SHLDQ - Sears Holdings Corp

[bargainman]

All way better.  I mean, it goes beyond merely search relevance.  Sears.com can't lay it out either -- just scroll down to the bottom of the results and they keep adding to the page results (instead of giving it as one page where you can flip to "page 2", they just keep dumping stuff in an endless download at the bottom of the page).

 

Eric, we need you to get back to IE testing, infinite scrolling is all the rage these days!  :-)  Facebook, Twitter, pinterest, tumblr, even the new yahoo.com etc..  Although honestly, it sounds like Sears is the first retailer I know using it!  It's a whole UX design pattern:

 

http://uxdesign.smashingmagazine.com/2013/05/03/infinite-scrolling-get-bottom/

 

with an awwward category and all:

 

http://www.awwwards.com/websites/infinite-scroll/

 

Not saying it's the 'right' ui pattern of course.  :-)

[Guest wellmont]

People enjoy shopping. People enjoy walking the aisles, browsing, seeing what "feels" good and what they "feel" they should buy. You don't get that on Amazon. There's no elevator music. Maybe that is what Eddie is trying to do.

 

people love shopping at Amazon. they love the feeling of getting almost anything they need at the best price possible. that's one reason why the stock is $289 and $132b market cap. despite the great elevator music, people don't like shopping at sears or kmart. that's why the market cap is $4b down from $12b. yes sometimes it is that simple. if they want to walk the aisle, they will do it elsewhere.

 

sometimes people just don't like to state the obvious. as a retailer, sears Lost. all these experiments? it's just a bluff. it's stalling. they lost. game over. (and i hold sears bonds @$13 to prove it.) :) sears/kmart may somehow survive as a far smaller niche retailer. 

 

sears was supposed to have it's coming out party when housing recovered. well sears is not participating in the echo bubble recovery. these shoppers are shopping at costco, macys, target, hd, lowe's, walmart, and online. hd is up 3.5 times off the 2008 bottom. if you want to see what victory and defeat look like in the harsh real world of capitalism, overlay a 5 year hd chart with shld. victory and defeat.

[alertmeipp]

That's the page I got when I do a LED bulbs search:

 

http://www.shopyourway.com/search/products?allowRedirection=true&q=LED+Bulbs

 

 

What's wrong with it?

 

congrats you guys are one of the very few people in the world who willingly chose to search for a product on shopyourway.com today, rather than amazon or google. there really should be a prize or something for those that actually try it.

 

LOL, if you go google trend and look up the keyword shopyourway there, you will laugh.

[alertmeipp]

And Luke5:23, please don't even quote Old West fund's letter for SHLD. I called them before and talked to their analyst and manager. They had no idea what they were talking about. They didn't understand SHLD corporate structure at all, but it was them who said in the annual letter that SHLD separated the assets from the liablities and if the retail sub goes bad, the assets will be well protected.

 

muscleman, I'd be interested to hear more details of that phone call.  Care to elaborate? 

 

I'm curious of your background if you don't mind sharing.

 

Thanks!

 

Just sent you a PM, as I don't want to publicly assault some random hedge fund.

Regarding me, I am a part time investor and full time software engineer. I am working for the same company that Eric retired from. :) I manage my parent's hard earned retirement money as well as my own maxed out 401k pre-tax.

 

Interesting, I am pretty much the same boat. :)

[ERICOPOLY]

That's the page I got when I do a LED bulbs search:

 

http://www.shopyourway.com/search/products?allowRedirection=true&q=LED+Bulbs

 

 

What's wrong with it?

 

 

Lots. 

 

But let's do a narrower search now.

 

Search for this text on ShopYourWay.com:  Lighting EVER 6 Watt LED Bulbs, Replace 50 Watt Incandescent Bulb

 

The first result (after clicking on it) tells you that you'll find out what the price is when you get to the checkout.  So you try to add it to your cart.  Then it tells you that the item isn't available and that you might try again later.

 

Fine.

 

So go to the second item:

The price is listed at $14.60.

 

Then click on it.  They raise the price on you to $15.08.

 

WTF!  Have you ever seen a price listed on the shelf, and when you go to pick up the item to get a closer look at it they raise the price on you??????

 

I'm telling you guys, just try to use the website.  It's a barrel of laughs.

[hyten1]

i hope people don't "always" think amazon has the best price.

 

i use to think that way, until i started to broaden my search walmart.com, other websites etc.

 

amazon "most of the time" has pretty good prices, but every so often something will shock you how much more they charge

 

i can't remember which items exactly it was, i remember shopping for toys during last christmas, with the items i pick on amazon i looked for similar items on toyrus, walmart etc.

 

some of the items was 20% more on amazon.

 

i end up splitting my orders around btw, amazon, walmart and toyrus (picking the cheapest combination).

 

hy

[alertmeipp]

That's the page I got when I do a LED bulbs search:

 

http://www.shopyourway.com/search/products?allowRedirection=true&q=LED+Bulbs

 

 

What's wrong with it?

 

 

Lots. 

 

But let's do a narrower search now.

 

Search for this text on ShopYourWay.com:  Lighting EVER 6 Watt LED Bulbs, Replace 50 Watt Incandescent Bulb

 

The first result (after clicking on it) tells you that you'll find out what the price is when you get to the checkout.  So you try to add it to your cart.  Then it tells you that the item isn't available and that you might try again later.

 

Fine.

 

So go to the second item:

The price is listed at $14.60.

 

Then click on it.  They raise the price on you to $15.08.

 

WTF!  Have you ever seen a price listed on the shelf, and when you go to pick up the item to get a closer look at it they raise the price on you??????

 

I'm telling you guys, just try to use the website.  It's a barrel of laughs.

 

Prehaps the most stupid thing is it forces you to log in to add stuffs to the cart.

[Junto]

That's the page I got when I do a LED bulbs search:

 

http://www.shopyourway.com/search/products?allowRedirection=true&q=LED+Bulbs

 

 

What's wrong with it?

 

 

Lots. 

 

But let's do a narrower search now.

 

Search for this text on ShopYourWay.com:  Lighting EVER 6 Watt LED Bulbs, Replace 50 Watt Incandescent Bulb

 

The first result (after clicking on it) tells you that you'll find out what the price is when you get to the checkout.  So you try to add it to your cart.  Then it tells you that the item isn't available and that you might try again later.

 

Fine.

 

So go to the second item:

The price is listed at $14.60.

 

Then click on it.  They raise the price on you to $15.08.

 

WTF!  Have you ever seen a price listed on the shelf, and when you go to pick up the item to get a closer look at it they raise the price on you??????

 

I'm telling you guys, just try to use the website.  It's a barrel of laughs.

 

who buys light bulbs online? what a waste of a thread...

[alertmeipp]

i hope people don't "always" think amazon has the best price.

 

i use to think that way, until i started to broaden my search walmart.com, other websites etc.

 

amazon "most of the time" has pretty good prices, but every so often something will shock you how much more they charge

 

i can't remember which items exactly it was, i remember shopping for toys during last christmas, with the items i pick on amazon i looked for similar items on toyrus, walmart etc.

 

some of the items was 20% more on amazon.

 

i end up splitting my orders around btw, amazon, walmart and toyrus (picking the cheapest combination).

 

hy

 

You know, we tends to think others are thinking and valuing things like us. Some people just don't mind to pay extra for the conveniences.

 

ESL mentioned before Sears will be interested in elderly segment, etc... if so, a sucky website will not be fatal.

 

But you got to wonder if Sears has the depth in their IT department to innovate.

 

[alertmeipp]

That's the page I got when I do a LED bulbs search:

 

http://www.shopyourway.com/search/products?allowRedirection=true&q=LED+Bulbs

 

 

What's wrong with it?

 

 

Lots. 

 

But let's do a narrower search now.

 

Search for this text on ShopYourWay.com:  Lighting EVER 6 Watt LED Bulbs, Replace 50 Watt Incandescent Bulb

 

The first result (after clicking on it) tells you that you'll find out what the price is when you get to the checkout.  So you try to add it to your cart.  Then it tells you that the item isn't available and that you might try again later.

 

Fine.

 

So go to the second item:

The price is listed at $14.60.

 

Then click on it.  They raise the price on you to $15.08.

 

WTF!  Have you ever seen a price listed on the shelf, and when you go to pick up the item to get a closer look at it they raise the price on you??????

 

I'm telling you guys, just try to use the website.  It's a barrel of laughs.

 

who buys light bulbs online? what a waste of a thread...

 

 

It's not about the bulb. It's about the execution and quality of the tech.

[ERICOPOLY]

That's the page I got when I do a LED bulbs search:

 

http://www.shopyourway.com/search/products?allowRedirection=true&q=LED+Bulbs

 

 

What's wrong with it?

 

 

Lots. 

 

But let's do a narrower search now.

 

Search for this text on ShopYourWay.com:  Lighting EVER 6 Watt LED Bulbs, Replace 50 Watt Incandescent Bulb

 

The first result (after clicking on it) tells you that you'll find out what the price is when you get to the checkout.  So you try to add it to your cart.  Then it tells you that the item isn't available and that you might try again later.

 

Fine.

 

So go to the second item:

The price is listed at $14.60.

 

Then click on it.  They raise the price on you to $15.08.

 

WTF!  Have you ever seen a price listed on the shelf, and when you go to pick up the item to get a closer look at it they raise the price on you??????

 

I'm telling you guys, just try to use the website.  It's a barrel of laughs.

 

Prehaps the most stupid thing is it forces you to log in to add stuffs to the cart.

 

I didn't notice that because I'm logged in automatically (probably a cookie).

 

Anyhow, I feel like they just waste my time.  Jerking me around when I'm trying to just buy an effing light bulb.

 

"Here's an item, do you like this one?  Add it to your cart, we'll give you a deal at checkout.  Oh sorry, we don't even have that item, my bad."

 

"Oh, and how about this item?  I'll give it to you for this price... oh now I see you like it, well I've now decided to raise the price on you.  Do you still want it?"

 

I mean, this is the absolute worst treatment I've ever had in any store, online or not.  Can you guys name any worse retailer?

[Guest wellmont]

i hope people don't "always" think amazon has the best price.

 

i use to think that way, until i started to broaden my search walmart.com, other websites etc.

 

amazon "most of the time" has pretty good prices, but every so often something will shock you how much more they charge

 

i can't remember which items exactly it was, i remember shopping for toys during last christmas, with the items i pick on amazon i looked for similar items on toyrus, walmart etc.

 

some of the items was 20% more on amazon.

 

i end up splitting my orders around btw, amazon, walmart and toyrus (picking the cheapest combination).

 

hy

 

no amazon doesn't always offer the lowest price. but they are training their customers not to care. they are trying to make the service so good and the selection so good that you as the customer won't try to extract every last dollar from the value chain. I would not expect a retailer with service as good as Amazon to always have the rock bottom price. but they are generally low prices. low enough. amazon often has a range of vendors offering an item for sale. it's a competitive market place. I know when I shop at amazon, and something is wrong with what I bought (and not necessarily defective), I can return it on their dime, no questions asked.

[alertmeipp]

That's the page I got when I do a LED bulbs search:

 

http://www.shopyourway.com/search/products?allowRedirection=true&q=LED+Bulbs

 

 

What's wrong with it?

 

 

Lots. 

 

But let's do a narrower search now.

 

Search for this text on ShopYourWay.com:  Lighting EVER 6 Watt LED Bulbs, Replace 50 Watt Incandescent Bulb

 

The first result (after clicking on it) tells you that you'll find out what the price is when you get to the checkout.  So you try to add it to your cart.  Then it tells you that the item isn't available and that you might try again later.

 

Fine.

 

So go to the second item:

The price is listed at $14.60.

 

Then click on it.  They raise the price on you to $15.08.

 

WTF!  Have you ever seen a price listed on the shelf, and when you go to pick up the item to get a closer look at it they raise the price on you??????

 

I'm telling you guys, just try to use the website.  It's a barrel of laughs.

 

Prehaps the most stupid thing is it forces you to log in to add stuffs to the cart.

 

I didn't notice that because I'm logged in automatically (probably a cookie).

 

Anyhow, I feel like they just waste my time.  Jerking me around when I'm trying to just buy an effing light bulb.

 

"Here's an item, do you like this one?  Add it to your cart, we'll give you a deal at checkout.  Oh sorry, we don't even have that item, my bad."

 

"Oh, and how about this item?  I'll give it to you for this price... oh now I see you like it, well I've now decided to raise the price on you.  Do you still want it?"

 

I mean, this is the absolute worst treatment I've ever had in any store, online or not.  Can you guys name any worse retailer?

 

They sure didn't mean that, they probably did some performance optimization such as caching that caused this.

[ERICOPOLY]

That's the page I got when I do a LED bulbs search:

 

http://www.shopyourway.com/search/products?allowRedirection=true&q=LED+Bulbs

 

 

What's wrong with it?

 

 

Lots. 

 

But let's do a narrower search now.

 

Search for this text on ShopYourWay.com:  Lighting EVER 6 Watt LED Bulbs, Replace 50 Watt Incandescent Bulb

 

The first result (after clicking on it) tells you that you'll find out what the price is when you get to the checkout.  So you try to add it to your cart.  Then it tells you that the item isn't available and that you might try again later.

 

Fine.

 

So go to the second item:

The price is listed at $14.60.

 

Then click on it.  They raise the price on you to $15.08.

 

WTF!  Have you ever seen a price listed on the shelf, and when you go to pick up the item to get a closer look at it they raise the price on you??????

 

I'm telling you guys, just try to use the website.  It's a barrel of laughs.

 

who buys light bulbs online? what a waste of a thread...

 

I do of course.  Why else was I shopping for one online?

 

Let me ask you a question:

 

Where do you shop for LED bulbs where the salespeople can help you with their own personal experience using the very same bulbs?  I like to read the comments from Amazon customers about each bulb.  They'll tell you if there is a delay before the light comes on... etc... etc...

 

The house I rent (and now have a purchase option for) has a lot of designer lighting all throughout.  The bulbs are incandescent and obscure types/sizes.  I can't just go get replacement LED bulbs at Safeway.  I don't want to go to the local hardware store and pay full markup price, and see empty spaces on the shelves for the rare types of bulbs I'm looking for, if they even have it at all.

 

In fact, I will ONLY think about online for this type of item.  So this is exactly the kind of thing that would succeed in the online format... so for me it's a great test about whether ShopYourWay offers anything that would make me prefer it as an online shopping experience. 

 

Okay???

[ERICOPOLY]

That's the page I got when I do a LED bulbs search:

 

http://www.shopyourway.com/search/products?allowRedirection=true&q=LED+Bulbs

 

 

What's wrong with it?

 

 

Lots. 

 

But let's do a narrower search now.

 

Search for this text on ShopYourWay.com:  Lighting EVER 6 Watt LED Bulbs, Replace 50 Watt Incandescent Bulb

 

The first result (after clicking on it) tells you that you'll find out what the price is when you get to the checkout.  So you try to add it to your cart.  Then it tells you that the item isn't available and that you might try again later.

 

Fine.

 

So go to the second item:

The price is listed at $14.60.

 

Then click on it.  They raise the price on you to $15.08.

 

WTF!  Have you ever seen a price listed on the shelf, and when you go to pick up the item to get a closer look at it they raise the price on you??????

 

I'm telling you guys, just try to use the website.  It's a barrel of laughs.

 

Prehaps the most stupid thing is it forces you to log in to add stuffs to the cart.

 

I didn't notice that because I'm logged in automatically (probably a cookie).

 

Anyhow, I feel like they just waste my time.  Jerking me around when I'm trying to just buy an effing light bulb.

 

"Here's an item, do you like this one?  Add it to your cart, we'll give you a deal at checkout.  Oh sorry, we don't even have that item, my bad."

 

"Oh, and how about this item?  I'll give it to you for this price... oh now I see you like it, well I've now decided to raise the price on you.  Do you still want it?"

 

I mean, this is the absolute worst treatment I've ever had in any store, online or not.  Can you guys name any worse retailer?

 

They sure didn't mean that, they probably did some performance optimization such as caching that caused this.

 

I don't disagree.

 

However this is the live website.  They are undoubtedly losing real sales while they test their Beta implementation.

 

I didn't spend days trying all sort of things just to find a couple of bugs to whine about.  I've only searched for LED Bulbs and nothing else.  The results -- I've only clicked on a few items and it's been just a disaster. 

[ERICOPOLY]

 

Eric, we need you to get back to IE testing, infinite scrolling is all the rage these days!  :-)  Facebook, Twitter, pinterest, tumblr, even the new yahoo.com etc..  Although honestly, it sounds like Sears is the first retailer I know using it!  It's a whole UX design pattern:

 

The web browsers aren't ready for it.

 

Try this in IE 10 or Google Chrome browsers:

 

1)  Click the scroll bar with the mouse on the right side of the page, and hold the button down.  Now you can move the scroll bar up and down with the mouse curser.

 

2)  Notice how the scrollbar wanders off on you when the page downloads more items.

 

And that's why I hate it!  You've then got to chase down the scroll bar again, click on it, and then it only wanders off on you again as the page dynamically  downloads more items.

 

Frustrating and supremely annoying.

[Liberty]

From the Sam Walton book:

 

http://i.imgur.com/ObbQhBg.jpg

 

Would anyone describe Sears' retail operations as mechandise-driven?

[krazeenyc]

That's the page I got when I do a LED bulbs search:

 

http://www.shopyourway.com/search/products?allowRedirection=true&q=LED+Bulbs

 

 

What's wrong with it?

 

 

Lots. 

 

But let's do a narrower search now.

 

Search for this text on ShopYourWay.com:  Lighting EVER 6 Watt LED Bulbs, Replace 50 Watt Incandescent Bulb

 

The first result (after clicking on it) tells you that you'll find out what the price is when you get to the checkout.  So you try to add it to your cart.  Then it tells you that the item isn't available and that you might try again later.

 

Fine.

 

So go to the second item:

The price is listed at $14.60.

 

Then click on it.  They raise the price on you to $15.08.

 

WTF!  Have you ever seen a price listed on the shelf, and when you go to pick up the item to get a closer look at it they raise the price on you??????

 

I'm telling you guys, just try to use the website.  It's a barrel of laughs.

 

 

 

First Off AMazon is amazing, Sears is terrible and I haven't shopped there in a decade.

 

But this happens to me at Amazon.com as well. Especially when the item is sold by third party sellers.

 

Is anyone on this board invested in Sears doing so b/c they think Sears is going to turn itself around and return to its glory days in retail?

 

As terrible as we think Sears is -- it still generates $35-40 billion in sales annually -- that's a HUGE number.  I wonder what the numbers would look like if they had the same cost structure on the real estate, but the stores were 25,000 sq ft each. The value is there, but the thing is -- it's no easy task to sublease/sell/repurpose 150 million + square feet of real estate.

[thecynic]

Would anyone describe Sears' retail operations as mechandise-driven?

 

Great insight! Thanks for the link. Always something new to learn on this board.

 

I'd think Sears is neither efficiency nor merchandise driven. Its like a retailer in run off trying to maximize value for its shareholders.

 

But I wonder if this is the right question to ask when considering an investment in shld today. Many have already said this, but only things that matter are 1) is stock price cheap enough relative to liquidation value(Margin of Safety) and 2) whether management is incentivized & will act before the value is lost. All the other things including the ESL's Ayn Rand motivated strange departmental organization, crappy website search functionality, current earnings etc are noise.

[bennycx]

lol Eric, you seem to be really agitated after selling your position... :P

[twacowfca]

That's the page I got when I do a LED bulbs search:

 

http://www.shopyourway.com/search/products?allowRedirection=true&q=LED+Bulbs

 

 

What's wrong with it?

 

 

Lots. 

 

But let's do a narrower search now.

 

Search for this text on ShopYourWay.com:  Lighting EVER 6 Watt LED Bulbs, Replace 50 Watt Incandescent Bulb

 

The first result (after clicking on it) tells you that you'll find out what the price is when you get to the checkout.  So you try to add it to your cart.  Then it tells you that the item isn't available and that you might try again later.

 

Fine.

 

So go to the second item:

The price is listed at $14.60.

 

Then click on it.  They raise the price on you to $15.08.

 

WTF!  Have you ever seen a price listed on the shelf, and when you go to pick up the item to get a closer look at it they raise the price on you??????

 

I'm telling you guys, just try to use the website.  It's a barrel of laughs.

 

Prehaps the most stupid thing is it forces you to log in to add stuffs to the cart.

 

I didn't notice that because I'm logged in automatically (probably a cookie).

 

Anyhow, I feel like they just waste my time.  Jerking me around when I'm trying to just buy an effing light bulb.

 

"Here's an item, do you like this one?  Add it to your cart, we'll give you a deal at checkout.  Oh sorry, we don't even have that item, my bad."

 

"Oh, and how about this item?  I'll give it to you for this price... oh now I see you like it, well I've now decided to raise the price on you.  Do you still want it?"

 

I mean, this is the absolute worst treatment I've ever had in any store, online or not.  Can you guys name any worse retailer?

 

They sure didn't mean that, they probably did some performance optimization such as caching that caused this.

 

Yeah. But Lampert saved a bundle on the development of his webwork.  He hired the cheapest programmers who were willing to work the graveyard shift.

[Guest hellsten]

That's the page I got when I do a LED bulbs search:

 

http://www.shopyourway.com/search/products?allowRedirection=true&q=LED+Bulbs

 

 

What's wrong with it?

 

 

Lots. 

 

But let's do a narrower search now.

 

Search for this text on ShopYourWay.com:  Lighting EVER 6 Watt LED Bulbs, Replace 50 Watt Incandescent Bulb

 

The first result (after clicking on it) tells you that you'll find out what the price is when you get to the checkout.  So you try to add it to your cart.  Then it tells you that the item isn't available and that you might try again later.

 

Fine.

 

So go to the second item:

The price is listed at $14.60.

 

Then click on it.  They raise the price on you to $15.08.

 

WTF!  Have you ever seen a price listed on the shelf, and when you go to pick up the item to get a closer look at it they raise the price on you??????

 

I'm telling you guys, just try to use the website.  It's a barrel of laughs.

 

Prehaps the most stupid thing is it forces you to log in to add stuffs to the cart.

 

I didn't notice that because I'm logged in automatically (probably a cookie).

 

Anyhow, I feel like they just waste my time.  Jerking me around when I'm trying to just buy an effing light bulb.

 

"Here's an item, do you like this one?  Add it to your cart, we'll give you a deal at checkout.  Oh sorry, we don't even have that item, my bad."

 

"Oh, and how about this item?  I'll give it to you for this price... oh now I see you like it, well I've now decided to raise the price on you.  Do you still want it?"

 

I mean, this is the absolute worst treatment I've ever had in any store, online or not.  Can you guys name any worse retailer?

 

They sure didn't mean that, they probably did some performance optimization such as caching that caused this.

 

I don't disagree.

 

However this is the live website.  They are undoubtedly losing real sales while they test their Beta implementation.

 

I didn't spend days trying all sort of things just to find a couple of bugs to whine about.  I've only searched for LED Bulbs and nothing else.  The results -- I've only clicked on a few items and it's been just a disaster.

 

I went to sears.com to search for led bulbs. The first result I got was "As Seen On TV  Olde Brooklyn Lanter" (see screenshot). ;D

 

IMHO, the discussion about search and the online products at Sears are just details which don't change my thinking about Sears as an investment.

 

Feel free to skip the rest of this post if you like, as it won't change anything; what it does is give you an idea of how Sears works…

 

You can learn a lot about how a company works by looking at their job board:

http://jobs.sears.com/vacancies/1/product-development-management/jobs

http://jobs.sears.com/vacancies/1/engineering-quality/jobs

 

Things to take note of are for example:

- the technologies and products used at the company

- what they look for in candidates

- the number of open positions

 

Take this one for example:

http://jobs.sears.com/career/153422/Software-Developer-Syw-Illinois-Il-Hoffman-Estates

 

They are recruiting a software developer, but what is this bullshit doing in the job description:

 

Incumbents have application and systems expertise, both hardware and software, critical to the development, implementation and maintenance of the revenue generating and key business applications.

 

Then there's this too:

Prepares cost benefit analysis summaries of new or enhanced changes for assigned projects in order to cost justify changes.

 

Eddie's thinking is involved in the recruitment process, not a good sign.

 

Here's another job posting which gives you more details on what they are trying:

http://jobs.sears.com/career/133777/Web-Development-Manager-Gameon-Illinois-Il-Hoffman-Estates

 

Also have a look at product managers:

http://jobs.sears.com/career/175313/Sr-Product-Manager-Illinois-Il-Hoffman-Estates

http://jobs.sears.com/career/174994/Mobile-Product-Manager-Illinois-Il-Hoffman-Estates

http://jobs.sears.com/career/156581/Product-Manager-Ecommerce-Vertical-Illinois-Il-Hoffman-Estates

 

We are looking for someone who looks at products from a customer angle, designs the product around best in class customer experience and then guards that experience through the implementation while working with various teams. In this role, you will work with the different businesses within the retail format, our engineering teams, business intelligence and user experience to find opportunities to service our customers better.

 

Ability to sell concept to internal and external executive management

Ability to manage multiple stakeholders

Manage key vendor / product relationships – including contract negotiation in partnership with Procurement.

Manage product innovation through cross-functional teams focusing on new product capabilities and services.

 

What can you find out about the way they work and build products by reading the job description?

 

What is clear is:

- product management has to work through a lot of bureaucracy (see job descriptions)

- management is involved in recruiting engineers (see job descriptions)

- management doesn't know how to recruit the talent that is needed (see sears.com and SYW)

- management is bureaucratic (see job descriptions)

- management is involved in picking the tools (compare the tools they are using at Sears to the ones used by Amazon and other serious IT companies)

- Eddie is definitely not building a software company

 

Compare this to the job board of A9, the company behind Amazon's search engine:

https://www.a9.com/careers/

 

It's like from another planet. You can see the talent A9 has simply by looking at the job descriptions.

 

If you want to go even further, You can also compare Sears to Overstock:

http://www.overstock.com/63360/static.html

 

Less talk about bureaucracy…

[alertmeipp]

Some higher up there got to forward this thread to ESL..  ;)

[ERICOPOLY]

lol Eric, you seem to be really agitated after selling your position... :P

 

Hell hath no fury like a ShopYourWay customer scorned.

 

I spent another 5 minutes today on a different search.  This time Surf Boards.  About the fourth item I clicked on did the old price switch trick on me again.

 

Search on "Atom Softtop Surfboard".

 

The first item is blue.  Price listed is "$226.78 $192.77".

 

After clicking on it the price discount goes away.  It's back at $226.78".

 

You know this kind of thing might really be destroying their quarterly numbers.  It could be worthwhile to monitor that website for signs of getting this kind of thing fixed. 

 

Would you believe that the only two types of items I've bothered to search on have all this bad price data going on?  Well, it's true.  Based on this, why would I be interested in continuing to shop with them?

 

This is his entire strategy -- it's kind of important to make it work.

[stahleyp]

Just tried it with the blue surf board...it's unbelievable.  :o

 

The white one keeps the sales price though??  :o