Poll: According to 247wallst.com, these 10 brands are likely to disappear in 2012. Which one would you miss the most? / LJWorld.com

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Response		Percent	Votes
Sears		45%	441
A&W Restaurants		20%	200
Kellogg’s Corn Pops		9%	96
Sony Pictures		7%	68
Saab		4%	39
American Apparel		3%	38
Nokia		3%	35
Soap Opera Digest		1%	19
MySpace		1%	16
Sony Ericsson		1%	12
Total	964

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RoeDapple 1 year, 11 months ago

Guess I better stock up on Craftsman tools . . .

scopi_guy 1 year, 11 months ago

I was at Westlake the other day and they had a sign on the door saying they were soon going to start carrying the Craftsman line.

RoeDapple 1 year, 11 months ago

Good! K-Mart also carries Craftsman but that would mean a Topeka trip. (Oh, wait! Gas 25cents cheaper, lower sales tax, friendlier sales staff . . .) nuff said!

purplesage 1 year, 11 months ago

There has been a limited supply of Craftsman handtools available through Westlake for about a year. I also noticed some expensive brand of paint, Benjamin Moore, perhaps, in WestLake.

K Mart owns Sears, so Craftsman at KMart isn't a surprise. I hope they don't disappear. Lawn equipment with Craftsman name is plentiful at my house. And, they have replaced a few hand tools - mostly ratchets with broken levers to change directions- over the years.

George_Braziller 1 year, 11 months ago

The quality of Craftsman power tools has been declining for quite a while. My dad was a finish carpenter and he quit buying them in the late '90s because they no longer provided the power or performance he needed. They also had a relatively short life.

labmonkey 1 year, 11 months ago

Craftsman used to mean Made in USA. Now most of the Craftsman branded stuff is made in China. No wonder Sears is going down the toilet.

oldvet 1 year, 11 months ago

Crafsman hand tools had a lifetime guarantee but I don't know if that is still true. I have a chest full of their products from the 60's and 70's and the few items I have purchased in recent years to fill in have lasted and worked fine.

We used to look at garage sales for damaged screwdrivers, cracked sockets or wrenches, etc., buy them cheap, then get a new one at the store...

LadyJ 1 year, 11 months ago

+1 I have to agree.

rockchalker52 1 year, 11 months ago

Gimme a papa burger & a frosted mug, please. And three more mugs for my friends. I promise we'll give 'em back this time...but not the tray. I need that to complete the set. Can you throw in a babv burger? It's for the dog, so make it plain - except for the mustard. She loves the mustard.

Pywacket 1 year, 11 months ago

I worked at a Sears when I was just a pup (~19) and their business policies were so disastrous that I am amazed they have staggered along into the 2000s. They've gone through bankruptcy & reorganization, cut out the iconic catalog, and they still have not figured things out.

I'll be sad to see them go for nostalgic reasons but not for any other reason. They just can't figure out how to shed their fuddy-duddy image--and that's the tip of the iceberg.

Now, A&W---that I will miss!

50YearResident 1 year, 11 months ago

I worked at Montgomery Wards for over 15 years and thier downfall was "Their own brand of appliances, no national brand names, and sub quality" and lack of local service for said products. You can't wait a week to get your chest freezer back running. I call it suicide by brand, who ever heard of "Signature Appliances?

clovis_sangrail 1 year, 11 months ago

A&W and Kellogg's Corn Pops, for sure.

Sears -- Not a bit. They ruined Land's End.

scopi_guy 1 year, 11 months ago

I haven't been in a Sears store for years. That used to be the main place for my family to shop, though (White Lakes Mall). Husky Toughskins. Juniors at the Crossroads. And the catalogs each Christmastime. I remember the year my parents drove to the catalog store (tiny little building on Iowa by Hillcrest) and had me go in to pick up that years Wishbook. Guy inside told me they weren't free anymore and had to pay for them.

wowiekt08 1 year, 11 months ago

Oh the MySpace days...

snap_pop_no_crackle 1 year, 11 months ago

Sears has gotten very little of my business since they started making many Craftsman tools in China.

labmonkey 1 year, 11 months ago

+9. I go to Sears much less because I leave empty handed and frustrated that I cannot find Made in USA.

hricane23 1 year, 11 months ago

Boycotted Sears ever since we were shopping for a dishwasher. They'd display a stainless steel model with a price of $X, but when you wanted that one, they'd tell you the price was for basic white only, and stainless was $50+ more. Bait and switch much?

Pete_Schweti 1 year, 11 months ago

Yea, I ordered a stainless off of the store display. Got it home, pulled my old one, unboxed it and it was...white. Took it back to the store and after an exchange with the manager, got them to give me the display model at the white price. That was 3 years ago. Looks like nothing has changed...

TheSychophant 1 year, 11 months ago

Saab used to make a decent and safe car. Don't now anything about the ones they produced in the last twenty years.

bevy 1 year, 11 months ago

I will miss Sears even though I will probably be paying off their #&)(&@#& credit card until 2020.

MisterBooster 1 year, 11 months ago

Mister Booster would miss root beer floats at A&W.

50YearResident 1 year, 11 months ago

Sears went from excellant products to poor quailty. I have owned 3 sears rider mowers, None lasted over 4 years without serious repairs. The mower spindles were self lubricated, and kept seizing up at the cost of $75 each. You could not grease them. The last straw was when the tierod bearings on the steering wore out and I had to order new ones from Sears Parts. When I got them they were "nylon" a poor subsitute for Bronze or ball bearings. After that I bought John Deere and have not had any major problems for 12 years. Ant they wonder why buiseness is down. Ask me.......

Ron Holzwarth 1 year, 11 months ago

I had to snicker when you compared Sears to John Deere. Everyone knows that John Deere is the best, don't they?

LadyJ 1 year, 11 months ago

Have only bought tools there for the last 12 yrs ever since they sold me an extended warranty for $200 and then wouldn't honor it. Hell, they wouldn't even send the product in to be looked at. Said they knew it wasn't something covered by the warranty even though the technician I spoke to said it was but Sears wouldn't authorize having him look at it. Best Buy extended warranties rock, can't believe they still sell them to me considering how much money as they have lost on me.

Ron Holzwarth 1 year, 11 months ago

You should have taken Sears to small claims court.

rockchalker52 1 year, 11 months ago

How much should we pay the future task force to decide what to do with the Sears Building? I vote Roller Derby.

leroyusps 1 year, 11 months ago

Do you mean the Willis Tower in Chicago? Sears had to sell that.

LogicMan 1 year, 11 months ago

Wal-Mart still owned it when the half-price clothing store was in there. Anyone know if they still do? Either way, a small-market Sam's Club would do nicely there.

rockchalker52 1 year, 11 months ago

yeah, i like that idea

Pywacket 1 year, 11 months ago

Ice arena!

RoeDapple 1 year, 11 months ago

Well since Kmart owns Sears maybe . . No, they closed that in Lawrence too! Damn, Topeka shopping looking better all the time!

50YearResident 1 year, 11 months ago

Kellogg's Corn Pops: Have any of you tried to open a package of Kwllogs cereal lately? Try as you may you can't rip the bag apart, and I am over 60 years old. Just think of a 6 or 7 year old trying to get it open. Then after you literaly ripe the top open, you can't pour the cereal without it going everywhere. Thats why I buy only General Mills Products. Kellogg, the little things cost you dearly. The sooner you realize that the quicker you may save your business.

Pywacket 1 year, 11 months ago

Breathe slowly and reach for the scissors in the junk drawer. Better? ;-)

I always thought Corn Pops were pretty tasteless and unappealing. Won't miss them.

50YearResident 1 year, 11 months ago

Try it for yourslf and report back.

50YearResident 1 year, 11 months ago

The closing that really broke my heart was "Maytag". The worlds best appliances. I bought a washer dryer 30 years ago and they are still running in my utility room today. Why did Maytag go bankrupt? It was very obvious to me. it was the advertising of the lonliest repairman in town. None of the younger generation knew what that ment so they bought other brands. I toured their factuary so I knew. It ment the Quality was so superior that a repairman was not needed. Young people couldn't figure it out so sales declined to the point of no profit. Too bad the best of the best went down for no reason other than bad advertising. The product name will never recover under Whirlpool Ownership. The reason I feel so bad, I think I could have saved them by convincing them to sell quality instead the lonely repairman adds.

mountainbiker 1 year, 11 months ago

Craftsman... what a joke and has been for years. Still have some of my grandfathers Craftsman tools, those are the real deal. bye bye Sears

Now, A&W, that's a lot of good memories.

50YearResident 1 year, 11 months ago

Sorry to hear that. Cheaper price only means cheaper product as you will soon be finding out. Get ready for repairs you never thought you would need. You can only cut price by finding a way to incorperate cheaper parts. Keep track of total repairs in the next 5 years (if it lasts that long) and add everything up. You will find you could have bought a much better brand mower that would have lasted twice as long.

RoeDapple 1 year, 11 months ago

Hi blue - my experience with Sears is that if you want a 50" mower they might have 4 or 5 models ranging in price from a little over a grand up to nearly $3000. They may all have the same engine/HP, but the quality varies greatly on the chassis, deck and axles. For instance the lower priced mowers will have stamped steel axles and sealed bearings while the top of the line will have cast axles with zert type bearings. As put by the small engine mechanic I take my mowers to, deduct the replacement cost of their 20hp Briggs from the price of the machine then ask yourself what you could be getting for the 2 or 3 hundred dollars difference

RoeDapple 1 year, 11 months ago

Sounds like you got a good one

wissmo 1 year, 11 months ago

I have the same model blue, 10+ years and 3 acres once a week. I have the Kohler engine though. Have the repair man come out every Spring for a tune up.

Sometimes I am just amazed at how well it does.

snap_pop_no_crackle 1 year, 11 months ago

My 18 year old Maytag washer bit the dust a couple of months ago. The piece o' crap I bought to replace it probably won't last 1/3 the time.

50YearResident 1 year, 11 months ago

Too bad, you probably could have fixed the old Maytag for the price of two belts, about $20. Then it would still outlast the new (other brand) washer by several years.

persevering_gal 1 year, 11 months ago

Noooo! I gotta have my Pops!

Pywacket 1 year, 11 months ago

We bought an Amana HE washer about 7-8 years ago and it runs like a dream (and we do a LOT of laundry). Best dishwasher I ever had was also Amana. Just sayin'... for those who are looking for something reliable.

swampyankee 1 year, 11 months ago

I think Wall ST. should be on the list.

Newell_Post 1 year, 11 months ago

On the west coast, Sears has a subsidiary named Orchard Supply Hardware. The OSH stores sell Craftsman tools and other brands.

The OSH stores are always well organized, well stocked, good stores. But it you go to the Sears store nearby, it is disorganized, poorly stocked, outdated, and generally just depressing. This is the same in many different locations. I don't get it.

Sigmund 1 year, 11 months ago

Where is the "None of the above" option?

Sigmund 1 year, 11 months ago

TheSychophant (anonymous) says… "Saab used to make a decent and safe car. Don't now anything about the ones they produced in the last twenty years."

In 1990 General Motors bought 51 percent of the car division Saab Automobile, and acquired the rest a decade later so I guess that explains that. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saab#His...

LadyJ 1 year, 11 months ago

Same thing happened to Mazda.

Sigmund 1 year, 11 months ago

LadyJ (anonymous) replies… "Same thing happened to Mazda."

Not exactly, but Ford did begin a partnership with Mazda in 1979 with a 7% stake and today it is about 3%. From all accounts the partnership was helpful for both companies. Mazda was one of the last brands that Alan CEO Mullaly divested. In 2007, he presided over the sale of Jaguar Cars and Land Rover to Tata Motors. Ford received $2.3 billion USD. Jaguar and Land Rover sales subsequently plummeted due to high oil prices in the summer of 2008, causing Tata to request a bailout from the British government. As far as I know, neither Ford nor Mazda have received any taxpayer bailout monies. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Mul...

Both Ford and Mazda make cars I seriously considered before I bought my new car in late 2010,

LadyJ 1 year, 11 months ago

Bought a 99 Mazda brand new, nothing but (expensive) trouble.

kernal 1 year, 11 months ago

Five years ago, went to Sears to buy a washer and dryer. Finally found one sales clerk, but he said it was his break time. He found another one for me, but that one needed to do an insulin injection. After waiting ten minutes, I left. Went to Stonebacks, they had what I was looking for and completed my purchase within 15 minutes; delivery the next day. Never have been back to Sears.

By the way, Stonebacks price was no higher than Sears.

kernal 1 year, 11 months ago

About the poll list. I would have selected "None" if it had been an option.

CreatureComforts 1 year, 11 months ago

7 people will miss Soap Opera Digest? Really?

emceelean 1 year, 11 months ago

Believe it. If only Dov Charney could use a fraction of his misogynistic bravado towards a better business model. He wouldn't have this problem. Too many stores and a general disdain towards regular people ruined AA. They'll still be around, yes, but only in select locations.

somedude20 1 year, 11 months ago

I think Zsa Zsa Gabor is going to disappear in 2012

CreatureComforts 1 year, 11 months ago

I've got $50 in 2011.

50YearResident 1 year, 11 months ago

That is the exact reason I said Maytag will never recover. Under Whirlpool ownership quality will soon drop to Whirpool standards which are far below Maytag's.

LadyJ 1 year, 11 months ago

Glad I bought the extended warranty for my new HE maytag washer and dryer.

trinity 1 year, 11 months ago

they better leave my free-standing old fashioned A&W store in Iola alone!!!! that's about a half hour motorsickle ride for me&the hubby, and WELL worth it for that big ol' frosty mug root beer float&some of their fabulous burgers&etc!!! mercy! NOT my A&W!!! :(

whats_going_on 1 year, 11 months ago

American Apparel kind of surprised me, although their clothes are SO CHEAP and wayy way way way way overpriced. In this economy I wouldn't doubt it, although I think the only people who shopped there anyway were rich brats on daddy's dime.

CWGOKU 1 year, 11 months ago

None

jonas_opines 1 year, 11 months ago

Good to see the romanticized view of American quality craftsmanship is still alive and well.

The Sears in Lawrence has the worst sales service I know of.

cletus26 1 year, 11 months ago

i really wouldn't miss any of the brands

none2 1 year, 11 months ago

Sears Holding has both the Sears & Kmart brand. I would hate to think that the Kmart brand would win out. When I think of Kmart I think of junk and nothing of value. With Sears, I don't shop there because they don't have anything I need, but at least it isn't junk. I was in Kmart in north Topeka about a year ago. If they all mysteriously burnt down, there wouldn't be anything I could imagine being missed. I didn't know Craftsman tools had gone down hill. I wonder about the Kenmore brands of appliances. (They didn't make them, but would get appliance companies to build to their specs -- usually Whirlpool did it.)

I think I'll miss Sears and A&W Root-beer. It has been a long time, but who old enough doesn't remember getting a root beer float at such establishments? I feel sorry for Nokia as that Finnish company has dominated mobile phones for years. Right now I have an Android phone, I have no idea where the love of that OS comes from. I couldn't even easily add a contact's phone number. Neither could I associate the number with the person, nor add the number to the person. Being that I work in IT, I should be able to figure it out. As it stands it is totally non-intuitive.

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