Fact 1: Kmart is still present in nearly all markets within the United States \
Fact 2: Kmart is massively cheaper than competitors
Fact 3: The Shop Your Way program offers massive savings
Fact 4: Most of the people who say negative things about Kmart have a vendetta against Sears Holdings
I've given examples of how Kmart is cheaper and yet I'm still waiting for proof that it's more expensive. All we hear over and over again is that it's more expensive with zero proof.
@kwf Even if they did have time for all the hoop-jumping, they wouldn't have time for the extra hours in the car this nut thinks people should happily spend for the privilege of making frequent road trips to Kmarts an hour or more away from them.
Eddie is that you?
You expect people to work for a deal. Most people simply don't have the time to deal with jumping through all the hoops to get a discount through SYW. God forbid you actually have to sign up in store and stop the whole checkout line (since there's likely only one cashier working anyway) just so that they can sign you up. It's poorly implemented and confusing to the vast number of normal shoppers. It also takes far too much time to use. You've got "members" asking to see what kind of freecash and points they can use and then argue with cashiers over what they think they can use and what they can't as though the cashiers have any sayso in what the register allows.
SYW/Kmart/Sears can save you money if you have the time and patience to work at it to game the system. If you're just a normal customer trying to run in and get a simple item, you're better off (time and money wise) going to Walmart.
#scs,
fact 1. Kmart's still exist in all but 3 states and are present in multiple locations to most of those people. A city with 100,000 people who have 1 Kmart and 1 Walmart have the exact same access to both stores. A city with 1 million people, 2 Kmart's, and 6 Walmart have access to Kmart within 10 or 20 miles. Kmart may not have as many stores as competitors, but that doesn't mean that they aren't present for the majority of people. If there is no Kmart then of course the distance is too far, but most places still have Kmarts. There is no law that states that every store has to be present in every market. There are no Dillards in New York City and it would be too far for anyone in New York City to drive to Virginia to shop at one... that doesn't mean that Dillards doesn't have relevance to the customers who they serve in Virginia.
Fact2. I have demonstrated the ways Kmart is massively cheaper than competitors.
Fact3. Probably is a bit overcomplicated, but the biggest problem with it is that the customers, cashiers, and non customers haven't had the benefits of it and how it works properly promoted.
Fact 4. That's fine, but it's interesting that when those people say bad things about Sears and Kmart its ok, but when challenged on it by people who see the good in Sears and Kmart, then we're told that this isn't the place for that.
Fact 5. Sears Holdings reported profitability in their last quarter
Fact 1. Kmart is NOT present to most people in the United States and is becoming less relevant daily.
Fact 2. Kmart is massively more expensive than competitors simply because people would have to drive several hours wasting time and fuel to visit a Kmart.
Fact 3. The Shop Your Way Program seems to be a nightmare to use and or have Kmart figure out properly.
Fact 4. Most people who have negative things to say about Kmart or Sears are saying it because Sears Holding is failing and the quality of service is terrible.
Fact 5. Kmart and Sears will probably be totally defunct within a year
@lte, well thank you! I'm OP and I have to say that I do agree. My problem was that every time I tried to discuss the problems at Kmart and how they could be fixed, all I got were messages that Kmart was more expensive. I'm glad that someone has recognized that Kmart is cheaper. There are many things that Kmart needs to fix, but price is their strong point.
I think the technology needs to be updated, the stores need a bit of love and care, employee moral needs a boost, a standardized employee training program that ensures standards across the company needs to be implemented, and advertising needs to begin. As you points out the price advantage is of no use if customers don't know about it.
Kmart is a much smaller store base than even this time last year. 363 stores is not the same as 800 or 1200 so I'm hopeful that the company will move forward now that it is stable and has it's base of profitable and best stores.
You have done a nice job highlighting some of the price advantages Kmart offers.
Unfortunately shopping is about more than price, particularly when there is such a lack of transparency as to price as with SYW. Think this is one of those cases where you may be perfectly right, but that doesn't matter. There's a reason that Kmart same store comps is shrinking at double digits - poor store experience, outdated technology, poor selection, bad customer service, and on and on. You buy many things for many reasons, and price isn't the only one. Until some of those other things are fixed the negative results will continue.