Date: Fri, 9 Nov 2012 18:55:49 -0600
Reply-To: Jim Felder <jim.felder@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Jim Felder <jim.felder@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Craftsman Tools, Ace Hardware
In-Reply-To: <07f601cdbed7$d80fe9a0$882fbce0$@com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
I wouldn't worry about the quality of craftsman tools, it's one of the few
things sears has going for it. The problem is, they have not been able to
translate their Craftsman brand loyalty into traffic that buys anything
else inside the store. People who want Craftsman stuff walk in, buy a tool,
and walk out without visiting the ready-to-wear department, the home
entertainment department, or the appliance department to name three. The
big box specialty retailers are now doing to them what they did to the mom
and pop stores two generations ago. JC penney is on the skids as of today.
I agree with what Ron says, expect a filing for bankruptcy by Sears soon
and hope you can still buy craftsman stuff at Ace and Kmart. Sad, but the
department store business model isn't working anymore for most everyone.
There are a few exceptions, but it probably won't be enough to keep a
corporate chain of stores alive. It is a shame because I have always found
Craftsman to be a reasonably priced, high quality (in most cases) source of
tools. I have some great Craftsman stuff I have had for almost fifty years.
I guess their problem is that I still have it!
Jim
On Fri, Nov 9, 2012 at 6:10 PM, The Bus Depot <vanagon@busdepot.com> wrote:
> > I now see Craftsman branded tools at Costco and now others mention Ace.
> > And I think I have seen Craftsman tools other places?
>
>
> Sears Holdings (which also owns Kmart) is in serious financial trouble.
> Their stores have been underperforming for years, and in many cases they
> could actually make more money subletting the leases than they make
> operating them as retail stores. They are hoping to expand their brand
> reach
> outside of their own retail locations as a way of stemming the red ink,
> since they can't seem to get bodies into their stores. Besides Craftsman
> they also own Kenmore, Die-Hard, and Lands End, all valuable trademarks
> even
> if their retail arm eventually fails. I would be shocked if the company
> makes it much past the holidays without filing bankruptcy and/or divesting
> significant assets. Inevitably they will either join Montgomery Ward and
> Gimbels as a relic from retail history, or sell their trademarks to someone
> else. They are a dead man walking.
>
> - Ron Salmon
> The Bus Depot, Inc.
> www.busdepot.com
> (215) 234-VWVW
>
> _____________________________________________
> Toll-Free for Orders by PART # : 1-866-BUS-DEPOT
>
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