Thread regarding Sears layoffs

@4qrf yes that sounds like a horrible experience.

What I am saying is that they're separately run business units. I have no authority over the delivery team. And I could give you 100 nightmare stories just from these past few months. This morning the delivery team dropped a refrigerator flat on its face off the back of the truck. In the customer's driveway. Customer then tried to refuse delivery but the delivery guys told her it doesn't work like that. Told her she had to accept it and then call the store to resolve any issues. They left it in her driveway and took off. Just one example. But my hands are tied in the store. I have to try to get delivery to take care of it. And that's like pulling teeth.

No I think you arent understanding what I am saying. A&E is Sears. I was just saying that we also deliver and install for other companies too so when buying elsewhere you may still really be working with Sears.

The only issue I had with a delivery was with a mattress, and I just re scheduled. I have more issues trying to find repair men and having them keep their appointments than with Sears. I wonder what happens to make people cancel their orders.

Also, it doesn't matter to customers that our delivery teams and service teams are separate or contracted or whatever. Sears is Sears, as far as they're concerned.

To clarify...Sears repair department and delivery teams, which is, I believe, A&E and Innovel, are huge problems for Sears. As a manager in one of the Sears stores, I spend about 80% of my time trying to mitigate situations with customers who are having problems with a repair or a delivery. It's probably close to half of our appliance sales that have some sort of issue arise from delivery. And the amount of time and aggravation customers have to go through to get a repair is unbelievable. I won't buy my appliances at Sears for this very reason. Most of my appliance sales people have learned to accept that about half of their sales will be lost because of problems with the delivery team.

Everyone does realize that Sears' delivery/installation also works with other companies under I believe the A&E name right? So "Sears" doesn't just deliver/install for Sears. We do for other companies as well.

Seriously guys. NOTHING is made the way it used to be. However, Sears parts and service are horrific. So if you can buy from a retailer who's service team is better than Sears, go for it.

Knock on wood but the orginal stove made by Kenmore came with the house and still works just fine except the timer. No problem, I just use a portable one. The house was built in 1984. The refrigerator was a 93? Kenmore and it lasted til 2016 before it gave out. My dishwasher that was. Top rated customer reports Kenmore is six years old and washes like crap. The rack busted up too top nd bottom. The Kenmore washer lasted 3 years but it was extremely noisy from day one. I refused to call about it because they sent a sketchy guy that shook me down for more money when installing the dishwasher. I was also an employee so I figured they could care less. I have since bought my washer and new refrigerator from Home Depot. Cheaper and faster free delivery and takeaway.

@3qel - This environmentalist sure has, but the government and the short-sighted corporations don't care what I think. :-(

@2vud- Cars are no better. Being that I am in a larger town we have a lot of salvage yards, so on the freeways I always see trucks hauling flatbeds full crushed cars and a lot of the vehicles that I can identify at a glance are less than 10 years old.

They can't all be disposed of due to being totalled in a wreck. I'm betting a lot of them hit the junkyard without so much as a scratch but instead of out of warranty mechanical or "computer"/electrical issues.

Haven't environmentalists ever given thought that something sturdy yet not exactly the best at efficiency is better for the environment than something that is energy/water/fuel efficient yet inferior in build quality that the lifespan of the given product (car, washing machine, etc) is doomed to a short lifespan from the start?

Interesting. I have a top load Kenmore Elite washer made by LG, and I so far love it. I have I think just Kenmore range and have run the self cleaning at least once. I agree that things dont last as long as they used to, but in general, I expect about 8-10 years on my stuff. I am in my 40s, and that is how long I have seen appliances last during my life. My next thing to replace is a furnace and air conditioner. I have had those about 14 years and am getting nervous that amy day they will die. It sounds like you have a lot of knowledge about appliances. I agree it is a shame things dont last the way they used to. The worst is the cars with all the gadgets as everything seems to break on those and cost a fortune.

Went with a closeout $75 Lowes special that is in its third season. Stored inside and covered when outside.

Anything more than that is a waste of

money.

They're all

Made in China.

Kenmore in the 80s and 90s was solid stuff (actually I'd say right up to the mid-2000s).

The old Kenmore washers and dryers every one seemed to have in the 80s are solid. They were built by Whirlpool. Most are still running today. My grandparents still have their 1989 Kenmore set. I don't think either have had a repair. Today, only Speed Queen would be as reliable as these old Kenmores.

The new Kenmore stuff mostly s---s. To be fair, everyone else s---s due to building to meet a price point, planned obsolescence and government regulations.

Whirlpool used to build the best dishwasher (after Hobart sold the KitchenAid division to Whirlpool; the Hobart/KitchenAid design ceased production shortly after the takeover). Whirlpool, KitchenAid and Kenmore used to be too performers. Now, they all have PLASTIC fish-tank type pump motors (designed for low water use) and the wash performance s---s.

The new HE top-load washers are all poor performers. Doesn't matter if it's a Whirlpool, LG or Samsung...low water use does not work in a top loader like it can in a front loader. They are no more reliable than a front load machine I don't know why people insist on an HE top loader.

Ranges and ovens aren't as long lasting as they used to be. In fact, the control boards aren't really protected all that well from vapor and heat. Appliance techs are advising to never run the self clean cycle as the control board will die during the process.

Speaking of grills, there was a funny post on Pebble this weekend. A Sears associate was lamenting the exodus of third party tenants (e.g. Miracle Ear, Optical, Portrait Studio, etc.) from the stores that was resulting in large empty spaces. Some more presumably realistic posters noted that their stores were now just using such spaces for bulk storage, including said grills.

Naturally, there was a corporate lackey who quickly chimed in that they were hard at work trying to find new tenants to rent out the spaces, and oh by the way, surely we could help out trying to find new businesses that wanted to be in our stores. (Because we sure want to do their marketing jobs for near-minimum wage.)

What do you mean I havent taken my appliances out of the box. They were delivered and installed.....all good and I love them. No issues....

Kenmore = crap. Has since the 80's. Where have you been?

Either that last comment was sarcasm, or you've never taken it out of the box.

To the poster below me, You are very lucky with those Elite appliances. The my Sears.com community is filled with complaints about problems with them. The ice maker on the fridge comes to mind and the rusting washer. I see the company taking no responsibility and attempting to blame the CUSTOMER. Charging them for service on a faulty product or the worst. Making them wait months for service repairs and parts after the CUSTOMER was s---ered into buying the protection plan.

My store has CUSTOMERS coming in with these issues as well.

So far no problems with my Kenmore Elite appliances. I know the washer/dryer top load was made by LG, and I love it. I don't know who made my refrigerator or my oven, but I really like them so far. Of course, my favorite is the washer/dryer with how many clothes can fit in them and how they conserve water and of course the steam treatment is interesting to me. I am guessing the previous post was from a commissioned appliance associate in the stores as you would be one of the only groups that know who makes multiple categories. My canister vac is good...it's Kenmore...it probably has been about 4 years ago now I bought it....it is purple.

A Kenmore grill from 10 years ago was probably built by an established brand name, like Weber or Char-Broil. Yes, it was probably made in China still but at least the workmanship would be better than something sourced from a third rate, unknown company. My $150 Char-Broil is Chinese made but at least the workmanship is a heckuva better than a new $200-600 Kenmore or BBQ Pro.

Kenmore has slowly transitioned away from established companies, like Whirlpool, Electrolux/Frigidaire, GE and so on. Panasonic manufactured the legendary canister vacs but they left the business, probably because Sears was their only major client and Sears probably wanted them "cheaper". Or, Panasonic probably thought that it wouldn't make business sense to supply vacs to their only major client whose financial standing is questionable.

A couple of mid-range and upper-end Kenmore ranges, dishwashers and French doors are made by Daewoo. You think LG or Samsung is iffy. At least LG and Samsung have been in the appliance biz for a decade or two. It remains to be seen how well the Daewoo sourced stuff will hold up.

The smaller Kenmore chest freezers are garbage. I don't know which company produces them, it's definitely not W.C. Wood or Frigidaire, that's for sure. The metal is paper thin and the compressors fail constantly. The refrigerant tubing has broken on a few. Quite a contrast from my old trusty Sears Coldspot 60" chest freezer, made by Frigidaire in the USA It weighs a ton, but that may factor into why it has run consistently since 1976 without one iota of a problem. Doesn't use a whole lot of electricity either, despite its age.

I've had mine for 10 years, no problems. I keep it covered

There is a class action suit on the Kenmore grills firebox rusting out. Make sure you keep your receipt.

The grills have a higher margin than apparel, from what I have seen.