What's with Sears' ad? It's so in-your-face

[this_side_up]

Today's paper has Sears' ad which is good for Wed and Thurs.

In one shade of green, it says Mission and right beneath that is the word
Accomplished. To the right of those words, in a different
shade of green, is the word Sale. All 3 words touch.

Is Sears psycho? Are they laughing their butts off at
the slowly disappearing middle class and enjoy rubbing it in?
Do they want to go out of business? Or....?

[Raine]

1. I can't figure that out...

:shrug: I can't see as they would be laughing about the middle class disappearing that's who they target as their shoppers. My father worked for Sears for years until he retired. No matter what the customer always came first... that was their motto.

[NJCher]

2. where is this at?

Would the ad be in NJ, for example?

It is puzzling, to say the very least and certainly doesn't sound like what a good ad should be.



Cher

[this_side_up]

3. Advertising supplement to the

Tribune, The Forum, The Herald, Daily News, Standard Examiner,
Daily Herald, Tribune/Deseret News, Daily World, Eastside Journal,
Herald, Sun, Bremerton Patriot, Daily Chronicle, Herald,
Tri-City Herald, South County Journal, Daily News, Skagit Valley
Herald, Whidbey News-Times, Olympian, Peninsula Daily News,
Times/Post Intelligencer, Spokesman Review, News Tribune,
Columbian, Union Bulletin, World, Herald Republic.

The Oregonian is already out for recycle so I don't know if
they had it. This ad was in the Statesman Journal. Both
are Oregon papers.

The Columbian is Vancouver, WA. Bremerton and Whidbey
are WA state. Tri-City I assume is tri-city area in WA.
Skagit Valley is WA.


I found the ad offensive. {shrug}

[this_side_up]

4. here is link. Don't know how to post a pic of it

http://sears.shoplocal.com/sears/default.aspx?action=entry&pretailerid=-99874&siteid=171&storeid=2156159

[BrotherBuzz]

18. .

[Raine]

5. It does seem offensive

I haven't seen it so I can't say for sure but it sure sounds offensive. I just can't figure out what their point is supposed to be, wtf are they trying to say...it's weird. x(

[this_side_up]

6. Click on the link. Ad is

there.

Bremerton and Whidbey are Navy. Tribune/Deseret is Salt Lake
City so that is Hill Air Force Base. Tri-cities is close to the - I
cannot remember the name - nuke mess that is slowly seeping
to the Columbia River. I assume Olympian is Olympia WA,
not that far from Tacoma/McChord AFB. I don't know the
name of the Tacoma paper and am too tired to google it.

G'night.

[this_side_up]

7. Opps. Use zip code and search for the

local ad. 97338, 97214 or try a Seattle zip...98133 or 98208 and
see what comes up.

[Kindigger]

10. Perhaps

the mission refers to shoppers being able to finish their late shopping in one place? I found it weird Wall Hell only had a small two sided glossy in last Sunday's paper.

I can't wait for the "final numbers" to come in.

[lectrobyte]

15. That's what it sounds like to me. I certainly don't see anything that

sounds like an attack on the middle class by any means.

[I_Make_Mistakes]

8. Well, let me tell you a story. I ordered a refrigerator from Sears

October 6th and it was to be delivered 8 days later. I prayed that the old one would make it that long, it went literally overnight, and there is a great deal to lose in a refrigerator as compared to other major appliances.

Mine made it, and the new one was delivered with a dent that ran the entire front to back on the bottom one side and a major dent in the middle. Since, the delivery people had already removed the old one, Sears tried to offer me an extended warranty paid for by them for 2 yrs. I said this was not one, but two potential fault areas and no the 2 yrs wasn't worth it! To their credit they at least left the damaged one.

Thank God I didn't accept it because, it would lose capacity in the freezer and start to thaw things, the ice cubes would turn to water on the edges and then refreeze.

Ok, delivery 2 the next week. I explained to the delivery people, (which by the way, I believe are contractors, because Sears.com and they will transfer you back and forth to appropriately point the finger at the other guy) where and what the dent is, guess what they didn't even bring the new one up as it had the same dent.

Delivery 3, (next week)I get a message that the third refrigerator was damaged and they did not even load it on the truck.

Now, I lose it! I am pretty tolerant, shit really does happen, but they want to deliver almost a month later. I spent time back and forth and accepted that this would be the last attempt they had, why? because I was using their broken refrigerator and what a hassle it would be to go with someone else.

The 4th delivery: It was delivered and had a scratch at the top, a scratch I live with, even though it is on the kitchen exposed side.

I was supposed to get a gift card, and free delivery and repair paint. The free delivery was supposed to occur with the purchase, but because my invoice was in my e mail account and I had no packing slip (had not accepted delivery and ordered on line and either Comcast or Internet Explorer completely wiped my in box, nada nothing, I had no proof of purchase for the damn thing). I was told by Forrest at Sears that I would receive the delivery credit and a $60.00 gift card in 3 weeks and by another rep the factory paint to touch up

Well, it's around 3 weeks and I haven't opened what looks like junk mail, but, if neither of these have been sent, I will call my ex at the local NBC news affiliate.

Oh, by the way, each but not the last delivery, I purchased ice, loaded the cooler and had everything removed by the time they came. That's alot of work for nothing.

I purchased a range, dishwasher, washer and dryer from them last year with some hassle, (don't want to go there now), and I will never, ever order from them again. They hope you accept their bs and go away! I hate it, because we have so little competition as it is, but, come on let's get some more competition, because the biggies have lost their ability to DELIVER anything.

Someone posted about a tv the other week and was blasted by someone here, well, guess what, I'm covered (all new appliances) are you.? Welcome to the Walmart economy, where the customer doesn't get or deserve functioning appliances and customer service!

[ObaMania]

11. You must've just had a bad experience with them..

.. mine have all been fine. Matter of fact, I have a Sears card for the express purpose of replacing major appliances and car repairs.

I've never had a problem with them delivering items (3 washers, 2 dryers, big screen TV, refrigerator). Everytime, the delivery guys hook the items up; and make sure they work. On the 'fridge we got last year, we had a concern about a few things and they sent a serviceman out twice to look at the problems.

Another great thing about them is, a washer I bought that was from Best Buy was on the fritz so I bought a $180.00 service contract from Sears for them to look at/repair it. If they determine the repairs to be in excess of $500.00 they let you get a new washer (up to $500.00). Well, even thought the repairs would be a bit less than $500.00, the service man hooked me up with a > $500.00 estimate so I could go get a new washer! Now that's what I call service!

Another time, they had to hold my car for repairs 1 day past the day I was scheduled to pick it up, then with a little complaining on my part, they took 30% off the bill. That was over $300.00!

All in all, I really like 'em. The one thing I have a problem with is their apparent predatory credit card enlistment of Hispanic people. I live in an area with lots of Latin American immigrants and they all have Sears cards. Having been in the credit business at one time, I know that some companies/banks give out credit cards knowing full well that they are going to default. This is a dirty little trick they use to flip a card and get reimbursed from the issuing bank principle + interest. A little creepy if you ask me, because the Latin American folk don't understand the ramifications of going bad on credit, so they are a target for Sears to make a qiuck buck. < JMO, of course.

Anyway.. sorry for your experience. Give 'em another chance. You just have to remember that we are living in the Bu$h America where mediocrity is the norm and as a consumer you must set expectations low.

[SoCalDem]

14. Which is why I always buy all my appliances at a LOCALLY OWNED

small furniture store. They have A:WAYS offered very competitive prices (not as many to choose from , but hey)

My freezer died, and that same day, I picked out the freezer I wanted and they delivered it within an HOUR, sent two guys to help me unload the food from the old one and setup the new one, and hauled away the old one for free.

Delivery was free.

I figure I paid about $15 more than I might have by shopping around, but the hassle over delivery and the uncertainty of when would not have been worth it at all..

and the best part is keeping my money in my town.

[Nicole]

9. I don't understand what's offensive about it?

We got the same sale supplement here in Oklahoma.



To me "Mission Accomplished Sale" means that you can finish (accomplish) your shopping (mission) by taking advantage of the sale prices.

I don't get how that means they are laughing their butts off at the disappearing middle class or rubbing it in. I guess we just viewed the ad differently. :shrug:

[xultar]

13. No shit. Basically they are saying get your shopping done. I don't get it.

Where di dall that anti-middle class come from. Buhwawawa! This is funny. It is almost like that Home Depot commercial everyone was bitching about. It was funny.


Lighten up people.

[Nicole]

16. It is funny

Why search for the hidden meaning in everything? I just don't get it.

[Sherman A1]

12. Yeah, I saw it in yesterday's paper.....

Thought it interesting enough to do a double take and re-read it just before I put it in the recycle bag. So My Mission Was Accomplished, however in my particular case the Advertising Department for Sears has once again FAILED in their attempt to bring me into their stores. Therefore it must be MISSION UNACCOMPLISHED..... Not where this little part of American Shops for Value, or the Softer Side or whatever.......

[Az]

17. Obviously it worked

Here you are on a public forum talking about Sears. Marketters just want you thinking about their product. Odd and unusuall work very well for that. Think of the spate of Burger King ads. They feature the Burger King guy behaving in ways that are very socially disturbing. The point is to get your attention and get you thinking about their product.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

19. Please Tell Me This OP Is A Joke And Not Genuine Outrage. Please Please Please Tell Me That.

Since the ad is perfectly fine and sensible, I can only hope that the OP was meant as a lighthearted joke of mockery rather than a serious outrage. I truly do hope that.

[in_cog_ni_to]

20. Sears pays the wage difference to soldiers who are employees and KEEPS their jobs for them

until they return from the psycho's hell hole, aka Iraq. How many CORPORATIONS do that? Last week Sears was DU's most favorite store...this week, they're psycho?