I remember walking through a Sears something like 10 years ago. Even at that time you could tell this company was on the way out. The store looked eerily depressing, a ghost shell of what one was. I was struck with a memory of Sears in the late 90s when it was actually still somewhat alive with customers. Kind of surprised there are still ANY remaining stores. Thought they would have been all closed by now.
The only recollection I have of sears, is that it was mentioned in a Bloodhound gang song
“You came twice a year like the Sears catalogue”
That’s it , that’s my anecdote
My main sears experience died in the mid 80s... As teens we would of course "go to the mall" and part of that experience was the little arcade in one corner of the sears anchor. It was a hopping place, shelves full, they even had stuff that caught our interest...
I joined the Navy in the mid 80s and my sears experience pretty much came to end, I would pop into the same sears sometimes while on leave and I remember how it was changing, the arcade disappeared, the catalog section expanded, the shelves got a bit more empty. It never became my go to store for stuff, by the mid 90s your right, the place (like most department stores) became dead places. Everything started to cater to an older crowd, the clothes sections got larger, the appliance and tools sections got smaller.
I imagine the remaining stores are more akin to discount stores, places where all the internet order returns and overstock goes on 70% off sales.....
I sold TVs at a Sears back when I was in high school and employees got commission on sales. Back then at least the people selling appliances did alright. Went back after college and it was a ghost town. I imagine they were doomed either way, but always wondered if dropping commissions hastened their demise.
I sold TVs there too! For a high school kid, I was making great money. But ya, it was pretty obvious it was coming.
I remember our stock tracking was always way off, so I had to always go check for stuff before I sold it. I found out a few years later that the loss prevention team was stealing stuff regularly 🤣
