I recently had to transition away from my regional management job at Sears due to the company falling apart. I just heard from a 100% reliable source near the top that Sears will file for bankruptcy protection at some point during the 3rd quarter 2017.
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Please don't post in threads this old. Start new ones instead.
Any DMs or regionals want to give us a heads up?
I get it. Maybe I am "tricking" myself, but I go back to I dont want to get all worked up and unhappy over this. It doesnt do me any good. So I try to keep an open mind. Maybe naive, but as I have always been told you can only control your perception of things, so I choose to find the "good" or some "good" in every situation. I agree that it would have been nice to have had a choice, but this is the new direction, so I support it. The good thing for me is that once I started buying stuff, I found I had enough points to cover my next purchase and so on. That is all I was trying to say. But yes you do question your first purchase as it is more expensive than in the past based on discount to points.
I will say this @3suv if the points work for they work for you. I'm glad you find a lot of stuff to buy @ Sears. I think Sears stuff is only ok. The money off sweetened the deal a bit so it made me buy when I wouldn't have otherwise.
The traditional thinking was having the retail employee spend their paycheck at the store. But due to their own choosing. Because they were saving money because they worked there! Contradictory I know but the human mind is like that.
I have worked at a few different companies over the years and that's what I and other associates essentially did. Buy the stuff in our stores at a discount.
This points thing is too much though. It feels like fingerhut credit or figis. Low budget and designed to entrap the buyer in an endless cycle of inferior goods.
I like to shop too so we have that in common. You might actually miss Sears more than I will.
I am not going to change your mind. That is okay. I didnt post my experience on yelp or maybe I find the experience okay at Dundee because I work for Sears and I am understanding.
I am getting tons of points between my associate discount, points from card, deals I couldnt use before online. It is good for me....so I like it! If others dont like it I cant change that as I didnt come up with this discount to points.
I looked up the Dundee Sears on yelp. Rated 1.5 stars out of a possible 5. Only a few reviews there which I believe is due to the profile of profile of the avg age of the Sears shopper but all say things about Sears that are all too familiar to those of us who work in the stores.
Regarding the points, we always got points to use later. We also got some actual money off our purchase which is better than points that you hope you remember to spend in time for stuff at Sears/Kmart.
In response to your question about why do I like the card? I truly am just trying out something that our company is launching and I use the points right away. I did the same thing with the Alfie. As I mentioned previously Alfie wasnt for me, but I love shopping and will spend hours doing so so it makes sense that I wouldnt like that type of thing.
I think I have got it now. You mention the softer side of Sears. I opened up A Circle of Beauty shop in Vernon Hills years ago. What was that around 94? The years fly by. I think that was what it was called at the time. I get it it is frustration not anger or anger that stems out of frustration. It is a lot different now than when I started working here too. Why not voice your frustration then on Pebble? Are you just not getting any responses to what you are saying? I answer all Pebbles that are directed to me, but obviously I cant speak for everyone else.
Maybe despite what everyone thinks here a head of HR Chief People Officer will help?
@3lkd That is what I thought reading your post! Remember the softer side of Sears & other Sears advertising? If they did that now & people came???? Worse than if they don't.
All the glitches they had during Black Friday were enough embarrassment. You're selling to folks who don't usually shop Sears throughout the year & when there's problems, you are making sure they don't return.
Doesn't the 5321 thing end Dec 31, 2017 at the latest?
Although not intentional, the company is telling on itself.
To follow up to my previous post, I can't imagine the unmitigated disaster a successful TV advertising campaign would be for any of our stores as they stand at the moment. If we actually COULD entice people to come into stores, at least for anything other than liquidation sales, the wildly inconsistent inventory coupled with barely staffed stores would almost certainly put the last nails in the coffin from the miserable experience most people would have. For those who didn't just leave full carts behind in frustration, the lines (or more likely, line) would probably stretch halfway through the store.
So we supposed to take over the marketing function too? For free in our increased spare time due to (paid) hours being cut?
I'm glad I didn't see that. I am mute on pebble because it's my nature to go off on someone like that. Go off nicely but speak up.
So we supposed to take over the marketing function too? For free in our increased spare time due to (paid) hours being cut?
I'm glad I didn't see that. I am mute on pebble because it's my nature to go off on someone like that. Go off nicely but speak up.
I saw a particularly humorous Pebble post in reply to a thread whose original topic escapes me at the moment. It was by some executive sounding title holder, declaring that the reason we're not doing any TV advertising at the moment is solely because TV isn't a viable advertising medium anymore. Instead, it was up to we associates to "own" finding new and creative ways of getting customers in the door. Uh...yeah, sure.
Why are you so impressed with a card that you can only earn points on for the first 12 months that it is open. Then what? Give me cash back cards any day if the week,
You very well could be right...maybe it isnt anger. Once again sorry you dont believe my experience. It is the truth of what was said to me in the store.
I'm not reading the so-called anger the troll keeps mentioning.
I read hurt, disappointment, incredulousness, and frustration depending on the topic being discussed here. Occasional jokes and laughter too. All make sense to me.
The troll giveaway is the incessant mentioning of the points and the 5321.
How do I know the post below is untrue? Because a store employee would not 've impressed that you had the 5321. The employee would be wishing the he/she was the person to get the app. To make credit.
In my Sears store, people who don't work on the floor have app goals. For example the backroom & office personnel. There is that much pressure to get the apps.
A real associate would have asked "Do you have the regular Sears card too? Maybe this 5321 that you have is inactive. Let's apply again" Happens at my store all the time.
The funny thing too is I really do like my job and my co workers. I have had a good career at Sears Holdings which included working in the stores years ago. I understand the experience is not the same for everyone. Nothing in life is ever the same experience for everyone. I too am concerned about the future so dont misunderstand what I am saying. And I am not downplaying the challenges in the stores. You arent helping the store associates by sounding so angry though.
@2oxq, yes maybe the associates are nice to customers. But you need to look at this. They are overworked and underpaid.
You do not want to burn out a good employee. Maybe those employees are about to retire?
SHC does not pay enough. So they are only nice to customers so they can keep their job while looking for something that pays better.
We agree to disagree. The store near me is not like some of the stores you are describing. Yes fewer associates but they are nice to customers.
You have the right to express your feelings as do I.
@2nhe,I second the feeling about the corporate trolls. Like I said in another post. The media is paying attention to the employees who post here.
The garbage SHC trolls post here about how wonderful things are the media is not buying it and neither are customers buying it.
This is addressed at the PR garbage the SHC trolls are posting. Why not learn some people and social skills. We on this forum are not morons. We do not believe anything you are posting and neither is the media.
2jqx, I am sooooo sick of you corporate trolls...
I am treated fine at the Sears and Kmart stores I shop....same way I am treated in all retail stores. When I shop at Home Depot I have to search for an employee to help me out with nearly everything once I get to the right aisle....but once again to be expected due to the large stores.
I waited 45 minutes to get my rental car at Avis this past weekend while on a trip and while I am not thrilled with that it is what it is. They only had 3 employees working at the airport and had 10 desks, so they should have had more. I bet those associates werent happy either, but it is what it is. We all are doing more than one persons job now. It may not be right but this is life today.
And oh some of you are going to cringe at this but I am not cutting up my new 5321 card because you know I like the points. I even had a nice young man in the Sears Dundee store say wow you got it. And he even asked me about the points did I like it etc.
Listen it is horrible we are closing stores......heart breaking to see the names of some Sears stores on the list where my father worked in the stores.....but I cant change that. I am grateful while I have a job no matter where I have worked.....now, in the past, and in the future.
To all those who are so angry there is nothing I can do t o change your anger and I am not trying to. It is like a women I saw in the mall who was furious when she had an appointment with H&R Block and they moved. Wow was she mad? I have to say the anger is scary, but sometimes you have to just acknowledge it and move on.
None at all. You think the average store manager has any control of this? That's like complaining to the chef on the Titanic.
@1hkz, I thought about this. Ask the cashier at Sears/Kmart to speak to the store manager and for a pair of shears.
Cut up your Sears Card in front of the store manager and leave the store. I wonder what kind of effect it would have if each customer cut up their sears card in front of the store manager and walked out.
I think that might have an eye awakening effect on store management on how they treat their customers.
The top leader makes me laugh so hard I have tears. Uber/Burger King/Popeye's. I thought The same.
To patronizing poster, @szh, if all the disgruntled employees left, you wouldn't have any employees.
Okay if someone is a corporate troll wouldnt that mean they are an employee or associate too? This is now getting hilarious as nothing on this site makes sense. We have someone who may or may not work for Sears upset with Sears for some reason we really dont know why. I guess not everyone likes his or her job. Everyone remember look for the facts. Read a 10k, talk with those who still work with the vendors. Someone on here is obviously just very upset.
@1hkz, thanks for the advice
Something you can't deny is that a lot of what has been highlighted on this site has turned out to be true, from layoff dates to the number of layoffs to names of key departures. Heck the media report on the information we share here. There is a lot of noise on this site and each post on their own is useless, however collectively our voice highlights key themes and accurate predications. A post a few days ago predicting when the bankruptcy would be received close to 40 responses all pointing towards after summer 2017 and before holiday which would be Q3. Again most posts on their own including my one now are not helpful in isolation but are insightful when paired with others. It's great that we all stand up to our poor treatment via the informative contributions of ya'll.
@MAb37l9-1amx --- Bad advice,
"Sears Card/SYW Master Card will not be accepted in stores and that they need to close their accounts ASAP. "
Closing accounts can have an affect on a person's credit - just cut-up the card(s) into teensy weensy pieces and dispose of them or better yet run them thru a shredder and don't look back
Let me tell someone everything. I have a Sears right across the street from my job. I have informed every customer that I have been in contact with to redeem their SYWR points/Award/Gift cards sometime before July of this year.
I have already informed them that when SHC declares bankruptcy that those items will be null and void.
I have also told them the minute that SHC declares bankruptcy that the Sears Card/SYW Master Card will not be accepted in stores and that they need to close their accounts ASAP.
The Corporate "Troll" needs to understand this. The customer pays more attention to the media and employees not SHC press releases.
Agree with you completly 1szh. What if this was all the media just trying to stir the pot and turn associates against one another. I still am very grateful for my job and enjoy what I do. I am proud of my job and my relationships with my co workers.
" I am a top leader at Sears. Sears Holdings remains focused "
fast eddy you need to get out of the sun
I can hear so much anger... Please have some self-respect and stop this gossip and whining.
SHC is not the whole world, but it is the company that pays us to do our jobs. As long as I am working for someone I do it the best way I can and I stay loyal to the team SHC as it is my team and we are here to win.
Now I've been in situations when I was not satisfied with the working conditions, compensation, my role or direction of the company. I had to make a decision whether to leave or to stay, but giving up and degrading as a team player was never an option. Whatever you post here please have some self-respect and respect to employees who are in the same boat going through a rough sea. Spreading panic doesn't help anyone here unless you are our competitor, media or someone who shorts SHLD.
@1qtc, Shut your mouth you corporate "troll" none of us on this board buy into your excuses and "Corporate Speak" This board is a great resource for everyone.
You need to consider this. The media is paying attention to everything on this forum.
They are actually paying attention to the employees and everything that they say. SHC does not give a crap about employee relations.
If SHC cared about their employees. They would pay them better than $7.25 an hour. And provide reasonable benefits. This SYW points garbage instead of an employee discount is running off employees and customers.
So let me make this clear. We do not care about you and everything you say is a lie.
To the top leader... how about focusing on stocking toilet paper and paper towels in bathrooms and hiring some maintenance employees. And how about some new cash registers.
FYI the shop your way Uber partnership has resulted in less than 500 driver sign ups.
That's right. Not 50,000. Not 5,000.
500
This poster is probably guessing. I say that because literally EVERYONE is thinking sears has until Late July to early December. Even if this post does come true, it doesn't mean the poster is who they say...it just means the poster is following along with what everyone thought all along...
sears going bankrupt in Q3? Not exactly a surprise to anyone who reads these forums..
I love how people post on this site, no one knows except Eddie, but yet time and time again things have been posted on this site and more times the not have ended up being relevant. It gets posted, people say its not gonna happen, then it happens....
As a company executive I have been authorized to correct certain statements made on this propaganda website. I am authorized to tell you the following: We remain focused on our transformation, just in the last year we have broadened our Uber Technologies partnership, We expanded our Shop Your Way dining program to include Burger King, Popeye’s, Shoney’s and Restaurant.com, and we enhanced our liquidity and financial flexibility with the sale of craftsman. We remain focused on long term flexibility and profitability.