this is why Sears will go under

[Deleted]

I can't imagine why these jackasses are closing stores left and right.

Sears has a small home store near my house. Yesterday I went in to buy an item and it was supposed to be 50% off the original price of $79.99. It rang up for the original price and the clerk (who is also the manager) blabbered on about the price in the system. Ok, so I parked my ass on a lawnmower, made an online order and selected "pick up in the store" with my 50% discount, paid online, and then went back to the counter and picked up my online order.

I don't think the manager liked this, but I wasn't paying $40 extra than what it was advertised for..nope nope nope.

So last night we decided we needed some more tools for a project we're doing tomorrow. They were in stock and available for in-store pick-up. So here's how it goes:

1.) I get an email this morning saying my items are out of stock. I check the website and all the items I need are suddenly listed as out of stock in the store.

2.) I call corporate customer service who says the store has reported they sold ALL the items I ordered, so the store marked my order as "out of stock" and generated the email. Somewhere between midnight and opening someone came in and bought all the ratchets and doodads? In a fucking tool store? OK SEARS.

3.) I go to the store and everything I need is there! Yay! It's all on the shelves.

4.) I gather my tools and tell douche manager they are in stock. Then he stutters around and says he can't fill my order because he can't find it in his system. I can't reorder them online because he has notified corporate he is out of stock and the website can't process it. He won't honor the sale price because the full price rings up in his system. He blames the website for everything and says Sears online is basically and entirely different store and he never even saw my order and we has no idea why they have it listed as out of stock, but he's more than happy to sell it all to me at full price. And the more I press him the more pissed off he gets because douche knows he did that all on purpose. Hulk rage!

So I place another online order and drive 25 minutes to a better store and get my clearanced tools with no problems whatsoever, smooth like butter.

But seriously, adios Sears.

[mcsangel2]

Apr 18, 2015 14:39:30 GMT -5 papiercherri said:

4.) I gather my tools and tell douche manager they are in stock. Then he stutters around and says he can't fill my order because he can't find it in his system. I can't reorder them online because he has notified corporate he is out of stock and the website can't process it. He won't honor the sale price because the full price rings up in his system. He blames the website for everything and says Sears online is basically and entirely different store and he never even saw my order and we has no idea why they have it listed as out of stock, but he's more than happy to sell it all to me at full price. And the more I press him the more pissed off he gets because douche knows he did that all on purpose. Hulk rage!

Seriously? You think the manager personally and manually made it so that the exact items you wanted are showing up as out of stock on line? I mean, I get being mad that he wouldn't override, but I think it's a stretch to think that the automatic inventory software doesn't have anything to do with it. I worked for Best Buy many years ago and yes, online and brick and mortar stores are indeed like 2 different entities.

[Pom]

I would be ON FIRE. Sorry Sears sucks and tried to run you off since your local store manager is being such a dickwad tool. WOW. You are sending this via a Facebook message to Sears Corporate with the details about this store right?

[polarbearfans]

Apr 18, 2015 15:26:19 GMT -5 mcsangel2 said:

Apr 18, 2015 14:39:30 GMT -5 papiercherri said:

4.) I gather my tools and tell douche manager they are in stock. Then he stutters around and says he can't fill my order because he can't find it in his system. I can't reorder them online because he has notified corporate he is out of stock and the website can't process it. He won't honor the sale price because the full price rings up in his system. He blames the website for everything and says Sears online is basically and entirely different store and he never even saw my order and we has no idea why they have it listed as out of stock, but he's more than happy to sell it all to me at full price. And the more I press him the more pissed off he gets because douche knows he did that all on purpose. Hulk rage!

Seriously? You think the manager personally and manually made it so that the exact items you wanted are showing up as out of stock on line? I mean, I get being mad that he wouldn't override, but I think it's a stretch to think that the automatic inventory software doesn't have anything to do with it. I worked for Best Buy many years ago and yes, online and brick and mortar stores are indeed like 2 different entities.

I work retail, and if I "no stock" an item, it cannot be ordered as a store pickup or for shipping anymore after so many "no stocks". We always have at least two people search well for pickup orders before no stocking because it is so serious. That originally order can never be filled again even if we find the item.

While policy is that we don't price match online, even our own website, I would never get in trouble for taking care of a customer no matter how large the discount.

It is ridiculous that Sears would not take care of a customer. I've written many complaints to sears about poor customer service I have received while shopping with no resolution. They don't get my business anymore no matter how good the deal.

[Deleted]

Apr 18, 2015 15:26:19 GMT -5 mcsangel2 said:

Apr 18, 2015 14:39:30 GMT -5 papiercherri said:

4.) I gather my tools and tell douche manager they are in stock. Then he stutters around and says he can't fill my order because he can't find it in his system. I can't reorder them online because he has notified corporate he is out of stock and the website can't process it. He won't honor the sale price because the full price rings up in his system. He blames the website for everything and says Sears online is basically and entirely different store and he never even saw my order and we has no idea why they have it listed as out of stock, but he's more than happy to sell it all to me at full price. And the more I press him the more pissed off he gets because douche knows he did that all on purpose. Hulk rage!

Seriously? You think the manager personally and manually made it so that the exact items you wanted are showing up as out of stock on line? I mean, I get being mad that he wouldn't override, but I think it's a stretch to think that the automatic inventory software doesn't have anything to do with it. I worked for Best Buy many years ago and yes, online and brick and mortar stores are indeed like 2 different entities.

Yeah, because they're all back in stock now, and corporate specifically told me the store updates the stock numbers.

I'm not sure how else multiple items go from having several in stock, to having 0 in stock, and back to having several in stock all in a matter of a few hours.

It's a compete stretch to think that anyone went into the store and bought all of the stock of EVERY single item I needed when I just saw the items on the shelf last night about thirty minutes before closing.

This isn't a Sears big box store, it's a small hometown store and no one was there the entire time I was in there, so asshat has plenty of time to do his thing.

[mcsangel2]

Apr 18, 2015 15:38:27 GMT -5 papiercherri said:

Apr 18, 2015 15:26:19 GMT -5 mcsangel2 said:

Seriously? You think the manager personally and manually made it so that the exact items you wanted are showing up as out of stock on line? I mean, I get being mad that he wouldn't override, but I think it's a stretch to think that the automatic inventory software doesn't have anything to do with it. I worked for Best Buy many years ago and yes, online and brick and mortar stores are indeed like 2 different entities.

Yeah, because they're all back in stock now, and corporate specifically told me the store updates the stock numbers.

I'm not sure how else multiple items go from having several in stock, to having 0 in stock, and back to having several in stock all in a matter of a few hours.

It's a compete stretch to think that anyone went into the store and bought all of the stock of EVERY single item I needed when I just saw the items on the shelf last night about thirty minutes before closing.

This isn't a Sears big box store, it's a small hometown store and no one was there the entire time I was in there, so asshat has plenty of time to do his thing.

If they indeed do have manually updated software, then yeah......and that guy should be fired. I've never heard of that kind of system. I only know inventory systems that are computerized and only corrected at certain times of the year after big inventory counts.

Was it a different Sears that you wound up getting the tools from, or another different store altogether?

[polarbearfans]

I can see the manager seeing your name on the order and remembering you from the previous day making it so you cannot get the order. Online gets those sales, not the store. Sounds like a manager not meeting his goals trying to force full price sales, or tired of his "hot" product going to online. I'm just speculating of course.

[Deleted]

What a pain in the ass!

How ironic that a company built on remote ordering/ mail delivery and good customer service will be killed by not having items available and bad customer service. I mean, only 100 years ago you could order AN ENTIRE HOUSE from Sears!

[Deleted]

Apr 18, 2015 15:42:36 GMT -5 mcsangel2 said:

Apr 18, 2015 15:38:27 GMT -5 papiercherri said:

Yeah, because they're all back in stock now, and corporate specifically told me the store updates the stock numbers.

I'm not sure how else multiple items go from having several in stock, to having 0 in stock, and back to having several in stock all in a matter of a few hours.

It's a compete stretch to think that anyone went into the store and bought all of the stock of EVERY single item I needed when I just saw the items on the shelf last night about thirty minutes before closing.

This isn't a Sears big box store, it's a small hometown store and no one was there the entire time I was in there, so asshat has plenty of time to do his thing.

If they indeed do have manually updated software, then yeah......and that guy should be fired. I've never heard of that kind of system. I only know inventory systems that are computerized and only corrected at certain times of the year after big inventory counts.

Was it a different Sears that you wound up getting the tools from, or another different store altogether?

I went to a different Sears.

I wish I had more time and I would just keep ordering online to pick up in his store, since they're all magically in stock now. We could play this game all week! lol

[cjeanette]

I would send an email to corporate.

I worked part time at a chain jewelry store and manager was an ass about online orders. I got $3 per order for getting it ready but the store got nothing. He complained constantly.

[Pom]

Apr 18, 2015 15:46:37 GMT -5 @idaholakelady said:

What a pain in the ass!

How ironic that a company built on remote ordering/ mail delivery and good customer service will be killed by not having items available and bad customer service. I mean, only 100 years ago you could order AN ENTIRE HOUSE from Sears!

So true.  That's a shame.  There are quite a few of those old Sears-Roebuck houses in the next little town over from us.  They are still beautiful.

[Deleted]

Apr 18, 2015 15:42:36 GMT -5 mcsangel2 said:

Apr 18, 2015 15:38:27 GMT -5 papiercherri said:

Yeah, because they're all back in stock now, and corporate specifically told me the store updates the stock numbers.

I'm not sure how else multiple items go from having several in stock, to having 0 in stock, and back to having several in stock all in a matter of a few hours.

It's a compete stretch to think that anyone went into the store and bought all of the stock of EVERY single item I needed when I just saw the items on the shelf last night about thirty minutes before closing.

This isn't a Sears big box store, it's a small hometown store and no one was there the entire time I was in there, so asshat has plenty of time to do his thing.

If they indeed do have manually updated software, then yeah......and that guy should be fired. I've never heard of that kind of system. I only know inventory systems that are computerized and only corrected at certain times of the year after big inventory counts.

Was it a different Sears that you wound up getting the tools from, or another different store altogether?

Most retailers that I've worked for have a systemic method of zeroing out inventory apart from the biannual or annual physical inventories. They need a method of damaging out product, accounting for theft, etc. Plus, a lot of retailers cycle count (random or regular inventory counting of a item or set of items).

It would not surprise me if the manager zeroed out your items and then counted them back in stock later. Tricky Dicky.

[Deleted]

Our inventory system updates automatically when something is sold but we can also go in and make manual changes in case of system mistakes. The company I work for doesn't have online ordering so I have never seen that happen but I could totally see a lazy employee just adjust the balances because they didn't feel like picking the order.

[pumpkin]

This makes me sad because Sears used to be great and Craftsman tools have lasted for me. I've also bought 2 tvs at Sears because they were willing to beat the sale price at other area stores on the same tv when we asked.

[Norticprincess]

I hate Sears used to be great after the last few years of interactions I refuse to buy anything. There is a patio set MIL sent that matches what we want - I'll pay 2x more and buy the similar one elsewhere.

After our Craftsman lawnmower burst into flames and they didn't care it was in warranty. The thing was off - luckily it wasn't back in the garage.
My mum order DH a rolling tool chest online. It was missing a piece - they won't just send the missing piece (kept shifting the blame and transferring us to different people) nor allow us to exchange it in store. They were being really strange about authorizing a return. Then even though it was defective (missing a wheel) we were going to need to pay the shipping to return it. DH finally bought a new set of wheels at a local place.

There are a bunch of other little things - including unfulfilled orders that they'd already charged the card for and tried to refuse to refund money because it was just back ordered (for months-when it was in stock when ordered and email said in stock) these were the last two made us done with Sears.

[livinitup]

Do people REALLY pay full price in the store when a sales price doesn't "come up" at the register? I mean, like "well, if you can't over ride it, I'll just pay more money".

[polarbearfans]

Apr 19, 2015 8:35:41 GMT -5 livinitup said:

Do people REALLY pay full price in the store when a sales price doesn't "come up" at the register? I mean, like "well, if you can't over ride it, I'll just pay more money".

Yes. If they need it that moment they do. Then they never shop at that retailer again. Which is why it is worth taking care of that customer. It is rare that multiple people come in wanting the same online sale item. Usually retailers will say online only on "hot" items to save people a trip to the store.

[circa1978]

Just lurking but I hate Sears. Hate. We bought nearly $4K in appliances from them last summer. We chose what we wanted online but wanted to see them in person (they were Kenmore) before we bought. The people in the store were totally rude and acted like we were showrooming, even though we were going to be buying online. (I wanted the Ebates.)

When we did buy, Sears charged us for a permit we didn't need to install the dishwasher and then the installer they sent to the house shook my H down for an additional $150 because he said he hadn't been paid for the install, even though we clearly paid for it online at the point of purchase. Clearing it up took more than months, hours of phone calls, being transferred over and over. They refunded the charge, THAN canceled it and charged me AGAIN. On a final phone call, the "customer service" person accused me of trying to get multiple refunds because I had called so many times (having been instructed to call back to see the status of my issue and then every time I called being told they "had no record of my issue.") She then hung up on me. We finally ended up writing off more than $200 to save our sanity but I tell anyone shopping for appliances or anything else they might buy there to stay clear.

[trissie18]

In early March we went to Sears to buy a hardtop car carrier. We told the sales associate the one we wanted and then waited half an hour for them to finally come out and tell us the only one they had in stock was a return that was missing the keys so they couldn't sell it to us. I asked if I could order it online and have it delivered to the store and the associate said yes. So I ordered it that night with the same coupon I was doing to use in the store and expected a delay in being told it was available because the store doesn't have a viable product in the store. Nope, the next day I get an email that it is ready for pickup. H calls them to make sure they truly have one in stock and they say yes, we are giving you the floor model...okay, you couldn't do this when we were there?? So H goes over and asks for a discount because we are getting the floor model rather than the new one we paid for. Manager tells him he can't do that because we bought it online. H says well then refund me my money and then give me a discount in a new transaction. Nope, there is a 15% restocking fee...H tried a little more but then just gave up (if I had been with him I would have pushed harder and higher but H isn't always as forceful in these situations).

Lo and behold - the store announced last week it is closing in a month...

[winemaker06]

Only liking this in commiseration. The stores near us are crap.
We used them to have an mini-split system installed. Their subcontractors did the work incorrectly (there was condensation running into my house) and it took 7 months to have it corrected. I documented every bit and finally went to the BBB at the 6-month mark. And no one seemed to care that I had cases open in 3 different places and no one was helping.

I will also not be surprised when they disappear altogether.