go-to” place for lots of things, especially Levis jeans and Jockey underwear. But it was their vacuum departments that outshone everything else! I finally got to see the full line of Kenmores and Hoovers that everyone south of the border could buy! Even Eurekas and Electroluxes were there for the buying. I bought three of our best vacs there: Kenmore “Elegance” (Progressive) Power Nozzle canister, Hoover Ultra Self-Propelled WindTunnel upright and the Hoover Platinum Bagged upright. That is besides all the bags and belts and attachments bought over the years.

Now we Canadians are limited to seeing Dysons and Mieles and Rowentas at The Bay department store and Best Buy. Our options have been cut down by 50% with the closure of Sears Canada.

 

[electromatik]

A few things to remember about Sears...

Sears grew into the behemoth it was during the post World War II years with it's baby boom and the economic boom that coincided. With the newfound income giving rise to a prosperity few had ever really known before, suburbanization became the manifestation of it. As people poured into the green suburbs into new, bigger homes, people suddenly needed more tools to deal with it all. As the suburbs grew at warp speed, almost overnight people needed to buy mowers, washing machines, dishwashers, air conditioners, etc. Sears was advantagaeously positioned to provide all of this. It was already a large, well known merchandiser, but it was during the 1950's-1960's that they truly blossomed into the retailer of choice for the booming middle class. They rode the wave of suburbanization to become the largest retailer on earth. They offered high quality merchandise to the newly grown middle class at reasonable prices. Their subcontracting was also taken with care as they used only large high quality manufacturers to make it. Kenmore was mostly made by Whirlpool for example and they used durable companies to make most of their outdoor equipment lineup. People associated Sears predominately as a "tool" provider, and this would later come back to haunt them.

Sears remained entrenched in this position until the 1980's. New competitors came to the forefront and one in particular sucked the wind out of everyone else's sails. The rise of Walmart surprised many retailers and many were caught with their pants down as Walmart's aggressive business practices decimated formerly dominant companies. Sears had been able to survive most competitors, although they also ceded ground to Kmart and others. Other competitors such as Target were able to survive Walmart by specializing their lineups even more and offering merchandise not carried by Walmart.

Sears' attempts to specialize were feeble at best. They tried to press on with what made them truly famous-appliances and tools but it just wasn't enough. How many chain stores are really necessary to sell basically the same merchandise? New competitors arose to sell Sears' specialties. In the end, Sears was unable to offer a unique reason to go into their stores. Anything you could buy at Sears you could get at Home Depot, Lowe's, Best Buy, etc.

Now it looks like the online trend has finally done them in. It's sad but like they say, everything changes. You can't go home again.

 

[fan-of-fans]

Chad, that was a fun story to read.

I do not remember getting to go to the vacuum department at Sears that often. Which is a little odd come to think of it, unless we just did not go to Sears often.

I was not with my mom in 1983, when she bought that cream MOL Kenmore Power Mate at Sears that I remember from my childhood.

However, I do remember as a kid, seeing at our Sears Appliance store, a green BOL Kenmore canister for $99 that I wanted so bad. It was very BOL, no covered tools, the little Power Mate that did have a headlight. But I wanted my own Kenmore canister, and I had saved birthday money, but it didn't happen. I did, end up getting a Eureka Mighty Mite though.

I did get to go with my parents to Sears on a night in 1999. By then, it had just opened, a full dept store at the mall. It was a school night, and my dad was getting some tools. Spur of the moment we headed to the vacuum department, but why? My mom saw a Kenmore Whispertone canister, a display model, and we ended up buying it as she had wanted a new one. And I can remember the great new plastic smell it having. The next day at school I couldn't wait to get home and use that new canister. It was a Friday and that afternoon I vacuumed the whole living room with it, using all the attachments.

Eventually, I did get my own Kenmore canister but not until 2012! At the time, Sears listed clearance items on their site. I saw a store 45 minutes away had the TOL red Progressive canister for $191. After about a week the price was $95! A TOL machine for that was a great deal. So that weekend, I drove to that mall, walked in the store, and it was still there. I can remember asking the saleslady if I could try it. So she plugged it into the floor outlet. She was very knowledgable and explained the features as I used it and pointed out all the attachments.

I was so excited that instead of using a cart to put it in, I carried it all the way out. Not without being stopped by security for my receipt. I remember how silly I probably looked, carrying that vacuum across the store.

And later that summer of 2012, I saw the cute lime green BOL Power Mate canister on sale for $99. I had to get one for that price, so I did. Back then there was a reasonable number of customers in the store. The salesman asked which I wanted, I replied "The green one, do you have any left!" Sure do he said as he carried one out of the back on his shoulder. I opened the box, but just because I wanted to hear what the motor sounded like. That one I never used so it still sits in the box 6 years later.

Is there room for one last new Kenmore vacuum purchase? I guess we will see. I'm interested in the Crossover Elite upright. Maybe.

 

[vacuumdevil]

Goodnight sweet Prince

This has been "happening" for 30 years . I wish they would just get it over with!