Money Losers of 2007: Eddie Lampert's year in review

All you have to do to see why Sears is losing money is look at its management and its marketing. The company appears to be in a state of chaos. Long-time, experienced employees are being sacrificed and replaced with low-cost workers who perform as you would expect of part-time or low-cost workers. Idiot employee policies are driving off the few stalwarts who remain. A company that either doesn't care about or drives away its biggest asset is not long for this world. I expect Sears to go the way of Montgomery Ward in the near future.

Eddie's got a tip for yah. "Don't buy anything".

Sears and Kmart has no business merging, since they are two different companies!!.

I can't remember anytime in recent history when a combination of two (2) losers resulted in a winning retailer. A 2 loser combo invariably multiplies the problems instead of gleaning the best of two worlds.

Any comparason of Buffett and Lampert is analogous to a comparason between Einstein and Marlyn Monroe.

A week ago our old dishwasher finally died, so we went to Sears and bought a new one. At the time Sears internet site was advertizing next day delivery and installation and -- guess what -- the diswasher was delivered and installed the next day. We've NEVER had service that good.

That's the good news. The bad news is that the salesman who sold us the dishwasher didn't seem aware of Sears advertisment, he scheduled delivery 4 days in the future. We've run into this before, locals not knowing what the store was advertizing regionally or nationally. It seems Lampert (or somebody at Sears) is getting his act together, but he ain't there yet. Guess it takes time.

I think we'll hold on to our Sears investment a little longer. Obviously the man thinks the outfit is worth more as a functioning business, as opposed to being sold off piecemeal. If he's right, we'll clean up. If he's wrong, the assets are still there and their value hasn't shrunk. The payoff may be tardy, but we should still come out okay.

Our local and only Sears Store recently closed down the automotive department. And that
ended one of this stores busiest departments.
But then the last time I went to Sears for
a set of new tires I had to wait for over
30 minutes before anyone waited on me
and then only to find out they did not have
my size of tires of which were a common
size. Then if that is not enough when I
went back again for some lawn equipment
replacement items they gave me the wrong
item for my weed eater after I even brought
the old one in to show them. It appears that
they only hire part time students now as
they seem to not understand or know
anything about the merchandise they
have on display. I think Sears Management
is trying to run their Sears Stores out of Biz
as they seem to not even have the funds
to repair the pot holes in their parking lots.
And instead of replacing some broken
windows they have covered them up with
4 X 8 sheets of particle board.
Oh well perhaps someday they will become
a discount or some type of dollar store.
I now just order my stuff via their internet
sales site when I need replacement parts
for my Craftsman tools and Lawn Items.

This is all true
I had 35 years and could not wait untill I turned 55 to leave.
Eddie is the problem, not the managers
He makes them hire these partimers
I was like a home to me and had great friends and the best customers in the world
the 1970's

Why does anyone think a general merchandise store in a department store concept is a smart investment? It just proves that ivy league means nothing, I guess. The department store as a general merchandiser died a long time ago. Only specialty department stores that stress something not offered by their big box retailer competitors survive. Sears will go the way of the dodo bird.

SHLD just completed the back half of it's bottom "W" formation. Should start trending higher in 2008. This is a holding company, not just a retail giant that has a ton of free cash flow.

Sadly hiring part time clueless help is a nationwide trend in retailing. The companies no longer care about the customer service aspect of the business only the money end. You are in their store they got you. They've got your money even though you got bad customer service and not exactly what you went in the store for. They count on that. If everyone got together and boycotted the stores with the worst customer service.... well maybe they would wake up when their money wasn't comming in anymore.

Sears was a great company and still is.all business these days are hurting its not 1970 anymore.compared to other service companys sears is still the best.There warrantys are the best in the business.see back in the 70s all our jobs werent going to india and property taxes werent 10grand a year people had money to spend and healthcare,pensions.soon we all be flipping burgers

I worked for Sears many years ago when every employee was professional and devoted to Sears. The company has changed, with part-time people now discussing the previous night's conquests with friends on their cell-phones. I now work part-time at Ace Hardware where failure to make smiling eye and friendly voice contact with customers entering the store is a firable offense. To see the results of great customer appreciation you might see Ace's % increase in sales and profits. Old time customer service is still effective. In Sears 1887 employee training manual retail truth is revealed 'Nothing happens until someone sells something'.

the writing was on the wall when k mart (a bankrupt co.) found the money to buy out sears. ever since then the name of sears has gone down hill. i worked for sears for 13 years. i retired against my better judgement. i track the stock and it is a shame to see it under 100.00. mr. lampert should wake up.