Dr. Mark Posted November 28, 2012 Share Posted November 28, 2012 Back when Sam Walton was still alive, Wallie World would at least make an attempt to get American made stuff at a decent price. Now, not so much. They've outsourced as much as they can to China and India, and if you can find a "Made in the USA" label anywhere, you are doing better than me. Be that as it may, Sears used to have lots of great made in the US stuff...well... There was this guy, see, Dan Brown, who came up with this idea for this wrench that you could use to get banged up nuts off. He called it the Bionic Wrench. He patented the idea, and began manufacturing them. The wrench worked so well, the world beat a path to his door. The guy built them himself, and made a point to make them in America, from American parts, and created jobs for Americans. So, in 2009, Sears did a 'test sale' and the thing sold out. They were impressed. They bought 75,000 of them, and in return, had the company agree not to sell them to Sears competitors, Home Depot and Lowes. Sales continued to climb through 2011, over 1,750,00 of them! The company made very little profit, but plowed the proceeds back into the company. They were now employing over 30 people. So, comes time for the order for 2012, for the Xmas season. Sears starts dragging it's feet. "We'll get back to you", they tell Dan. WTF? So, one day, Dan gets this customer feedback email from one of his tool connoisieurs. Seems that the guy has just seen what he thinks is a Bionic Wrench in Sears...only... it's labelled "Craftsman Max Axxess Wrench". And it's made in China. Wants to know if Dan has sold out or what? So, they go to Sears and get one. Looks like his tool, works like his tool...and then he gets this email from Sears. Seems they won't be needing any of his wrenches after all. Downturn in the market and all that. So sorry. So Dan asks them, 'what's this deal, the Max Axxess? Are you kidding me?' So, now Sears clams up and lawyers up. Dan has to lay off 31 employees. He starts checking. This is not the first time Sears has pulled this shit. They have just had juries come back with awards of 10 and 25 million to two other guys for ripping off their tools. Does Sears care? Nope. They more than cleared that much on sales of the ripped off tools. Moral of this story? Fuck Sears. I just bought my last Craftsman tool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IndianTrue Posted November 28, 2012 Share Posted November 28, 2012 I wish the damn news organizations would report things like this so the public would have the chance to voice their opinion in the way of spend money or not spend money on the product. To not spend is the much needed Fuck You Sears that they so rightfully deserve it sounds like to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hasbin Posted November 28, 2012 Share Posted November 28, 2012 I read this a while back, I too have bought my last "anything" @ sears but it was about 10 years ago, I took back a Craftsman wrench for replacement & the guy brings me out a Challenger or something like that wrench, I says "this ain't" what I brought in & told him I wanted kind for kind as it goes with a set, kid says that is what they are told to give out as replacements WTF I got the MGR out and explained the situation to him, MGR says we don't have a 9/16" wrench on the shelf, I walk over to a packaged set & cut the package open, took out the 9/16 wrench & told him you can put the rest out as singles & walked out of the store.That was the last day I was i a Sears store. RANT OVER 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tahoe Chief Posted November 28, 2012 Share Posted November 28, 2012 Kinda like the old reliable sears washing machine ( kenmore ) not ken any more now made in Korea for the last few years instead of by whirlpool, who by the way made the sears kenmore the #1 washer for ever in consumers , well guess they make em cheaper in Korea,, and way lower in quality too ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Last Resort Posted November 28, 2012 Share Posted November 28, 2012 Kinda like the old reliable sears washing machine ( kenmore ) not ken any more now made in Korea for the last few years instead of by whirlpool, who by the way made the sears kenmore the #1 washer for ever in consumers , well guess they make em cheaper in Korea,, and way lower in quality too ! Like you would know ... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wildhorse Posted November 28, 2012 Share Posted November 28, 2012 I too would like to buy made in the USA products. Ok for example Michelin trailer tires $525 14 ply tires. Double Coin trailer tires $279 16 ply. 275 thousand miles outta the Michelin tires same mileage outta the made in China tires.Year before last Double Coin tirrs were $239 per tire.My tirr suppiler said they had imposed a higher traiff on China tires. Kinda makes one wonder...why people buy imported crap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vinny Posted November 28, 2012 Share Posted November 28, 2012 well thats it for me no more Sears Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Airpirate Posted November 28, 2012 Share Posted November 28, 2012 Just an FYI Sears for Christmas I followed the lInk to snopes below and this is reported as true. Sears does take care of its active duty personnel. --ReDonna --------------------------------- > > Sears - Christmas shopping this year. > > I know I needed this reminder, since Sears isn't always my first choice. It's amazing when you think of how long the war has lasted and Sears > > hasn't withdrawn from their commitment. Could we each buy at least one thing at Sears this year? > > What commitment you say? > > How does Sears treat its employees who are serving in our military? By law , they are required to hold their jobs open and available, but > > nothing more. Usually, people take a big pay cut and lose benefits as a result of being on active duty. > > Sears is voluntarily paying the difference in salaries and maintaining all benefits, including medical insurance and bonus programs, for all > > employees who are serving. > > I submit that Sears is an exemplary corporate citizen and should be recognized for its contribution. I suggest we all shop at Sears at least once > > this year. Be sure to find a manager to tell them why we are there so the company gets the positive reinforcement & feedback it well deserves. > > Pass it on. > > I decided to check this before I sent it forward. So I sent the following e-mail to the Sears Customer Service Department: > > I received this e-mail and I would like to know if it is true. If it is, the internet may have just become one very good source of advertisement > for your company. I know I would go out of my way to buy products from Sears instead of another store for a like item, even if it's cheaper > at that store. > > This is their answer to my e-mail: > > Dear Customer: > Thank you for contacting Sears. The information is factual. We appreciate your positive feedback. Sears regards service to our country as one of > > greatest sacrifices our men and women can make. This is the "least" we can do for them. We are happy to do our part to lessen the burden they > > bear at this time. > > Bill Thorn > Sears Customer Care > > webcenter@sears.com > 1-800-349-4358 > > Please pass this on . Sears needs to be recognized for this outstanding > contribution and we need to show them as Americans, we do appreciate > what they are doing for our Military!!! > > It's verified! By: http://www.snopes.com/politics/military/sears.asp > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHIEF DOC 99 Posted November 28, 2012 Share Posted November 28, 2012 If you're a Sears employee serving ~ good deal! If you're an inventor/manufacturer ~ beware of Sears! Alotta pirates out there, though some blackhearts have redeeming social qualities. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Mark Posted November 28, 2012 Author Share Posted November 28, 2012 More from Snopes: "Although Sears is singled out in this example, many other American businesses, large and small do the same for their Reserve and National Guard employees. Reports of such businesses can be found on the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve website." While this is undeniably decent of them, it does in no way excuse their execrable behavior in stealing someone else's ideas and outsourcing those peoples jobs to China, and thereby putting them out of work. Bernie Madoff contributed millions to charity, but he is still a thieving, lying bastard. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikethedrummer Posted November 28, 2012 Share Posted November 28, 2012 and there's the rub, kinda like "he's a great guy except when he beats the dog (wife, kids etc.)... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Potter7 Posted November 28, 2012 Share Posted November 28, 2012 what you can't beat the wife? whats this world coming to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hasbin Posted November 29, 2012 Share Posted November 29, 2012 what you can't beat the wife? whats this world coming to. You can beat your meat, but you can't beat the wife... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Satdiver Posted November 29, 2012 Share Posted November 29, 2012 It's probably pretty difficult to find much of anything truely "Made In America" anymore. How many parts on our bikes are made elsewhere? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stu Posted November 29, 2012 Share Posted November 29, 2012 So... What kind of tires do you run on your bike??? Are they Michelin....are they Pirelli... Are they Avon.... Or are they Dunlop... Ya can't have it both ways... Bitch about sears and buy German tires.... Doesn't make a lot of sense.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maninbox Posted November 29, 2012 Share Posted November 29, 2012 I still will support Sears for thier good policy towards those in military service. Contrary to what the good doctor thinks, few companies go that extra mile. I work for a giant defense contractor. They don't do anything like that for those on active duty beyond the legal minimum and they make their money from military defense contracts. Funny, I have heard that Sears story with different names for years now. You could substitute a whole bunch of corporate retailer names for Sears. I don't like that the only way to stay above water as a business in the US is to outsource and send manufacturing overseas. Defense contractors, municipal construction companies, retailers, they are all doing it. I have a few relatives that have worked for Sears for their whole lives. They make around $25 per hour with benefits - way better than many other retailer chains. Sears struggles to stay afloat when competing with retailers like Walmart where the average pay is something like $13 per hour with limited benefits. I read somewhere that something like 56% of Walmart employees are eligible for food stamps at their pay levels. We are all subsidizing a large part of the Walmart work force. Yet Walmart is the one who is likely to survive and Sears is the one who is likely to fail. Sad but true. I hate to see companies like loggerhead tools (Dan Brown) go under because due to some unethical behavior on the part of Sears. If Sears really did rip him off, he will prevail in courts in the end. But that is tough to prove. Make some minor tweak and suddenly it's not the same tool and not the same product. Hard to predict the outcome here. Could it be that Loggerhead tools was a little greedy agreeing to source only to Sears for a bigger payday? After all, that is the real problem here. I say, lets face it, we are a paper tiger. We have sold out our industrial infastructure. In the end, the majority of us will buy the $8 Walmart shirt instead of the $20 American one. Too bad for us and our future. Welcome to the service economy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ejburroughs Posted November 29, 2012 Share Posted November 29, 2012 Stu and Maninbox, you are right, a large number of us wont spend that extra $ for made in the US, that is too bad...... I for one try at every possible opportunity to buy "made in the US", as I sit here writing this with my Vibram 5finger shoes made in china on my feet..... but I do make a concerted effort to purchase made in the US products whenever possible/financially feasible. I could have bought korean Kumho tires for my Jeep for 1/4 - 1/3 less than the B.F. Goodrich I did buy..... point is, if we all make an effort, realizing that it will never be 100% successful, we may be able to bring our industrial infrastructure back into the black...... just say'n As for our bikes, even though there are parts that are not made in the US, the whole of the profit from the sale of the bike itself is American profit...... I now step off my little soap box...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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