Sears was great until after the war. But Sears did themselves in by poor management. When I was young it was the place to go to. But then I found out their catalog dept. wasn't all that great. often they were out of an item you ordered and had to wait weeks before you received it. Also their customer relations became very poor. Once I ordered a dryer and the cord didn't come with it. By the time I got it I was billed twice for it and they wouldn't make amends. So it was many years before I set foot in a Sears store again. Today, the Sears near me has only an appliance dept. and a tool department with a smattering of other goods. Its closing this summer.