I received this email from a friend. Sears really does support the troops, and we’re really going to support Sears. I hope you do too.
Sears – Christmas shopping this year.
I know I needed this reminder, since Sears isn’t always my first choice.
It’s amazing when you think of how long the war has lasted and Sears hasn’t withdrawn from their commitment. Could we each buy at least one thing at Sears this year?
What commitment you say?
How does Sears treat its employees who are serving in our military?
By law, they are required to hold their jobs open and available, but nothing more. Usually, people take a big pay cut and lose benefits as a result of being in active duty.
Sears is voluntarily paying the difference in salaries and maintaining all benefits, including medical insurance and bonus programs, for all employees who are serving.
I submit that Sears is an exemplary corporate citizen and should be recognized for its contribution. I suggest we all shop at Sears at least once.
Be sure to find a manager to tell them why we are there so the
company gets the positive reinforcement & feedback it well deserves.
Pass it on.
I decided to check this before I sent it forward. So I sent the following e-mail to the Sears Customer Service Department:
I received this e-mail and I would like to know if it is true. If it is, the Internet may have just become one very good source of advertisement for your company. I know I would go out of my way to buy products from Sears instead of another store for a like item, even if it’s cheaper at that store.
This is their answer to my e-mail:
Dear Customer:
Thank you for contacting Sears. The information is factual. We
appreciate your positive feedback.
Sears regards service to our country as one of greatest sacrifices our men and women can make. This is the “least” we can do for them. We are happy to do our part to lessen the burden they bear at this time.
Bill Thorn
Sears Customer Care
webcenter@sears.com <http://us.mc1141.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=webcenter%40sears.com>
1-800-349-4358
No doubt there are other firms that are doing the same, and I’d like to hear about them.
That is bad-ass!
The wife and I were looking to purchase some higher end appliances for the house. We’ve been shopping @ Lowe’s and Home Depot. I think I will have to change that to Sears.
Wow–that is AWESOME! My 30-year-old fridge is on its last breath. When it gives up the ghost, I’ll be trotting down to Sears for a replacement. And Sears will be #1 on my list for Xmas shopping this year. Thanks for the info!
I heard about this years ago, and since then have bought all my appliances from Sears.
May I recommend the Kenmore Sewing Machines? They might not have all of them on display. There will be a catalogue, as well as machines. They are manufactured by Janome. They have solid metal parts, and can last near forever. They cost about half the price of a name Janome, and are the exact, same machine.
I learned on my grandmother’s machine. My daughter is learning on mine. Mine is 21 years old, and still purrs. that’s nearly a century of service, for two machines. I’ve made everything- swimsuits, my wedding dress, tee-shirts, jeans, prom dresses, kids costumes- everything.
A simple one costs about $100. It will have four stitches that you can use to make just about anything.
There are fancier ones- mine was $300, 20 years ago. $300 today buys an even nicer machine than the one I own.
They also sell sergers. These are good for knits- teeshirts, workout clothes, and sweatshirts. These cost about $200, for the Kenmore brand.
There are some really good books filled with stylish clothes patterns out right now. As well, Simplicity is selling certain patterns for $1.49, as well as sewing for dummies tutorial patterns.
Joann’s has a new fabric diaper supply section. I would have done anything for this ten years ago. Seriously nice fabric diapers can cost upwards of $20 each. Were you to simply follow the directions, and make a set, you’d be out ?? a hundred dollars. A year’s worth of disposables costs in excess of $1,500. I thought that number was a joke. We used disposables on the first two kids, on a credit card, b/c we were foolish and money poor and credit rich. It took ten years to pay off the card that was used solely for diapers. I sound a little obsessed, but this really did mess up our credit score, affects our life even today, and- well, $1,500 is the amount you can put in a 529, tax- free. Our kids had disposables, and now they still don’t have college savings accounts.
If you, or someone you love, is expecting, this really is a very perfect gift. and, bluntly, it’s great to learn to sew on diapers- if you make the perfect diaper- some baby is going to pee on it. If you make a lame diaper- some baby is still going to pee on it.
Oh- tools. Sears Craftsman tools have lifetime warranties. Break it- return it- receive a new one. They don’t break, ever, though.
I’ll be honest. I usually shop online for most things, and rarely go to department stores as I consider them too expensive.
But I’ll make an exception in this case. Well done, Sears. I’ll be checking out the Craftsman tools very soon.
Sears online.
Sears Best for Christmas.
Wish America was as loyal to those who serve.
and you can shop online at sears.com
Sorry but I’m not buying it. I had an auto policy with Sears’ Allstate in 1969. When I returned from Vietnam in 1971, I went down to the local Sears store to buy/reinstate my policy. I was told that Allstate did not insure active duty military. Haven’t been back in a Sears store since. Won’t be going back, either. (Sears divested itself of Allstate in the early 90′s but still has my enmity.) Maybe someday they will issue a public apology.
Were there other companies that did insure you?
So, Mr. Sawyer, words, not deeds, are important.
Perhaps in the intervening 40 years, the management and corporate culture at Sears has changed just a tad.
Not only that but they do free photos, raising money to fix houses and raise money to buy chirstmas presents for the families. Those things are not big especially compared to what is mentioned above but they go a long way, especially for the lower enlisted families. We’ll be receiving a Sears gift certificate, the first time we’ve ever requested help, after spending our savings trying to fix a car that couldn’t ever be fixed. It means a lot to us that Sears is willing to give us a gift certificate so my daughter can have Christmas!
I will be shopping at Sears this Christmas, as there is one near me and I can go in person to shop. However, I have to warn anyone wishing to shop online with them, especially for some kind of major purchase like an appliance, that I have had nothing but nightmarish experiences with them in this regard. Each time I have dealt with them in this context, they have been unprofessional and the customer service has been dreadful. Getting a refund was something of an unpleasant adventure. Caveat emptor, troops or no troops.
Typically the website sales are actually a different company than the stores (at least this is the case for Walmart; etc…) – which makes sense due to all the tax code issues; etc…
Thanks for the info. I did not know that. All the more reason to avoid online shopping at the Sears website, unless you enjoy pain. In which case, go right ahead and enjoy!
I’ve buy most materials for my handyman business at Home Depot because it’s VERY close and Sears isn’t. I’ve been getting tools at Sears though just because of their support of Extreme Home Makeover, and now I have even a better reason.
They have excellent prices on appliance parts too, and an easy to use web site to help pick which ones are needed.
If I’m not mistaken HomeDepot does something very similar to this with all serving military and has several military related programs it supports or donates to if I’m not mistaken I saw some 5% donation gift card to support the troops when I was in one yesterday… opted to go look for it online and found the below…
http://homedepotfoundation.org/how-we-help/team-depot/celebrationofservice.html
Not directly related to Sears, but Home Depot gives a discount to ALL vets and active duty–just show proof when checking out.
Home Depot has also become quite vocal with support of everything gay. They have had some pretty disgusting public rallies with the Home Depot name prominently displayed.
I will never shop Home Depot again.
Please keep us informed about retailers who support our warriors; they will get my business.
And they do it quietly unlike the anti bunch who shout, are obnoxious and generally resemble a congress of Baboons. I am glad you brought this up I will make sure Sears has a place on my Christmas list Vendors.
Booz Allen Hamilton (consulting firm) did this for my husband on all three of the deployments he did while while with them. They even had their print shop make a life size “flat daddy” for our very young children. His boss and one co-worker checked in on me every couple weeks with a phone call or visit. Some companies really handle it well.
Since KMart and Sears became one entity I haven’t shopped there. I don’t care for Kmart and if I’m going to Sears I’m looking for a different experience than blue lights and shopping carts. That said I may have to rethink my rationale. If this is true I may have to change my attitude and set aside my shopping prejudices. We’ll see.
I hope this will help you with an attitude adjustment.
I my area Kmart has some Sears items they sell. Mostly
hardware items. Garbage cans, etc.
Sears stores sell Sears stuff and they have expanded
to other brands. I have never seen flashing blue lights
or shopping carts at a Sears store.
Speaking of garbage cans, Sears sells the best I have used.
They have wheels and a handle which makes it easy to take
them to the curb. The lid is attached to the handle and can
not blow away. I have yet to see the garbage men destroy the
two eleven year old cans I own.
Sears owns Orchard Supply Hardware. Does anyone know if OSH employees serving in the military get the same benefit?
Sprint also makes up any difference in pay for employees on military leave, and allows those employees to continue their benefits.
My bride and I bought a new stove last night from Sears.
Thomson Reuters (just Thomson at the time) made up the difference in my pay when I was on active duty deployments. And the difference was significant.
I’m not sure if that’s still the case as I am no longer in the Guard, but I have not heard of any change in policy.
Here are the companies that I know of (based on experiences with reservists I’ve served with):
Not a retailer, but Franklin Templeton Investments does up to four weeks (plus vacation) at full pay, and six months of differential pay (making up the difference between .mil and .corp). They also pay out the full bonus for the year rather than one prorated. The employee has the option to continue medical benefits (for family), and defer the payments until the leave is over.
Verizon Wireless does differential plus vacation time for up to 13 months for salaried employees. Returning vets are also fast tracked on promotions (one step better than the escalator principle required by law).
Intel also offers differential pay. But its a very complicated process and there are other eligibility requirements.
I was a Boy Scout. I am an Eagle Scout.
I won’t shop at Sears.