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#1 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: North Texas
Posts: 3,498
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Anyone else miss Sears?
I was reading a post where a guy found a JC Penny's brand spare tire under a 69 C10 he had just acquired. That reminded me of other department store-branded tires like Montgomery Wards, and of course Sears. Can you think of any others?
I really miss Sears, at least the 1960s-early 2000s versions. That's where I bought 90% of my tools, a couple lawnmowers, and all of our appliances. They did so much Kenmore business, there were usually 3-4 sales people in just that department. And just like their Craftsman tools, their rubber garden hoses had a lifetime warranty, but they would last 20 years or more. Times change. We've sold our souls to big box stores and Amazon.
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Mike 1969 C10 LWB -- owned for 35 years. 350/TH350, 3.08 posi, 1st Gen Vintage Air, AAW wiring harness, 5-lug conversion, 1985 spindles and brakes. 1982 C10 SWB -- sold 1981 C10 Silverado LWB -- sold, but wish I still had it! 1969 C10 (not the current one) that I bought in the early 1980s. Paid $1200; sold for $1500 a few years later. Just a hint at the appreciation that was coming. Retired as a factory automation products salesman. Worked part-time over the years for an engine builder and a classic car repair shop. Member here for 24 years! This is the very first car/truck Internet forum I joined. I still used a dial-up modem back then! |
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#2 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Waterford California
Posts: 2,533
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Re: Anyone else miss Sears?
My local Ace Hardware carries the Craftsman Tool line and I was told by an employee they honor the "Lifetime Warranty"
I've never had to take a Craftsman Tool back....I usually lose it and have to replace it. I supported myself thru school busting tires at Monkey Wards. They had a full service Auto Center, Tires, Batteries, Oil Changes, Brakes, Tune-ups, Frontend Work and Alignment. They actually employed some pretty talented and knowledgeable people back then. |
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#3 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Oklahoma City, OK
Posts: 2,553
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Re: Anyone else miss Sears?
They were Amazon before Amazon. I remember looking through the catalog as a kid when I was getting old enough that working on cars was starting to sound interesting. They had a rather robust selection of engine parts. In my town, we only had a Sears Catalog store but we did have a full service Montgomery Wards complete with auto shop.
One of my first tool purchases was a set of Craftsman pliers(normal, needle nose, diagonal and linemans). While Craftsman, they were made in Japan. They have held up, still have them several decades later. |
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#4 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Orem, Utah
Posts: 7,917
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Re: Anyone else miss Sears?
We used to have a Sears service center near here. I could walk it and buy sockets for pennies on the dollar.
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I have sworn upon the altar of God, eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man. - Thomas Jefferson |
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#5 | |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: North Texas
Posts: 3,498
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Re: Anyone else miss Sears?
Quote:
Heck, you could even find good mechanics working at gas stations back then. I remember getting a 4-wheel brake job at one. Also, a guy literally working under a shade tree (because his single shop bay had a car in it) showed me how to set the points and ignition timing on my 283, after I had changed intake manifold and carb. I think he charged me around $2 labor.
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Mike 1969 C10 LWB -- owned for 35 years. 350/TH350, 3.08 posi, 1st Gen Vintage Air, AAW wiring harness, 5-lug conversion, 1985 spindles and brakes. 1982 C10 SWB -- sold 1981 C10 Silverado LWB -- sold, but wish I still had it! 1969 C10 (not the current one) that I bought in the early 1980s. Paid $1200; sold for $1500 a few years later. Just a hint at the appreciation that was coming. Retired as a factory automation products salesman. Worked part-time over the years for an engine builder and a classic car repair shop. Member here for 24 years! This is the very first car/truck Internet forum I joined. I still used a dial-up modem back then! Last edited by MikeB; Today at 02:50 PM. |
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#6 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: TN.
Posts: 8,147
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Re: Anyone else miss Sears?
Yes, I do.
My Grandpa loved Sears. My brother and I share his tools and his Old Craftsman box. We went thru and split them after Grandma passed. Grandpa passed first and we left them till we had to settle the estate.
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________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________ 84 Chevy K-20 63 Impala (my high school car) http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...Crew Cab Build |
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#7 |
20' Daredevil (Ret)
![]() Join Date: May 2003
Location: Jefferson State
Posts: 13,644
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Re: Anyone else miss Sears?
Sears was an hour from me but was still pretty much my go-to store. Also had a Wards store not far from Sears, wife & I used to shop at both of them. Our home town has always had NAPA, and we used to have a Western Auto. Many years ago they (W.A.) had a killer sale on tubes of grease and I stocked up. Maybe too much -- I still have four unopened tubes. Gotta admit I miss the old stores we used to buy from.
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- Mike - 1972 K20 LWB 350/350/205 RIP El Jay |
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#8 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Bowser
Posts: 13,626
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Re: Anyone else miss Sears?
We don’t have the store anymore but we still have the Sears parking lot. A weekly Wednesday car meet started before the store closed. It’s gotten larger every year.
It’s in Nanaimo BC on Vancouver Island. https://www.flickr.com/photos/vihr/a...th/53955371964 |
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#9 |
Registered User
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Northern Calif.
Posts: 3,697
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Re: Anyone else miss Sears?
Wards and Sears sold everything back in the day. Used to get tires at Wards. My Ted Williams Model 100 was a big purchase for me at Sears. And plinking ammo. I miss Sears and Wards, Western Auto, Coast to Coast. Different times nowadays.
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#10 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: North Texas
Posts: 3,498
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Re: Anyone else miss Sears?
I forgot about Western Auto. We had a store 1/2 mile from my parent's house, and another on the town square (!) where I went to college. I remember getting things like gaskets and spark plugs there, but I think you could even get rings and bearings. Oh yeah, along with a refrigerator and lawnmower.
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Mike 1969 C10 LWB -- owned for 35 years. 350/TH350, 3.08 posi, 1st Gen Vintage Air, AAW wiring harness, 5-lug conversion, 1985 spindles and brakes. 1982 C10 SWB -- sold 1981 C10 Silverado LWB -- sold, but wish I still had it! 1969 C10 (not the current one) that I bought in the early 1980s. Paid $1200; sold for $1500 a few years later. Just a hint at the appreciation that was coming. Retired as a factory automation products salesman. Worked part-time over the years for an engine builder and a classic car repair shop. Member here for 24 years! This is the very first car/truck Internet forum I joined. I still used a dial-up modem back then! |
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#11 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Denton, Texas
Posts: 1,723
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Re: Anyone else miss Sears?
K-Mart used to have an automobile service section as well.
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1968 C10 327, 3 speed manual, LWB stock height daily driver. 1968 C20 327, 4 speed manual, LWB stock height custom camper with heavy duty leaf springs rear, 50th anniversary edition. Hoping to press into daily drive status soon. |
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