JC Pennys seems to be doing okay. I see their TV ads, nonstop.
Sears? Not so much :(
As a young college student in the early 70s, I recall TV ads for the Sears Diehard battery, and wished that I could afford one.
Later, when employed, I managed to buy some Craftsman tools. I still have them all, and they are among the treasures among my tool collection.
About three years ago, we had an issue with our Sears microwave oven; and, when we asked what it would cost to have a technician come by and diagnose, the cost was roughly the price of a new unit. This marked the last time we bought anything from Sears, or even set foot in their store.
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They are also circling the drain. Look at what happened to their stock (NYSE:JCP) in the last year.
JC Penney’s stock is now $1 / share...
I saw here at FR that Penney’s stock is now below $1.00, i.e. junk stock.
I worked for Sears while in grad school, Catalog Sales. When run properly, it was profitable and a good place for young kids to get their first job.
The major problems are the Company Executives, not the employees. However, I believe it was crime that drove Sears out of DC. None are on the list of those being closed, probably because there haven’t been any in DC for decades.
Sears could have been “Amazon” if they were run properly.