PSA: SINKING SHIP ALERT! 72 more KMart/Sears stores to close


  • Global Moderator


  • Global Moderator

    I guess the list of the latest round of closures is not available yet. Very interesting and informative video that goes with the story after clicking on OP’s link. It gives the history of Sears. It was once the biggest retailer in America. It said in the 1930s Sears was like Amazon is today, but today it is just a shadow of what it once was. They said at one time you could even buy a house from Sears. They said that Sears used to have 4,000 stores and now they have about 1,000 and that number will be shrinking soon. That is why it is probably prudent not to accumulate too many SYW points. I like how most of those points have short expirations. Often seen as a negative it is actually a positive in disguise. What Sears and Kmart are doing is like a self-liquidation.

    Also, a lot of interesting videos on You Tube too, such as this one about Kmart:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1__Qg1toSSs


  • Global Moderator

    @mrvietnam looks that way, but 72 stores is a lot. My closest Kmart now is about 15 miles away, only do the best of the best deals there to make the commute worth it (not for a free $5 in points, usually have to be getting at least a $20 benefit to justify the trip). If that one closes I’m screwed as there just aren’t any others to shift to around here. My closest store 3 miles away closed about 3 years ago now. then others about 10 miles away closed in 2017.

    Have a Sears real close at our local mall, hope that survives, but for the most part, I’ve gotten the best point type deals at KMart.


  • 500 Club

    More “Freecash”,

    $8 in Tools,
    $7 for “anything”
    $55 for $499 or more in appliance
    $20 for $30 or more in Gardening

    If only I can find something on the empty shelves.



  • "Sears has identified another 100 unprofitable stores."
    Couldn’t that have been simply “Sears has identified another 100 stores.”?


  • Global Moderator

    @zennuts said in PSA: SINKING SHIP ALERT! 72 more KMart/Sears stores to close:

    More “Freecash”,

    $8 in Tools,
    $7 for “anything”
    $55 for $499 or more in appliance
    $20 for $30 or more in Gardening

    If only I can find something on the empty shelves.

    hey @ZenNuts good to see you. wish more old Fat Wallet people would post, miss many of the gang.


  • Global Moderator

    @ukedog said in PSA: SINKING SHIP ALERT! 72 more KMart/Sears stores to close:

    "Sears has identified another 100 unprofitable stores."
    Couldn’t that have been simply “Sears has identified another 100 stores.”?

    I think these 72 closing are part of the 100 in general. Now, if your store has nothing on the shelves, hardly any staff and looks like a ghost town for the last 2-3 years, do you really expect stores to be profitable? it’s like they’ve been set up for failure.



  • @mistercheap So in some places, there are Sears stores packed with customers, freshly-stocked shelves, and plentiful and helpful employees? If so, I guess you’d be lucky to snag a nearby parking spot.


  • Global Moderator

    @ukedog said in PSA: SINKING SHIP ALERT! 72 more KMart/Sears stores to close:

    @mistercheap So in some places, there are Sears stores packed with customers, freshly-stocked shelves, and plentiful and helpful employees? If so, I guess you’d be lucky to snag a nearby parking spot.

    LOL, I’d love to know what location that is? My remaining KMart seems to do pretty well, usually a fair amount of customers, shelves there for the most part well stocked. But I can’t say the parking lot is what you’d call full.

    I really loved Kmart back in their hey day, long before the Sears merger. they were a great chain in the 70’s and 80’s. the 90’s began their demise with the proliferation of WalMart’s & Target’s everywhere then followed by the online shopping phenomenon. Remember when KMarts sold freshly popped popcorn, submarine sandwiches, icees, etc? Good memories.



  • I’m okay with Kmart closing, I haven’t had one close to me for about 15 years.
    I’m sad to see Sears go, our local one closed a few years ago and I miss it - they actually had the best prices for kids clothing when my boys were growing up.
    We have Kohl’s here (based out of WI) which I like their variety but I despise their pricing; even with their “Big Sale(s)” their prices are higher than JcPenney and sometimes even Marshall’s Department Store (not the discount store).

    I really liked shopping online at Sears for picking up at the store, since they had a special drive-up pick-up spot for orders.
    Oh, and a couple years ago when I shopped around for mattresses, Sears had the best prices (sale) - especially if you want a specific type of mattress over Costco or Sam’s Club sells. (I actually made a spreadsheet to compare mattresses and prices, lol).


  • Global Moderator

    nevermind


  • 500 Club

    It’s sad. I have memories of going into Sears to play the Atari gaming consoles since my parents wouldn’t spare one. Woolworth was another store I missed, spent a lot of $ on plastic models and HO train stuff. Sears did a brief comeback in the 90s with expansion of clothing but the current CEO, another hedge-fund billionaire basically is killing it. In contrast, Target is holding to its own against the tide of online merchants.

    make you wonder how smart these genius billionaire really is.



  • lmao my kmart and sears are going to live forever.



  • As part of our ongoing efforts to streamline the Company’s operations and focus on our Best Stores, we have identified approximately 100 non‐profitable stores, many of which will begin store closing sales in the near future. We continue to evaluate our network of stores, which are a critical component in our transformation, and will make further adjustments as needed and as warranted.
    The company on Thursday, May 31 informed associates at 15 Kmart stores and 48 Sears stores that we will be closing these stores in early September 2018. Eligible associates impacted by these store closures will receive severance and will have the opportunity to apply for open positions at area Kmart or Sears stores. Customers can use the store locator function on our web sites to find the location of their nearest Kmart
    and Sears stores. Liquidation sales will begin as early as June 14 at these closing stores. Following is a list of the impacted stores. (Note – a small group of stores was pulled from the closing list of 72 stores on May 31 as they are being evaluated further). This list will be updated as appropriate.

    Kmart 910 North China Lake Blvd Ridgecrest CA
    Kmart 9881 W 58Th Avenue Arvada CO
    Kmart 5400 E Busch Blvd Tampa FL
    Kmart 4303 Nawiliwili Road Lihue HI
    Kmart 2535 Hubbell Avenue Des Moines IA
    Kmart 5909 E State Street Rockford IL
    Kmart 4070 Ryan Street Lake Charles LA
    Kmart 215 North Central Avenue Duluth MN
    Kmart 24 34 Barbour Avenue Passaic / Clifton NJ
    Kmart 2100 Carlisle Avenue Albuquerque NM
    Kmart 1000 Montauk Highway West Babylon NY
    Kmart 25301 Rockaway Blvd Rosedale NY
    Kmart 12350 N E Sandy Blvd Portland OR
    Kmart 1072 Mountain Laurel Plaza Latrobe PA
    Kmart 5000 San Dario Laredo TX
    Sears* 10001 N Metro Parkway West Phoenix AZ
    Sears 100 S Puente Hills Mall City Industry CA
    Sears* 7902 Citrus Park Town Center Tampa FL
    Sears 320 Towne Center Circle Sanford FL
    Sears† 2201 Henderson Mill Road N.E. Atlanta GA
    Sears† 1300 Southlake Mall Morrow GA
    Sears† 2100 Pleasant Hill Road Duluth GA
    Sears* 320 W Kimberly Road Davenport IA
    Sears† #2 Hawthorn Center Vernon Hills IL
    Sears† #2 Fox Valley Center Aurora IL
    Sears* 6136 W Grand Avenue Gurnee IL
    Sears† 104 West White Oaks Mall Springfield IL
    Sears† 2415 Sagamore Pkwy S Lafayette IN
    Sears† 40 Muncie Mall Muncie IN
    Sears† 6020 E 82Nd Street Indianapolis IN
    Sears 1781 Sw Wanamaker Road Topeka KS
    Sears* Alexandria Mall Alexandria LA
    Sears Hwys 114 & 128 Peabody MA
    Sears* Eastfield Mall Springfield MA
    Sears* 3191 S Linden Road Flint MI
    Sears† 18900 Michigan Avenue Dearborn MI
    Sears† 14100 Lakeside Circle Sterling Heights MI
    Sears* 1212 S Airport Road W Traverse City MI
    Sears* Shingle Creek Crossing Brooklyn Ctr MN
    Sears* Miller Hill Mall Duluth MN
    Sears 250 S County Center Way St. Louis MO
    Sears #1 Chesterfield Mall Chesterfield MO
    Sears* 1000 Turtle Creek Drive Hattiesburg MS
    Sears* 1515 Grand Avenue Billings MT
    Sears* 2800 S Columbia Road Grand Forks ND
    Sears† 300 Quaker Bridge Mall Lawrenceville NJ
    Sears* 2341 Rt 66 Ocean NJ
    Sears* 2501 Mt Holly Road Burlington NJ
    Sears* 10000 Coors Bypass N.W. Albuquerque NM
    Sears† 3649 Erie Blvd E De Witt / Syracuse NY
    Sears* 2400 Elida Road Lima OH
    Sears† 17271 Southpark Center Strongsville OH
    Sears* 300 S Hills Village Pittsburgh / South Hills PA
    Sears 1000 Robinson Center Drive Pittsburgh PA
    Sears† 205 W Blackstock Road Spartanburg SC
    Sears 3101 N Main Street Anderson SC
    Sears* 3400 Empire Mall Sioux Falls SD
    Sears† 2931 Knoxville Center Drive Knoxville TN
    Sears^ 2401 S Stemmons Freeway Lewisville TX
    Sears* 1800 Green Oaks Road Fort Worth TX
    Sears† 11200 Lakeline Mall Drive Cedar Park TX
    Sears^ Golden Triangle Mall Denton TX
    Sears* 4502 S Steele Street Tacoma WA
    Sears Auto Center closing
    ^ Early June 2018

    • Late June 2018
      † Late July 2018

  • 500 Club

    My “real” Sears is the only one within several hundred miles. We have a lot of Sears Hometown Stores instead. There was a Bon Ton right next to real Sears and they vacated last year. In its place they’re currently installing a Target. This will be the first Target in the state. While the Sears looks empty I’m hoping they’re just refining the inventory so as not to overlap w/ Target because of course they can’t compete w/ Target for clothes & small appliances. But they should be able to hold their own with tools, major appliances and mattresses. Maybe even exercise equipment.



  • @zennuts their appliances have been higher then my local in town appliance store. Even with the coupons/delivery /installation/haul away/tax, they are higher then local store. ie: Whirlpool DWasher (according to Consumer reports)the Kenmore model I wanted and Whirlpool model are exactly same model except for nameplate. My local store was 55.00 cheaper after all said and done. Same thing with fridge. And they wont take old appliance away w/o fee. My local guy gives 1 price… included tax and everything. Even Lowes and HDepot are higher. I stopped wasting time at these store a few years ago. All you need is Consumer Reports and model #.



  • @my4mainecoons my local Kmart in Mahopac NY is like a cemetery. never busy at any time. Wife cant believe this store has never made the closing list. Not on this latest list either. But the same shopping center is building a huge Super Stop and Shop which is to open in Oct. The parking lot is a total mess to get to Kmart. Dont know how they stay. There is a Home depot and Walmart 5 miles away. But my local hardware store is still going strong. Im partial to local biz. In my younger days owned an auto. diagnostic/repair center for 24 years. beat all the competitors…pep Boys/Firestone/Sears Auto /KMart auto/Goodyear…not on price but on quality of work. If your work and repairs are excellent, price is not a factor. In my time there, Pep Boys …Goodyear and Kmart auto centers closed up. For their last 2 years in business, they were sending me all the “hard jobs”.


  • Global Moderator

    Sears has less than 1,000 stores now (down from over 4,000 at its peak). I wonder how few stores they will go down to before they call it quits. 500? 300? 100?



  • feel bad for those taking part of the 100% back in points deals.


  • Global Moderator

    @ohsheet said in PSA: SINKING SHIP ALERT! 72 more KMart/Sears stores to close:

    feel bad for those taking part of the 100% back in points deals.

    No reason to feel bad for those people. The company is still in business. I have taken advantage of thousands of dollars in 100% back deals over the years and have no regrets. I have gotten some excellent deals. I currently have $50 in points that mostly expire in a couple weeks. Nowadays though $50 is the most I will accumulate in points at any one time, just in case they suddenly do call it quits. Kmart has been good to me.



  • My local Sears lives for another day. The problem is, this is a slow death. Eventually there will be none.



  • @metschke said in PSA: SINKING SHIP ALERT! 72 more KMart/Sears stores to close:

    “As part of our ongoing efforts to streamline the Company’s operations and focus on our Best Stores,”

    That’s like saving all the buoyant pieces of the Titanic to make it sail better.



  • So sad. I will miss our sears. it has been there for 40 years. they offered variety, savings, free cash, and competition to Target, kohls and Walmart, home depot, lowes, and amazon - it’s hard to buy clothes online. A toysrus recently closed in our mall in addition to sears. this is really bad for the mall. Macy’s will be the only anchor store left, and that is getting iffy as well.


  • 500 Club

    @jbw The only Macy’s in our state closed.

    @barrytuneup We don’t have many independent major appliance sellers and Sears offers best prices and free delivery as well as removal of the old appliance.

    HOWEVER both when I bought new upright freezer and new refrigerator from Sears I kept my old units because recycling program picks up (for free) and one receives $50 check for the old appliance. The recycler is based in MA and makes the rounds to pick appliances in several states. Have you checked to see if that’s an option in your area? The purpose is to get older, less efficient appliances replaced by newer more efficient ones.

    While free removal is nice, getting paid for free removal is even nicer.



  • dont have the time or room for storage of old appliances. They also could leak fluid and mildew smell also develops. I gladly pay the 20.00 to be rid of it the same day. And my town does not allow storage of any appliance outside or even on your property. Eyesore. And even if someone does it… doors must be removed. I cut my finger 1x doing that. Worth 20.00 to me. Also for all the environmentalists…NYState has a law that the Freon MUST be removed before a recycler can take it. And they dont remove the Freon. You have to give them a certificate from the state that the Freon was removed.



  • More stored were added to the list.

    Sears 425 Union St Waterbury CT
    Sears† 3420 Oak View Drive Omaha / Oakview NE
    Sears* 4800 Millhaven Road Monroe LA
    Sears 3601 Southern Ave Shreveport LA
    Sears^ 2950 E Texas St Bossier City LA



  • Man just end it already.


  • administrators

    Am I the only one that stopped getting freecash as of a few weeks ago?



  • @dangeruss
    i’m still getting free cash. i won’t know how to spend it once my store closes, except for online.


 

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