Speaking of Sears

[Basil]

Wouldn’t it be something to know just how much money and materials have been saved because of you tube?
really quite amazing what you can research and repair
wasn’t that long ago it was cat videos

Just myself, I’m sure Youtube has help me save several thousands of dollars.

 

[John Turney]

I used a YouTube to replace the serpentine belt on the Subaru. The Subaru service manual didn't have the belt routing for our model.

 

[Basil]

I used a YouTube to replace the serpentine belt on the Subaru. The Subaru service manual didn't have the belt routing for our model.

I'd never have been able to repair my turbo encabulator when the lunar wayne shaft began to experience side-marsal variations.

 

[JPSmit]

clearly your grapple grommet won't mesh with your filmore flange

 

[DrEntropy]

Several local instances...one, a neighbor's electrostatic precipitator went...oh, 15 years ago. Board bad....company wanted over $300 for the board.

Puled it apart, checked it out....can't recall...op amp or regulator obviously blown...ordered two....five bucks....soldered one in, other in a ziplock taped inside the cover...still working.

About four years ago, other neighbors were in Romania visiting family. Hit the local airport on the way home, remotely cranked up the heat...all fine when they got home about 2200 hours on a January evening.
Hour later wife is pounding on my door.

Funny smell for a bit, now no heat...kids cold....looked at it, inspected the circuit diagram inside the front cover...checked voltages....looked like either a bad main relay, or failed solder joint. Pulled the board.

Apparently the solder joint had been a problem for some time with excessive heat. There was a 3/8" diameter hole burned clear through the circuit board at that relay pin.

Soldered a heavy jumper from the pin to a good part of the circuit board....reassembled....still working today, and no parts required.

THIS is neighbors aiding neighbors. Fix what's up-screwed, make things right. Done it many times, from opening locked doors to keeping houses from burning to the ground.

Almost a sappy saying but we run TO the fire when it seems we should stand down.

 

[glemon]

I have used Utube not only to help me repair household items, but also to repair my modern cars. It is very helpful, unlike our old cars where you can just look at stuff and usually see how it goes together, on new cars there are lots of hidden fasteners, clips, etc., and just lots more parts. However, once you can see how it comes apart and goes back together a lot of stuff is pretty easy.

P.S. good luck with the washer repair, I did a dryer drum bearing once. You pretty much had to take the whole machine apart to get to it. You'd think they might make a maintenance item easier to get to, but then I guess they wouldn't sell as many new ones.

 

[Basil]

I have used Utube not only to help me repair household items, but also to repair my modern cars. It is very helpful, unlike our old cars where you can just look at stuff and usually see how it goes together, on new cars there are lots of hidden fasteners, clips, etc., and just lots more parts. However, once you can see how it comes apart and goes back together a lot of stuff is pretty easy.

P.S. good luck with the washer repair, I did a dryer drum bearing once. You pretty much had to take the whole machine apart to get to it. You'd think they might make a maintenance item easier to get to, but then I guess they wouldn't sell as many new ones.

Yes, I will have to pretty much take the entire washer apart, but when I watch the video it really doesn't look all that hard.

 

[Boink]

And still speaking of Sears:

https://www.cartalk.com/blogs/jim-motavalli/remembering-when-sears-roebuck-sold-cars

 

[Gliderman8]

They also sold scooters (I had one) and motorcycles.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allstate_(vehicle_brand)

 

[Basil]

The also sold guitars. This is a Sears Silvertone guitar that is exactly like one my high school friend George owned. (The amp was built into the case)

 

[NutmegCT]

And at one time, Sears also sold houses. Ah, the good ol' days when a five room house cost nearly $3500!

 

[PAUL161]

They also sold barns, my granddad had one, like this. PJ

View attachment 56074

 

[NutmegCT]

Wow - never knew about Sears barns. Makes sense, as many rural customers couldn't get into a big city easily.

Another facet to Sears (and Wards) catalogues: if you weren't "welcome" in person (races, ethnicities, religions, etc.) in local stores and shops, you could purchase what you needed without fear.

That was a *huge* advantage for millions of Americans.

 

[waltesefalcon]

My dad very nearly bought a Sears house once that was situated out by a small town called Meers but the sale fell through at the last minute. At one time you could purchase nearly anything from Sears it was the Amazon of its day.

 

[YakkoWarner]

It amazes me that the company that pretty much created order-and-ship shopping managed to fail so spectacularly to transition to online shopping. The main difference is the "catalog" is on a web server instead of being printed....

 

[JPSmit]

It amazes me that the company that pretty much created order-and-ship shopping managed to fail so spectacularly to transition to online shopping. The main difference is the "catalog" is on a web server instead of being printed....

True, though I don't think they could ever cut the physical store model - and other than a few exceptions (Craftsman/ Kenmore) they have been where the customers aren't for decades.

 

[YakkoWarner]

Cutting the store model completely isn't always a great idea. Wal-Mart seems to have it close to right for me with the site-to-store ordering where you can make your order on the website, then either pay online or take actual money to the store and pay, then have your stuff come either to an address or to the store. I don't have cards and can't receive packages directly to my residence so having the site-to-store option makes Wal-Mart about the only web based shopping option I can use (Amazon has no way to pay with actual money and it has to be shipped somewhere...)

 

[JPSmit]

Cutting the store model completely isn't always a great idea. Wal-Mart seems to have it close to right for me with the site-to-store ordering where you can make your order on the website, then either pay online or take actual money to the store and pay, then have your stuff come either to an address or to the store. I don't have cards and can't receive packages directly to my residence so having the site-to-store option makes Wal-Mart about the only web based shopping option I can use (Amazon has no way to pay with actual money and it has to be shipped somewhere...)

Different horses for different courses - you are absolutely right. IIRC correctly at least in Canada their interwebnet presence got off to a terrible start because they tried to put everything online - 99 cent products are not worth the trouble.

 

[waltesefalcon]

I don't use cards, I don't believe in taking on debt unless it is necessary, but I do have a debit card and use that on Amazon.

 

[mikephillips]

I have one, same one the last 35 years. Keep it paid off each month and don't buy that much with it as most local transactions tend to be cash. But we're fighting a loosing battle there. Cafeteria where I work transitioned to a new operator this last summer and most of the time now uses a swipe a card or your phone technology with the goal to be totally cash free soon. Cuts people cost with no need for folks "on the floor" I assume is a primary reason.