Consumer Report: Negative Review of Sears follows...

So, I had a horrible experience with Sears. Below is the letter that went to their corporate office, and one that I will paste in each consumer report I can find. I urge you to be careful when making large purchases at Sears. I won't be back.

Dear Sears,
I will do my very best to be brief. I will not be purchasing anything at your store or online any more. My wife and I purchased a great GE washer/dryer set last August (delivered Aug 21 as a matter of fact). And up until this past Sunday, Nov. 15, they both worked great. I am happy to say the dryer is functioning well, still. However, the washer would not spin the clothes.

I called the repair center and set up a time for a tech to come to the house. I was informed on the phone, and with two courtesy calls, the tech would arrive at my house on Thursday (today), Nov 19, between 8am and 12pm. I usually love being able to take a half day off from work, but my wife and I are traveling and will be out of the country starting Thanksgiving day, and I do have a lot to do. So, I worked from home this morning.

The tech arrived at 1:45pm. I called three times and was told a message would be relayed. After 20 minutes, the tech informed me that a part was needed, and it would arrive in 2-3 business days (at the latest, next Tuesday). I would then need to call and schedule another appointment, which could take 6-7 business days (Thursday and Friday being holiday next week). This solution does not help me to wash my clothes.

I let him know that was a bad plan for me. I purchased the washer/dryer to do a job, and it has broken WITHIN THE 90 DAYS RETURN POLICY I have been given. I want another washer. We can simply replace the washer. The tech informed me that I would have to call and set that up, he didn't have the authority to okay that move.

So I called. I spoke with two different ladies. The first one quickly transferred me to an "Escalated Representative." I vocalized my issue. She informed me that I had no choice but to wait for the part, and if I am unhappy, I can write a letter to the corporate office. Again, these solutions do not help me wash my clothes.

I then went to the Sears store I purchased the washer/dryer from. I talked with Scott (MOD). He talked on the phone with someone (his direct report, I believe). He did his best to get clearance to have another washer delivered so I could wash clothes. After all, I called in the problem before my 90 days return was over. Denied.

Scott then called and made the part shipment a priority with the warehouse, and told me he will try to next day this to my house and get the repair completed as quickly as possible. He apologized for Sears' policies and procedures, and basically did not defend his company when I said: "It seems Sears has my money and that they are more concerned about serving their processes and policies rather than me. No one has really cared that I have clothes to wash and I trusted Sears' products and services with my money to do that." Scott then did what he could do and gave me some money to wash my clothes before my wife and I leave the country next week. Scott heard me and did what he could do. Scott was awesome.

Sears, as a whole, has disappointed me. On Sears' corporate site, this statement is buried two clicks away from the home page: "Sears Holdings is committed to improving the lives of our customers by providing quality services, products and solutions that earn their trust and build lifetime relationships. In our associates we value teamwork, integrity and positive energy. Our culture is defined by a clear vision, mission, pace and values."

I officially call bullcrap. Scott, the manager on duty at the Marley Station Mall store in Glen Burnie lives up to that. But no one else at your organization, that I have interacted with, cares about that statement.

I will no longer walk into your store or come to your website. I was not heard by your "escalation department" (really? you really call it that? the mere fact that you have to have one of these says a lot), I was not valued by your policies or processes, and I was undermined and tricked into believing you were someone you cannot live up to becoming.

I sent this email in on the Sears.com website as well. I also sent a copy to GE. I do not care for a reply that let's me know I have been heard, for unless there is a genuine response that inquires and cares about the failing processes within your company then your communication with me is moot.

Maybe someone in middle management or someone that actually cares about the mission and vision of your corporation will read this. That is my hope.

I will also blog, face book, twitter, and paste this response with all my social networking sites (that's close to 1000 people in all who follow). Viral information is so cool.

Nathan Drye