munkinarts.com: the blog

I dropped in an air conditioning unit this evening and then realized gremlins had wandered off with the package of foam strips I had to plug the upper sash with.   Given I managed to roll my ankle in the back yard this afternoon, I wasn’t really looking forward to going across town to Home Depot, so I figured I’d try Sears which was nearby.  Sears sells appliances, surely they’d have this simple accessory.

I wandered into the tool area, which happens to be next to the vacuum cleaner area figuring heat wave, close to an exit, they’d surely have these hot sellers nearby.

No.  Though I did encounter a friendly worker who directed me upstairs to appliances.   OK, there’s an escalator, not to bad on my ankle.

I get upstairs, find the air conditioners and another friendly worker and…try the parts department across the parking lot and behind automotive.  Maybe they have it.

“Oh, OK,” I replied, then exited the store and went to Home Depot.  Sure enough in the front of the store I found air conditioners, filters, unit covers, and the foam I was looking for.

Now, Sears has been around a lot longer than I have.  I remember looking at reproductions of the old Sears and Roebuck catalogs where you could buy hosiery, shoes, tools, a house…yes, a whole house.  Modular, but a house nonetheless.   They used to be *the* go to store for the entire country and then some.

These days the only time I really go to Sears is if I need something from the Lands End mini store within it, or maybe a decent wrench.  But I don’t buy much else from them.  Their prices aren’t competitive in many cases, the selection is questionable, and frankly they’re a vestige of a by gone era; a hanger on in an era of Target and Wal-mart.    I don’t say that with glee mind you, I think reduced competition is a bad thing, but I think Sears’ days are numbered.

Consider, just from my example, what they could have changed to boost sales.  The accessory I was looking for is an easy up sell.    Was it in the store?  No.  Even if the units weren’t for sale in that particular area of the store, would it have made sense to put a few by the entrances with a note that there’s more upstairs?  Yes!  But none of these common sense practices were in play.   You may have never noticed, but a lot of department stores that carry umbrellas have their displays on wheels.  This is because on rainy days, that display finds it’s way over by the entrance.    Stores know to move desired merchandise into the path of the customer, but Sears apparently missed that day of retailing 101.   When there are heavy rains for days on end, what do I find at the front of the store at Home Depot?  Sump pumps.    It’s a no-brainer.

So why didn’t I try the parts department?, you might ask.  I’ve dealt with them before trying to get a replacement bulb for the dryer.  If you don’t have a part number, they won’t help you.  At all.

On the upside, I do commend Sears on having adequate staffing to assist me in my futile visit.  Perhaps there were so many floor personnel because there weren’t very many customers.