Sears is closing 150 Kmart and Sears stores and selling the Craftsman brand in an attempt to stabilize the company. Locations in Fayetteville, Goldsboro and more will be closing by March. According to the Sears press release, the stores being shuttered include 108 Kmart and 42 Sears locations. The following stores in North Carolina will close by the end of March: Kmart at 545 US Hwy 29 North Concord NC Kmart at1931 Skibo Road Fayetteville NC Kmart at 201 N Berkeley Blvd Goldsboro NC Kmart at 102 New Market Madison NC Kmart at 815 S College Road Wilmington NC The full list of Kmart and Sears locations that will be closing throughout the country can be found at the Sears website. Liquidation sales at many of these stores began on Friday. In addition, Sears is selling the Craftsman business to Stanley Black & Decker for $525 million at closing, an additional $250 million in three years and a percent of sales to new customers. "We are taking strong, decisive actions today to stabilize the company and improve our financial flexibility in what remains a challenging retail environment," said Edward S. Lampert, Chairman & CEO of Sears Holdings.
"We are committed to improving short-term operating performance in order to achieve our long-term transformation." "Going forward, Sears will be more focused on our Shop Your Way membership platform, a network with tens of millions of active members, and our Integrated Retail strategy in order to be a more nimble, innovative and relevant retailer that is better able to provide value and convenience to our customers. We are confident that concentrating on these key initiatives will lay the foundation for growth over the long-term," Mr. Lampert continued.Wheel-Alignment Package or Road Trip Ready Package at Sears Auto Center (Up to 44% Off) 6-Month Wheel Alignment Package 6-Month Wheel Alignment and Tire Rotation 6-Month Wheel Alignment and Tire Rotation with Oil Change Road Trip Ready Package View All 4 Options Choose from Six Options $49.99 for a six-month wheel-alignment package ($89.99 value) $64.99 for a six-month wheel-alignment package with tire rotation ($104.99 value)
$79.99 for a six-month wheel-alignment package with tire rotation and oil change ($134.98 value) One wheel alignment with six-month or 6,000-mile warranty (whichever comes first) Full vehicle Inspection including suspension components, steering components, and tire condition Measurement and adjustment of alignment angles Steering-angle sensor reset, if needed $89 for a Road Trip Ready package ($137.97 value) Check your nearest location’s hours here. Promotional value expires 90 days after purchase. Amount paid never expires. Merchant is solely responsible to purchasers for the care and quality of the advertised goods and services. Offer is not eligible for Groupon promo codes or other discounts. About Sears Auto Center Sears Auto Center has been servicing vehicles since its first location opened in Chicago in 1931. The award-winning center's staff experts take pride in providing customers with the parts and services they need. That begins with complimentary Performance Snapshots, which are thorough evaluations designed to increase vehicles' lifespans and performance.
Other free services include steering and suspension evaluations and wheel-alignment checks. Along with these complimentary offerings, Sears Auto Center provides patrons with comprehensive car care, including tuneups, oil changes, tire repair, and vehicle-maintenance packages. And if your battery's warning light is on? Don't worry—experts can perform a thorough check looking for leaks and corrosion or just to see if it needs to be replaced. Wheel-Alignment Package or Road Trip Ready Package at Sears Auto Center (Up to 44% Off)Big O Tires is America's biggest tire franchise, and certainly worth walking into to see what their deals are. They are headquartered in Colorado, but with over 500 stores in over 20 states, you are likely to have one not too far. If there is a neighborhood store close to you, be sure to stop in and report back to us on your experience.Not only does Big O Tire sell all the best tires (like Michelin, Goodyear, and Cooper Tires), but they also have their own private brand of tires.
In addition to selling tires, Big O also sells wheels and does minor service and maintenance such as oil changes, brakes, batteries, etc. They are also a good place to go when you need tire chains and other accessories. Ok, now some not-so-good reviews of Big O Tire. There has been an ongoing thread about bad service in various locations. Many have stated that the tire prices are inflated, so do your homework on local deals, as well as what you can get at competing tire stores such as Sears Tire and Costco Tires. It may also be worth a quick trip to Walmart. Tire deals are always out there. If Big O Tires has the best prices on the type of tire you're looking for, then you may be in luck. As with any other big franchise, you can only hope that there is consistency in service and value. Tire Stores like Big O is no exception. We have found comments where the entire service crew was turned over within a year, and unfortunately for that reviewer the new staff was not good. Comments from customers must be taken with a grain of salt however.
People will quickly post negative tire reviews, while positive feedback goes unsaid. However, our research on Internet reviews have shown an awful lot of negativity. Some of these tire stores have been called shady, and some have had to haggle with prices stating that the sales guys were not honoring advertised prices. There have also been numerous comments about the private brand, saying that the quality of the tire was very poor. If you have any experience (negative or positive) with Big O Tire private brand, or the stores themselves, please post your experience below. This adds great value to our efforts to produce truly non-biased tire reviews on this site. Of course we are interested in positive comments as well. One reviewer was so delighted with the service that he made a point to talk to the manager of the store. Your mileage will certainly vary, and if you are getting service done on your care then the professionalism of the establishment is critical. However, if they have a great deal on some of the best tires such as Goodyear or Michelin, then get in there and check them out.