The Ames Fan Club

I like Kmart but there's always something they do that make me want to bash them ... like changing their logo too often and closing stores

Yes, this was a fun thread!

lol the logos were funny... bring em back Zayre88!

Here are some famous Kmart logos, you have the old 70's-80's red K and mart.  The 90's red K with white Mart inside, the BIG Kmart, Super Kmart (with "Super" over and at left of the red K)  the "Super K Center" (and you see the budget Kmart had on neons....) you should read: PR "Kart" Cet:yup:

Then you have the lime & green logo, with the smaller white mart moved to the right, the Kmart logo in Australia (based on the old Kmart logo #1..,  the Wal-Mart version of Kmart, and the new plain red K with red kmart letters below, you should read (K Kmart) ...

i still like the green and gray logo! It's the best looking one, i think

QuoteOriginally posted by tokensafari
i still like the green and gray logo! It's the best looking one, i think

I'm not sure about this logo... i always thought it looked like a green arrow pointing to a gray rectangle...  i can't see the K

again, here is one of the many Kmart slogan on a clean cart:

My K-Marts have a lot of carts that look like that but are much older. They never invested in new carts for the store. They keep re-using the old ones, and either slapping a new logo or slogan on em!  They're old, rusty, pieces of crap.

QuoteOriginally posted by tokensafari
My K-Marts have a lot of carts that look like that but are much older. They never invested in new carts for the store. They keep re-using the old ones, and either slapping a new logo or slogan on em!  They're old, rusty, pieces of crap.

Mine just dumped most of the ones like the pic above. I don't think there was any cart that hat those ad. panels intact. They replaced them with new gray carts, but the kmart logo is just on a sticker (old logo too), but new carts.

I thought that green and gray logo was supposed to be their new logo. During the end of their bankruptcy, they were going to change it to that? Am I right?

I think it was a test logo but my idea also was that it would be the official logo... It appears they finally used the red kmart!  But i think they've used the lime colors in many stores for signage.

I do not like their new logo.. it's too plain!

QuoteOriginally posted by tokensafari
I do not like their new logo.. it's too plain!

Don't worry. Sadly, I don't think we will see much more of that logo after March:no:

QuoteOriginally posted by MBZ321

QuoteOriginally posted by tokensafari
I do not like their new logo.. it's too plain!

Don't worry. Sadly, I don't think we will see much more of that logo after March:no:

The problem with that logo is that the "big red K" is supposed to be a logo like the bullseye in Target.  But i don't see that red K as a logo over the letters.

Why do you think Kmart will close all stores in March ??:huh:

Kmart and Sears Merge in March...kmart may still hang around for a little after that, but I don't see it sticking around, atleast the name itself.

No, the Krap-mart logo looks much better written in the old-fashioned K.  Not that big new-age bloated K over the lettering.  I don't know, there's something about that K that just looks plain wrong, offset, or something.  Your right Zayre, it does look like a Target ripoff.

I like the Big Kmart Logo.

i think the red k and the white mart was fine the way it was they just messed it up by calling it big kmart wich is the same thing as a reaguler kmart only with a difrent logo

Yeah, I also thought it was stupi when I realized they renamed them BigK

I like the Big Kmart logo too. You guys are right, the new logo does look like a Target rip off.

Here's an old school cart :bigsmile:

Those carts are still in use at many stores, but mixed with "more recent" gray carts...

The Big Kmart logos were probably costly to install on all the stores... and today, they have no use at all because the BIG-K concept will be changed again with the Orange or Lime-Green.  

Even when it was introduced, there were small old Kmart stores that had a paint job and a BIG-K logo !  Even then, there was almost no meaning to that BIG concept :boring:

the Super Kmart ones were the ones that should've had Big Kmart on them..heh

I never did understand that Big K concept. The only thing they did when they changed my local KMart to a Big K was close the auto center, and make that another holiday type thing, and then put like two aisles of freezers full of frozen food. It's pointless.. and rediculous.

QuoteOriginally posted by C. Fontaine
Yeah, I also thought it was stupi when I realized they renamed them BigK

the only thing they did was chang the logo with BIG on it and also added a new line of crappy stuff i rember seeing a add for it on tv back in 1997 they had Rose O Donald and penny marshl doing the adds back then.

QuoteOriginally posted by Caldor1999

QuoteOriginally posted by C. Fontaine
Yeah, I also thought it was stupi when I realized they renamed them BigK

the only thing they did was chang the logo with BIG on it and also added a new line of crappy stuff i rember seeing a add for it on tv back in 1997 they had Rose O Donald and penny marshl doing the adds back then.

Oh yeah, i remember that... They were looking at jeans or towels in the middle of an aisle ...

At least, probably their help was good!!

QuoteOriginally posted by Chris
At least, probably their help was good!!

lol i don't think they can save Kmart anymore but it worked for the time

I don't know what to think about Kmart right now, one day i think they all will be closed, sold, or converted to a Sears concept... the other i believe Sears will keep the Kmart brand alive.  I wish it would stay around when i look at the new orange concept...

but then again, is there any room for Kmart today between Wal-Mart, Target, Kohl's and all the specialty chains of sporting goods, office supply, bed & bath, pet supplies...  

It started as S.S.Kresge Co. 5&10 stores, then came Kmart discount stores, maybe it's time for a whole new concept for the company, not just a paint job or a new logo...

That was my Kmart bashing for today :flaming:

QuoteOriginally posted by Zayre88
It started as S.S.Kresge Co. 5&10 stores, then came Kmart discount stores, maybe it's time for a whole new concept for the company, not just a paint job or a new logo...

I think you're right. Maybe it is time for a "new type" of Kmart. But what that is we have yet to see. I definitely see a new image, and appeal.

AmesmanBBTB


remember this image?:bigsmile:

So whats the deal with that Kohls-Kmart logo? Is that a joke?  Or did they have a combined store someplace?

QuoteOriginally posted by NJF
So whats the deal with that Kohls-Kmart logo? Is that a joke?  Or did they have a combined store someplace?

It's a joke, however there are a few cases where a Kohl's is right next to a still-open Kmart.

QuoteOriginally posted by Zayre88
Here are some famous Kmart logos, you have the old 70's-80's red K and mart.  The 90's red K with white Mart inside, the BIG Kmart, Super Kmart (with "Super" over and at left of the red K)  the "Super K Center" (and you see the budget Kmart had on neons....) you should read: PR "Kart" Cet:yup:

Then you have the lime & green logo, with the smaller white mart moved to the right, the Kmart logo in Australia (based on the old Kmart logo #1.., the Kohl's mart logo, the Wal-Mart version of Kmart, and the new plain red K with red kmart letters below, you should read (K Kmart) ...

Its a pain when some of the letters floresent/neon lights go out It makes any place look cheap:flaming::barf:

But its funny sometimes too:insane::cool:

BTW what happened to the Ames green Kmart logo?:huh:

I liked that one!:bigsmile::bigsmile:

BTW what happened to the Ames green Kmart logo?:huh:

I liked that one!:bigsmile::bigsmile: [/quote]


Just a thing they used on their bags for a while, nothing else was done with it. I did find a Kmart bag with just a big blue K (late 90's logo) so I know it does (did) exist:yup:

As a side note, I was in Kmart a week or two ago and some of their bigger bags are black with a silver K and mart (new logo). Looks pretty cool. This may have just been something for the holidays or leftover though

QuoteOriginally posted by MBZ321
BTW what happened to the Ames green Kmart logo?:huh:

I liked that one!:bigsmile::bigsmile:

Just a thing they used on their bags for a while, nothing else was done with it. I did find a Kmart bag with just a big blue K (late 90's logo) so I know it does (did) exist:yup:

As a side note, I was in Kmart a week or two ago and some of their bigger bags are black with a silver K and mart (new logo). Looks pretty cool. This may have just been something for the holidays or leftover though [/quote]



yeah but you or someone else posted an Ames green 1990s Kmart logo I remember seeing it on the previous site!

u guys are forgeten they r better then wal mart but they do a nace job riping off target

I watch the news this morning and their changeing thie logal again Soon Kmart Might be Sears Asechtals

Kmarts  not gonna be aronud much longer i guess by 2010 Kmart will be gone

Iam Guessing Walmart would be gone by 2010. Something will happen. Kmart was big in the Early 90s in the Fulton Syracuse Auburn Ny they had 2 kmarts in Auburn. Walmarts Wernt even around this area at that time. Jamesway Woolworths Kmarts Ames. Walmart can only get so big . If they do get even bigger I think the government would step in. Just  like the government did back in the late 1800 and 1900 break up the Rockefellow oil company

To Shakethis1234 -- That is the worst spelling of "Essentials" I've ever seen.

Two stores in Flint, MI have just the red K with white Mart in it, but no swoosh and no "BIG". Small wonder, since each store is about the size of an Old Navy.

And why can't I see the logos on this page?

As for the Kohl's-mart thing, how about the Kohl's in Westwood Mall, Maruqette, MI that used to BE a Kmart (and possibly a PrangeWay before that)?

HEY CHECK OUT MY CONCEPT :bigsmile::cool:

HERES A COMPLETE CHANGE FOR  KMART KRESGES

AND YES THE K IS INSPIRED BY SLICK 50:cool:

one thing people dont know is that the first Kmart super center opend in 1988 not 1991 WaL MART DID IT IN 88 TOO

Call me weird, but I must say I like the original 70's-80's K-Mart logo the best. I just think it's the coolest looking, although it was dated around the time it was replaced. I was fortunate enough to see a K-Mart with old signage in- person about 10 years ago (When I was 4). It was in pretty sad shape. Of course, this store is now closed.:(

QuoteOriginally posted by Jag67
Call me weird, but I must say I like the original 70's-80's K-Mart logo the best. I just think it's the coolest looking, although it was dated around the time it was replaced. I was fortunate enough to see a K-Mart with old signage in- person about 10 years ago (When I was 4). It was in pretty sad shape. Of course, this store is now closed.:(

There is still one store left (for now) in Sacramento, CA that has the old logo. I have a pic of it, but the site I found it on is down right now.

WOW. I thought they were ALL gone. Sweet!!! It's probably gonna stay that way for quite some time, as K-Mart probably doesn't have enough cash to renovate it lol:dizzy:

Joking aside, maybe they're leaving it that way on purpose, for nostaliga purposes.

I saw a report about something going on near the Kmart in Burlington VT maybe 1 or 2 years ago and the store still had the old 70's logo.  

Here's the former Kmart in Skowhegan ME.  The store closed in 1996.  The logo was removed after a few years.

hears the prodo type store in White Planes NY  a Former Caldor this store looks so nice to bad all the outher Kmarts dosnt look like this

QuoteOriginally posted by Zayre88
I saw a report about something going on near the Kmart in Burlington VT maybe 1 or 2 years ago and the store still had the old 70's logo.  

Here's the former Kmart in Skowhegan ME.  The store closed in 1996.  The logo was removed after a few years.

i nodiced when KImart closed down some stores in 2002 and 2003 they always removed the logo and i have no idea why when Caldor Bradlees Ames Jamesway Service Merchandise and Montgomery Ward cloed they dident do that to all there stores and when Sears and JC Penny closed store they still keeped the logo ion most of thjem

first it was the logo from
1970s-1990s: VERY COOL VERY UNIQUE THE ONE AND ONLY TIME K-MART DIDN'T LOOK CHEAP!

then came the logo from

1990s-2004 : INTERESTING FAMILAR DIFFERENT  but unfortunately it gave the store a "cheap, soft, family" type of look ESPECIALLY WITH the handwritten "mart" within the "K" the company COULDN'T let go of it so much that tried to change their name just to Super/Big Kmart to show they were changing but refused to change the main K logo

2004-present : NEW UNHEARD OF SORTA BRINGS THE HISTORY OF KMART TO THE FOREFRONT but it has its let downs its not much of a logo doesn't look like a logo and BUGS the heck out of me that it seems to read "K" "Kmart"  WHEN ITS NOT SUPPOSED TO! If I had that font I could replicate it easily they never bothered to change the font of the red "K"

future? Kmart a new direction a new logo AND a new name (my idea see below)

QuoteOriginally posted by Caldor1999

QuoteOriginally posted by Zayre88
I saw a report about something going on near the Kmart in Burlington VT maybe 1 or 2 years ago and the store still had the old 70's logo.  

Here's the former Kmart in Skowhegan ME.  The store closed in 1996.  The logo was removed after a few years.

i nodiced when KImart closed down some stores in 2002 and 2003 they always removed the logo and i have no idea why when Caldor Bradlees Ames Jamesway Service Merchandise and Montgomery Ward cloed they dident do that to all there stores and when Sears and JC Penny closed store they still keeped the logo ion most of thjem

ha ha maybe they didn't have enough money to do it because they went bankrupt and GOB and Kmart is not!

My reason for Sears and JCPenny? I have no clue :bounce::huh:

QuoteHere's the former Kmart in Skowhegan ME.  The store closed in 1996.  The logo was removed after a few years.

That photo is kinda creepy....I mean, it's just sitting there in the middle of nowhere with no cars in the parking lot and the insides blocked off. Is it still closed? When was the logo taken off?

QuoteOriginally posted by Jag67

QuoteHere's the former Kmart in Skowhegan ME.  The store closed in 1996.  The logo was removed after a few years.

That photo is kinda creepy....I mean, it's just sitting there in the middle of nowhere with no cars in the parking lot and the insides blocked off. Is it still closed? When was the logo taken off?

The store is closed since 1996 and the supermarket in the same plaza moved closer to the Wal-Mart.  The plaza is 95% empty now.  The Ames across the street from that store also closed in the same year.  The busy commercial area is now around the Wal-Mart.

The store is still vacant and the logo was taken off maybe two years after the closing.  Here is a picture of the inside.

QuoteOriginally posted by Zayre88

QuoteOriginally posted by Jag67

QuoteHere's the former Kmart in Skowhegan ME.  The store closed in 1996.  The logo was removed after a few years.

That photo is kinda creepy....I mean, it's just sitting there in the middle of nowhere with no cars in the parking lot and the insides blocked off. Is it still closed? When was the logo taken off?

The store is closed since 1996 and the supermarket in the same plaza moved closer to the Wal-Mart.  The plaza is 95% empty now.  The Ames across the street from that store also closed in the same year.  The busy commercial area is now around the Wal-Mart.

The store is still vacant and the logo was taken off maybe two years after the closing.  Here is a picture of the inside.

WOW INTERESTING PIC YOU CAN SEE WHERE THE AISLES USED TO BE!

WITH ALL THOSES STORE AROUND WALMART YOU MIGHT AS WELL SAY GOODBYE TO THEM BECAUSE WALMART WILL STOP AT NOTHING TO BE THE ONLY STORE LEFT NEVER MIND ALREADY BEING #1:flaming::flaming::flaming::flaming::flaming::flaming::flaming::flaming::flaming::flaming::flaming:

QuoteOriginally posted by Caldor1999
hears the prodo type store in White Planes NY  a Former Caldor this store looks so nice to bad all the outher Kmarts dosnt look like this

yeah whats taking them so long!?

IS THIS STILL CONSIDERED A CONCEPT!?

FOR CRYING OUT LOUD UPDATE THE STORES ALREADY ( don't renovate the ones with the old 1970s logo leave it be Just restore the inside clean it up  A LITTLE leave somethings dated call them "Kmart vintage stores")

IT SEEMS TO ME NOTHINGS HAPPENING

QuoteOriginally posted by Zayre88

QuoteOriginally posted by Jag67

QuoteHere's the former Kmart in Skowhegan ME.  The store closed in 1996.  The logo was removed after a few years.

That photo is kinda creepy....I mean, it's just sitting there in the middle of nowhere with no cars in the parking lot and the insides blocked off. Is it still closed? When was the logo taken off?

The store is closed since 1996 and the supermarket in the same plaza moved closer to the Wal-Mart.  The plaza is 95% empty now.  The Ames across the street from that store also closed in the same year.  The busy commercial area is now around the Wal-Mart.

The store is still vacant and the logo was taken off maybe two years after the closing.  Here is a picture of the inside.

WOW that a blast from the past :insane: look at how outdated that store is its kinda like the old serivce merchandise in the JV Mall before it closed in 1999:insane:

Quotecall them "Kmart vintage stores"

or how about "Klassic K-Mart"?

QuoteOriginally posted by Jag67

Quotecall them "Kmart vintage stores"

or how about "Klassic K-Mart"?

YEAH COOL!

THAT SOUNDS SWWWWWEEEETTT! lol:bigsmile::bigsmile::bigsmile::bigsmile::bigsmile::bigsmile::bigsmile::bigsmile:

I like the sound of that
"Klassic K-mart"
has a nice ring to it eh?

hears a new name I made from the Kmart Kresge Jupiter thread

"heres a new name


he he

K-Kres-Jupi-Dor

Kmart, Kresges,Jupiter, Caldor:cool::cool::cool::cool::cool::cool::cool::cool::cool::cool::cool::cool::cool::bouncing::dizzy::D:bigsmile:"

QuoteOriginally posted by MBZ321

QuoteOriginally posted by Jag67
Call me weird, but I must say I like the original 70's-80's K-Mart logo the best. I just think it's the coolest looking, although it was dated around the time it was replaced. I was fortunate enough to see a K-Mart with old signage in- person about 10 years ago (When I was 4). It was in pretty sad shape. Of course, this store is now closed.:(

There is still one store left (for now) in Sacramento, CA that has the old logo. I have a pic of it, but the site I found it on is down right now.

hears that Kmart :bounce::D

What??!! it's closed?? I THOUGHT IT WAS STILL OPEN!!!!!:flaming::flaming:

A book i would like to read:  Kmart's ten deadly sins: how incompetence tainted an American Icon.  The table of content gives a good idea !!

Ch. 1 Brand Mismanagement :yup:
Ch. 2 Not Knowing Its Customers
Ch. 3 Underestimating Wal-Mart :yup:
Ch. 4 Lousy Locations
Ch. 5 Ignoring Store Appearance :yup:
Ch. 6 Technology Aversion
Ch. 7 Supply Chain Disconnect
Ch. 8 Loss of Focus
Ch. 9 Strategy du Jour
Ch. 10 Repeating the Same Mistakes

Here i'm bashing Kmart again on it's very attractive Garden Center ... !  Sorry but that's awful, it's look like a dump compared to the competition.

Note the old school "garden shop" lettering.

QuoteOriginally posted by Zayre88
Here i'm bashing Kmart again on it's very attractive Garden Center ... !  Sorry but that's awful, it's look like a dump compared to the competition.

Note the old school "garden shop" lettering.

I agree the garden shop lettering is their 70s decor.

They haven;t changed it. why dont they change the lettering for garden cetner. Some k-marts have changed the lettering of garden center to complete red, like West Lebanon nh.

The store you have the picture of is the one in Portsmouth NH

Kmart bought Sears and they need to revamp Kmarts as Sears Grand or Sears Essentials. Kmarts tend to be old crappy stores and kinda dirty, they dont clean them that much. Dust balls are on the floor and dust is on the merchandise. Sears has better image than Kmart.

QuoteOriginally posted by dayville81
Kmart bought Sears and they need to revamp Kmarts as Sears Grand or Sears Essentials. Kmarts tend to be old crappy stores and kinda dirty, they dont clean them that much. Dust balls are on the floor and dust is on the merchandise. Sears has better image than Kmart.

i think Sears is just like kmart in a way Sears has lost its way as a Dept store there they have gotten so cheep looking and they nevere have anthing good and there so overe priced on things and alot of therre stores are messy and the Sears Grand idea is a despret atemped to be like wal mart i do hope Sears GOB soon cause i dont see why theres a need for them if i wanan go to a dept store i'll go to JC Penny Macys Bloomingdales nordsteom Bon Ton Filenes Kohls ect

My local Kmart (Broomall, PA, Reed & Sproul Roads) closed in late August 2004 and opened as a Home Depot in late May 2005. You can still easily tell it was a Kmart, because Home Depot still uses the old storefront and in short, left the exterior pretty much the same. Around the top of the store by the garden center, the Kmart red was painted Home Depot orange.

More Kmart bashing:  I hate Kmart for wasting milions on opening dozens of new stores and Super Kmart Centers in the 90's to keep up with Wal-Mart... only to close hundreds of them later.

I hate to see pictures of almost new Kmart buildings sitting vacant when older stores that have managed to stay open don't get a dime to put up a new logo, a pylon sign, buy new carts or do a basic renovation... :mad:

what i dont like about them is how they had the big kmart logo when its teh same as a normel kmart

QuoteOriginally posted by Zayre88
More Kmart bashing:  I hate Kmart for wasting milions on opening dozens of new stores and Super Kmart Centers in the 90's to keep up with Wal-Mart... only to close hundreds of them later.

I hate to see pictures of almost new Kmart buildings sitting vacant when older stores that have managed to stay open don't get a dime to put up a new logo, a pylon sign, buy new carts or do a basic renovation... :mad:

That looks like a pretty nice Kmart, was that a Super K?

I love Kmart just cause when I go into one it takes me back. SInce their stores have stayed pretty much the same loooking for the past 10-15 years. I enjoy seeing a bit of the good ole days when I go in one, but I know at the same time thats what kill them and their business...not updating with the times.

Yet another new Kmart concept....in an old shell.  I'm getting tired of concepts, concepts, orange, lime green, essentials, grand, K-mart with Kenmore/craftsman, new red logo, Big Kmart logos everything is mixed up without a clear nationwide strategy... It's time to get over concepts and roll out something big and new for the chain now!

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-kmart_tests_new-storesjun23,0,7740678.story?page=1

Kmart tests concepts in out-of-way corners

As an employee of K-Mart (cashier, Toledo Oh) I have several problems with K-Mart...

1) The air conditioning!!! Even when the outside temperatures reached 90 degrees, management didn't turn the air conditioning on. We had an elderly woman faint, and several more complained and threatened to take their business elsewhere. We were allowed to use fans, but they had to be purchased. It took a few calls to 1-866-Kmart-4U before they would turn it on... even now, its still hot.

2) Not having enough cashiers. Okay, K-Mart is crappy at scheduling cashiers. Usually, only 2 cashiers handle a 5 shift. The main probelm is that one cashier is usually assigned to putting returns and unwanted items away. Even a line gets backed up, they would have returns processed. Even during peak times (i.e, Sundays) only two cashier work! very rarely do they open another line or have the jewelry associate help with the line.

3) Confusing clothing layouts. There is very little department division in the apperal side of things. Women's and juniors are mixed in the same area and plus sizes are put with petites. Also, at my store, the men's jeans overlaps into women's. No signs really mark where these departments are.

4) Horrible merchandising standards/crappy fixtures. K-Mart needs to update its stores. The fixtures are crappy and many are falling apart. Also, the plan-o-gram people don't plan space all that well, even having some product turned sideways (with no logo or picture facing the customer) to fit on shelves.


Okay, now for the postives

1) Good place to work. Nice management and very friendly employees. Very helpful when I first started working there.

2) Small. This is very popular with the older folks. The main reason why they shop there.

3) Nice clothes. Most clothing that I own comes from K-Mart, and not only because of the 25% off discount. They have decent clothing that rivals the price and style of some the mall stores that my friends frequent.

4) Clean. The stores are pretty clean, despite being old and rather old dated.

mine hasn't changed their roof signage since 1997 NOT a good sign.

SO.  After looking for something on Target's website I checked out Nicks latest post on his blog, and saw the KMart screenshot on it.  I opened Kmarts site alongside Targets, wow.  One can barely tell the difference!  You could swap logos and never know the difference.  It seems to me that KMart maybe be ripping off Targets color/font scheme and layout... it just screams Target.  Just slightly. :insane:

As for the remodel... come on.  I'm not going to KMart to use the Internet Cafe, unless they have an actual Cafe with really good food.  The picture on their site looks more like the in-house suspension room in my high school.

It's been a while since i bashed K-mart.  I just have a question: Do you guys know when was the last time K-mart opened a new store?  

(Really adding a new store, maybe using an existing building, or better, building a brand new one!)  

My understanding is, that for the past 4-5 years, they closed stores here and there, they tried concepts, they converted some store to Sears, but i don't remember any new store openings...

QuoteOriginally posted by Zayre88
It's been a while since i bashed K-mart.  I just have a question: Do you guys know when was the last time K-mart opened a new store?  

(Really adding a new store, maybe using an existing building, or better, building a brand new one!)  

My understanding is, that for the past 4-5 years, they closed stores here and there, they tried concepts, they converted some store to Sears, but i don't remember any new store openings...

They bought many stores from Venture in 1996. There was a Kmart near me that relocated to a former Clover in 1997. Their stores do not seem outdated to me. But of course Kmart seems outdated compared to Wal-Mart, which moves their stores every 6 years.

I remember about the Venture stores acquired by Kmart, but how come Target, Wal-Mart and Kohl's have been opening dozens of new stores while Kmart does nothing?  I'm tired of seeing new concept stores here and there without any aggresive moves by Kmart.  That was my Kmart bashing of the week!

QuoteOriginally posted by Zayre88
I remember about the Venture stores acquired by Kmart, but how come Target, Wal-Mart and Kohl's have been opening dozens of new stores while Kmart does nothing?  I'm tired of seeing new concept stores here and there without any aggresive moves by Kmart.  That was my Kmart bashing of the week!

Kmart was around before the others. They were continuously expanding from the beginning. Wal-Mart, however, did not become well established until 1981. Target was around 1983. And Kohl's started expanding nationally in 1997.

I just hate to see Kmart pulling back, closing stores, leaving markets without a fight, that's all.  They are lousy.

QuoteOriginally posted by Mobil

QuoteOriginally posted by Zayre88
It's been a while since i bashed K-mart.  I just have a question: Do you guys know when was the last time K-mart opened a new store?  

(Really adding a new store, maybe using an existing building, or better, building a brand new one!)  

My understanding is, that for the past 4-5 years, they closed stores here and there, they tried concepts, they converted some store to Sears, but i don't remember any new store openings...

They bought many stores from Venture in 1996. There was a Kmart near me that relocated to a former Clover in 1997. Their stores do not seem outdated to me. But of course Kmart seems outdated compared to Wal-Mart, which moves their stores every 6 years.

last time they opened a new store was just before they filed for Chapter 11

QuoteOriginally posted by Zayre88
I just hate to see Kmart pulling back, closing stores, leaving markets without a fight, that's all.  They are lousy.

Some of these stores they close due to "lease expirations". They did close the one right near me, and I have many in my area, for some odd reason. They do seem to lack a focused strategy.

But the real reason Kmart went bankrupt was embezzlement. That also happened to Grand Union. The CEO of Grand Union took some lavish trip to Brazil and sunk the company.

I don't know when Kmart opened their last store, but I wouldn't plan on any new stores for a while, especially with the poor economy. My local Kmart seems to be doing great business as the local Wal-Mart closed to become a Supercenter, but it doesn't look like that is going to happen. They are actually fixing up the walls, got new carts, and added a self-serve snack bar.

QuoteOriginally posted by MBZ321
I don't know when Kmart opened their last store, but I wouldn't plan on any new stores for a while, especially with the poor economy. My local Kmart seems to be doing great business as the local Wal-Mart closed to become a Supercenter, but it doesn't look like that is going to happen. They are actually fixing up the walls, got new carts, and added a self-serve snack bar.

Where is this Wal-Mart? Serves them right.

Remember that this is the Kmart bashing thread.  I know that now is not the time for Kmart to open new stores, i just want to point out that other chains were expanding while Kmart did nothing... just closing stores.

The states i cover are Maine and NH.  Kmart once had 9 stores in Maine and 12 stores in New Hampshire for a total of 21.  In that period, Kmart was alone with regional chains like Ames, Rich's and Bradlees (and Wal-Mart expanding).  All regional chains are now gone.

Between then and 2009, Kmart closed 6 stores and transformed three into Sears Essentials.  Target had no stores in these states and opened 14 new stores since 2001. Same thing for Kohl's which went from zero to 13 stores.  Kmart is down to 12...

Target went from nothing to passing Kmart which was well established.  They managed to grow by opening new stores in cities with and without a Kmart and in bigger cities where competition is strong.  Kmart did nothing even though those opportunities were there for Target and Kohl's to grab. Why?

QuoteOriginally posted by Zayre88

QuoteOriginally posted by Jag67

QuoteHere's the former Kmart in Skowhegan ME.  The store closed in 1996.  The logo was removed after a few years.

That photo is kinda creepy....I mean, it's just sitting there in the middle of nowhere with no cars in the parking lot and the insides blocked off. Is it still closed? When was the logo taken off?

The store is closed since 1996 and the supermarket in the same plaza moved closer to the Wal-Mart.  The plaza is 95% empty now.  The Ames across the street from that store also closed in the same year.  The busy commercial area is now around the Wal-Mart.

The store is still vacant and the logo was taken off maybe two years after the closing.  Here is a picture of the inside.

What a neat retro Kmart interior. Did Tractor Supply keep the red stripes on the floors and the wall?

QuoteOriginally posted by Zayre88
Remember that this is the Kmart bashing thread.  I know that now is not the time for Kmart to open new stores, i just want to point out that other chains were expanding while Kmart did nothing... just closing stores.

The states i cover are Maine and NH.  Kmart once had 9 stores in Maine and 12 stores in New Hampshire for a total of 21.  In that period, Kmart was alone with regional chains like Ames, Rich's and Bradlees (and Wal-Mart expanding).  All regional chains are now gone.

Between then and 2009, Kmart closed 6 stores and transformed three into Sears Essentials.  Target had no stores in these states and opened 14 new stores since 2001. Same thing for Kohl's which went from zero to 13 stores.  Kmart is down to 12...

Target went from nothing to passing Kmart which was well established.  They managed to grow by opening new stores in cities with and without a Kmart and in bigger cities where competition is strong.  Kmart did nothing even though those opportunities were there for Target and Kohl's to grab. Why?

Yeah. I would've loved to see more Super Kmart stores open, especially in the Midwest and New England.

Actually, Kmart did expand up until the early 2000s... mostly Super K's.

QuoteOriginally posted by tntornadox
Actually, Kmart did expand up until the early 2000s... mostly Super K's.

Now they are doing the opposite, downsizing, closing stores, especially Super Ks.

QuoteOriginally posted by dmx10101

Now they are doing the opposite, downsizing, closing stores, especially Super Ks.

That's my point, I hate to see Kmart downsize while other chains are able to find opportunities to grow!

I think SHC may be realizing Super Kmart is the only way forward for their discount division- they recently launched superkmart.com whereas before there was no distinguishing a regular Kmart from a Supercenter on their website.

QuoteOriginally posted by tntornadox
I think SHC may be realizing Super Kmart is the only way forward for their discount division- they recently launched superkmart.com whereas before there was no distinguishing a regular Kmart from a Supercenter on their website.

I hope so, because I like Super K. It's a nice alternative to Super Walmarts

Chapter 11 bankruptcy - proof that Kmart's empire "Kameapart"[/b] in 2002. :insane:

QuoteOriginally posted by ShopKoFan
Chapter 11 bankruptcy - proof that Kmart's empire "Kameapart"[/b] in 2002. :insane:

Well atleast they still are around after filing for bankruptcy, most companies anymore aren't lucky enough to make it out of it.

I hope they get their act together soon, or else they might end up next on the list for closings. In this type of economic climate it wouldn't be unlikely for them to end up on the chopping block. They are still in financial trouble and at most pretty stagnant. :no: :(

Kmart was VERY lucky to make it out of chapter 11 bankruptcy. I can't think of a single other store chain that filed for it and actually survived it - that is still in business today, I mean.

kmart will be around for a long  time

WWEfan, I hope you are right, If we lose Kmart we will only have Walmart and Target left, And I do really like Kmart. I also like having a bit of a choice in where to shop.

yea our kmart looks like ther geting new shelfs and stuf  they just  put  in a new floor  new check outs new service desk and riped out ther old doors  and put brand new ones in and this past holiday season  they had mile long lines at all 8 check outs wich  was a frist for them  i think this store is a good 20 to 40 years old  mabye older  they were here a lot longer then oxfords walmart that opend in 95

QuoteOriginally posted by momof3
WWEfan, I hope you are right, If we lose Kmart we will only have Walmart and Target left, And I do really like Kmart. I also like having a bit of a choice in where to shop.

Don't forget the remaining regional discount stores, ShopKo, and Meijer. Right now ShopKo is the nation's largest regional retailer, with, with a majority of their stores in Wisconsin. They have stores in 13 states in the Midwest, mountain, and Pacific Northwest states, including one in Redding, California. Meijer, on the other hand, is based out of Michigan, and is a chain of discount stores and hypermarkets similar to Walmart Suercenter, Super Kmart, and Sears Grand, with stores in lower Michigan and Ohio. If Kmart goes under, I wonder if ShopKo or Meijer might take over many locations in the south, southwest, New England, and the east coast. Only time will tell if the economy will get back on track, so that they can expand outside of their current market. I have to say that Kmart is desperate, and that their reputation has gone downhill over the past ten years. What made it worse was their filing for chapter 11, as well as the trouble caused by Martha Stewart's insider trading scandal. Kmart acquired Sears, and experimented with different store concepts, such as the ill-fated Sears Essentials (I personally think it would've made more sense calling it 'Sears Discount', or 'Sears Bargains').  I feel Kmart and their parent company, Sears Holdings,  are taking losses from failed experiments and store closings.

I hope Shopko hangs in there. They're one of the last of their kind. I personally think they should stay small for now, at least until the economy crisis is over. Then afterwards they should expand all over America, perhaps by buying up a lot of the stores that closed during the economy crisis.

QuoteOriginally posted by ShopKoFan

QuoteOriginally posted by momof3
WWEfan, I hope you are right, If we lose Kmart we will only have Walmart and Target left, And I do really like Kmart. I also like having a bit of a choice in where to shop.

Don't forget the remaining regional discount stores, ShopKo, and Meijer. Right now ShopKo is the nation's largest regional retailer, with, with a majority of their stores in Wisconsin. They have stores in 13 states in the Midwest, mountain, and Pacific Northwest states, including one in Redding, California. Meijer, on the other hand, is based out of Michigan, and is a chain of discount stores and hypermarkets similar to Walmart Suercenter, Super Kmart, and Sears Grand, with stores in lower Michigan and Ohio. If Kmart goes under, I wonder if ShopKo or Meijer might take over many locations in the south, southwest, New England, and the east coast. Only time will tell if the economy will get back on track, so that they can expand outside of their current market. I have to say that Kmart is desperate, and that their reputation has gone downhill over the past ten years. What made it worse was their filing for chapter 11, as well as the trouble caused by Martha Stewart's insider trading scandal. Kmart acquired Sears, and experimented with different store concepts, such as the ill-fated Sears Essentials (I personally think it would've made more sense calling it 'Sears Discount', or 'Sears Bargains').  I feel Kmart and their parent company, Sears Holdings,  are taking losses from failed experiments and store closings.

Meijer is lso in Indiana an soes pretty good I dont see them expanding though  as just a year ago or so they layed off a lot of manegmnt Ihavent heard much on how they are fairing through this economy but they never have cashiers worng  the lines are always very long  30 checkout lanes and usually maybe 6 are open

The people really need to stimulate the Kmart brand by opening more Super Kmart stores, as well as opening bigger locations with two entrances, and wider aisles that can be easily navigable with shopping carts, which has worked well with Target and ShopKo. I'm sure it would work well with Kmart. I would also like to see the the Big K signs removed and replaced with just Kmart signs with the caption "A part of the Sears family." underneath it, as well as the name of the city on each location.

By the way, what is the current Kmart slogan?  

We all know that Wal-mart is "Alway low prices" or "Save money, live better".

Target: "Expect more, pay less"

Kohl's: "Expect great things"

Kmart has used many but i have no idea what is their current marketing slogan.  It once was "The stuff of life"...  if they don't have one, it will be yet another reason for more bashing by me. :mad:

On Kmart commercials, they usually say ''There's smart, and there's Kmart smart'' at the very end. However, I haven't actually seen it used as a print slogan.

QuoteOriginally posted by wwefan101
kmart will be around for a long  time

i doubt it and it was a really bad move for sears to merge with them there bring down a compay that already had troble staying aflot over all kmart needs to go they have tried and tried but nothing seems to work so i mean i doubt they will be around much longer

all the ones near me were once caldors they still look like caldor on the inside they resued almost evreything caldor left behind only thing they did was a cheep paint job on the outside of the stores also the store is cluttered and cramped with merchandise and that kmart cafe always makes the store smell so horrble and the people who work there just dont care at all

I would like to see Wesfarmers, a company based out of the UK buy out Sears Holdings, and remodel the Kmart Stores to look like their Australian counterparts, and maybe business might improve at the American Kmart stores. I like the Australian Kmart logo better than the American one.

Kmart had no reason to close stores here and there even in their strongholds. They should have taken better care of their stores all along. Their decision to sell out to Sears was ridiculous. And I hate the new Sears and Kmart logos.

Actually Kmart bought Sears then took the sears name and offices

QuoteOriginally posted by retailfan
Actually Kmart bought Sears then took the sears name and offices

Still, technically they merged Kmart into Sears. I think they tried making the Kmart stores more Sears-like.

 they beter not make kmart look like sears i hate sears   and our kmart is great the way it is

My Kmart is still not done with the so-called remodel, it's now stuck half between a little of the 70's, 1997, and halfway to 2009. What the heck are they doing? :barf:

Kmart has a fresh new mascot. Seen at Sears too.

QuoteOriginally posted by nims57
Kmart has a fresh new mascot. Seen at Sears too.

:holysh: Hmmmm, the yellow smiley and the "rollback" concept seems very similiar to another big box retailer also ending in the name"MART".
Kmart gets an F for fresh and inovative ideas! :mrpink:

Well I visited our new Walmart in Hooksett tonight. I was surprised to see the signage through out the store. Apparently the smiley that I remember being all over their signs in fact has been replaced by the new asterisk. Go Kmart for grabbing smiley as their new sign mascot!! :bigsmile: Smile, your saving even more!!
And after visiting the Kmart in West Lebanon, NH. I would agree with that statement!!

QuoteOriginally posted by gu4ever
Well I visited our new Walmart in Hooksett tonight. I was surprised to see the signage through out the store. Apparently the smiley that I remember being all over their signs in fact has been replaced by the new asterisk. Go Kmart for grabbing smiley as their new sign mascot!! :bigsmile: Smile, your saving even more!!
And after visiting the Kmart in West Lebanon, NH. I would agree with that statement!!

Huh???!? This is a joke, right?

Since when is Kmart's mascot the yellow Walmart smiley? I thought it was the light-bulb guy.

QuoteOriginally posted by XDeSuEhTX

QuoteOriginally posted by gu4ever
Well I visited our new Walmart in Hooksett tonight. I was surprised to see the signage through out the store. Apparently the smiley that I remember being all over their signs in fact has been replaced by the new asterisk. Go Kmart for grabbing smiley as their new sign mascot!! :bigsmile: Smile, your saving even more!!
And after visiting the Kmart in West Lebanon, NH. I would agree with that statement!!

Huh???!? This is a joke, right?

Since when is Kmart's mascot the yellow Walmart smiley? I thought it was the light-bulb guy.

Not quite the Wal-Mart smiley, but a similar yellow smiley is now the mascot for Joe Boxer, a Kmart brand (of course also sold at Sears now).

QuoteOriginally posted by nims57

QuoteOriginally posted by XDeSuEhTX

QuoteOriginally posted by gu4ever
Well I visited our new Walmart in Hooksett tonight. I was surprised to see the signage through out the store. Apparently the smiley that I remember being all over their signs in fact has been replaced by the new asterisk. Go Kmart for grabbing smiley as their new sign mascot!! :bigsmile: Smile, your saving even more!!
And after visiting the Kmart in West Lebanon, NH. I would agree with that statement!!

Huh???!? This is a joke, right?

Since when is Kmart's mascot the yellow Walmart smiley? I thought it was the light-bulb guy.

Not quite the Wal-Mart smiley, but a similar yellow smiley is now the mascot for Joe Boxer, a Kmart brand (of course also sold at Sears now).

Joe Boxer has always used the logo of a yellow smiley face with the tongue sticking out for years... even before their exclusive contract with Kmart... way back when Joe Boxer bedding was seen in JCPenny catalogs. Joe Boxer is separate company from Kmart... we just sell their products exclusively! But yea, the yellow smiley face is nothing new... hell, I have a pair of boxers with that logo on it from when I was 11 (and I'm 19 now).

As far as the current logo for the actual Kmart... it's the blue light bulb known as "Mr. Bluelight." Haven't seen anything in-store or our sign warehouse to indicate we're switching to a yellow smiley... then again, do you think Wal-Mart would let us get away with it? -_-

The current Kmart slogan is "There's smart, then there's Kmart Smart." The phrase has begun to be used in in-store ad materials, especially for Sears Credit Cards and Layaway promotions

Actually walmart wouldn't be able to do a damn thing.

from wikipedia"

In 2006 Wal-Mart, which prominently featured a smiley in its "Rolling Back Prices" campaign, sought to trademark the smiley face in the United States, coming into legal conflict with Loufrani and Smiley World over the matter.[4][5] In 2006 Wal-mart began to phase out the smiley face on its vests[6] and its website. [7] During a trademark infringement case against an online parodist, Wal-Mart again tried to claim it held the trademark rights to the yellow smiley face. In March 2008, Wal-Mart lost the case and the judge stated in his decision that Wal-Mart did not own rights to the smiley face.[8]

Which explains why we haven't seen walmart use the smiley face too much and make a new logo (the sunburst/asterisk logo).

They have big signs at Sears now with the smiley face. And yes Joe Boxer is actually a British company.

Before Kmart sold them, Joe Boxer was considered to be "cool" in the 90's

What really bugs me about Kmart, is the appearance of their stores. Burnt-out lights, paint peeling off walls, dusty air ducts, dirty floors, messy aisles, etc. I just wish that Sears Holdings could merge with Wesfarmers (the owner of Kmart Australia/New Zealand and Target Australia), plan an extreme makeover for both Sears and Kmart, and plan a new merchandising strategy. Nobody wants to buy something that does not sell well. I would preferably see Kmart follow the ideas established by their Australian and New Zealander counterparts. I'd also consider having their light fixtures updated to something similar to what is found at the American retailers, Target and ShopKo. I'd also prefer to see carpet in the clothing aisles, as well as larger locations, and expansions of small ones. Kmart also needs to adapt to modern technology, to track their inventory. Wider aisles would be a must for getting around the store better with shopping carts, strollers, and wheelchairs.

They're trying to lease out part of their store in Waterbury, CT.

As I posted before, I went to a Sears Essentials for the first time a few weeks ago. And it was their closing sale (Marlton, NJ). The only other Philadelphia-area Sears Essentials is in Bethlehem (Allentown), PA. Marlton still has until May 9 to close. First of all, this store is still looking very "Kmart". There was a sign at the closed pharmacy calling it "Kmart pharmacy". Even worse was that the sign was printed by Target, directing customers to their pharmacy! They still play "80's Kmart" music in the store. And apparently, Sears Essentials stores are only now listed on Kmart's website.

This store was a tiny Kmart built in 1974-1975. It sits in a strange, dead shopping center that is mainly offices and kind of hidden. At the other end is an A&P/Super Fresh with the original Super Fresh logo. The inside has not been touched since 1982. Across the street is an early 90's Wal-Mart.

Personally, this store reminds me more of Eckerd or CVS than Kmart. I think A.C. Moore would make a nice replacement for it.

There already is an A.C. Moore in Marlton, or at least close to it in Voorhees.

Last time I checked our Kmart has gotten new doors with the new logo on them ;D

Still haven't seen any real updates to the aisle signage :P :-[ >:(

They got rid of the 1997 signage in the electronic aisle. They now have a savings aisle where the K-Cafe used to be, the ceiling plane hasn't changed much since the 1970's, there are walls painted different colors but no new signage this store is stuck halfway in the 1970s, and between 1997 and 2010.

The outside STILL shows the the 1997 Big Kmart signage, I WISH they'd get RID of it already!!!

Quote from: CTAmeshopper on July 31, 2010, 04:48:43 PM
Last time I checked our Kmart has gotten new doors with the new logo on them ;D

Still haven't seen any real updates to the aisle signage :P :-[ >:(

They got rid of the 1997 signage in the electronic aisle. They now have a savings aisle where the K-Cafe used to be, the ceiling plane hasn't changed much since the 1970's, there are walls painted different colors but no new signage this store is stuck halfway in the 1970s, and between 1997 and 2010.

The outside STILL shows the the 1997 Big Kmart signage, I WISH they'd get RID of it already!!!

That's so true!!  Most stores in Maine and NH are that way.  Although some still have the old electronics "music & Video" logo on the wall.  This is totally obsolete.

Many have the new doors but not all and they all have Big Kmart logos outside.

every time i hear the word kmart i cringe in disgust why you ask? well i have very fond memory's of my local kmart (Big K 402 Englar Road Westminster MD 21157) a nice little store no where near as big as the walmart literally across the street but still a great store but then it happed it in 2003 it closed sad i looked and found the nearest kmart to me (Big K 6400 Ridge Road Sykesville MD 21784) it is by far the second worst store i ever been in (the worst being a little grocery store) it is in a closed down trashy mall that is at least 30-40 years old and hasnt been renovated a single time the kmart it self is pretty big but at least 25%-35% is clothes 10% of that being baby clothes seriously is it supposed to be kmart or sears the rest of is is cramped which dosent make sense because theirs alot of open space not being used why have such a big store but leave the most important part cramped (yes my local one was cramped but thier wasn't all that open space either but it wasnt trashy like this one) the checkout lanes are so cramped the carts rub against the next checkout and the garden center is almost non existent and did i mention how old and trashy it was but after about 8 visits i thought well it actually isnt bad it has a nice rural feel to it and i actually enjoy it then one day shopping for grocerys my mind was changed i went to pick up some some soda and for what ever reason i stopped to look at the pepperoni and then i saw IT yes IT was a package that must have been 20 years old its was completely covered in mold a mix between grey and green but literally you couldn't see any of the pepperoni underneath and then their was a spot of some black liquid spot trust me words cant even describe how NASTY it was then i went to get some medicine checked the expiration date and it was 2 years expired no joke and this is stuff i was buying on a weekly basis so needless to say i will never buy anything from their again other than electronics omg every kmart seems to have a great electronics section great amount of clearance section i brought a bunch of no longer made thing that were useful gameboy color things, video now headphones, and a camera that normally cost twice the price what i paid

EDIT: i do have to admit tho the one in Fredrick md is quite nice ... its to far away from me tho

pics are of the crappy sykesville/eldersburg/carrolltown md location

(http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/qq37/zonemad96/carrolltown%20center/frontofkmart.jpg)

(http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/qq37/zonemad96/carrolltown%20center/kmartentranceinsideofthesmallareaofthemallyoucangoin.jpg)

btw i would love love love to see any photos of the westminster md location mainly because my memories of it are limited and i looked all online and cant find any  :'(

Unfortunately for Kmart, their grocery and pharmacy sections are no longer the place to go and not many people think of Kmart first for these buys.  

My feel is that Kmart groceries are more expensive than elsewhere, they have less items and because of the low volume, then stuff might not be so fresh...  Then, less people go there and the cycle continues...

They should get rid of most of it and only keep essentials ar a competitive price and use the room for something else!

Quote from: Zayre88 on September 26, 2010, 09:17:08 PM
Unfortunately for Kmart, their grocery and pharmacy sections are no longer the place to go and not many people think of Kmart first for these buys.  

My feel is that Kmart groceries are more expensive than elsewhere, they have less items and because of the low volume, then stuff might not be so fresh...  Then, less people go there and the cycle continues...

They should get rid of most of it and only keep essentials ar a competitive price and use the room for something else!

i agree but a food item that completely coved in mold and god knows what else is just plain sad i would have taken a pic of it but the lady was looking at me with it in my hand and i doubt i would ever see her or any employee agian until i checked out and i didnt want to leave it just sit

Remember
Theres Smart, and then there's Kmart smart....a.k.a not smart at all.
But seriously whenever I go in kmart for god knows what I always think "People still come in here?"
(http://img184.imageshack.us/img184/8350/kmart1tq3.jpg)
I mean look at the store near me, you know it would be meh looking anyways, but that orange line makes it even uglier imo, I dont get what they were thinking when they thought to accent some stores in orange.

Hell I'll be honest whenever I see this thread in this bashing section I think "too easy"

I only went into kmart cause I got off the bus at it and would sometimes grab a 2 liter of soda.

Funny thing is recently they put a bunch of cart returns in the parking lot, well I guess they figured the lot never gets full so why not fill some spots with cart returns plus that target and walmart has those! lol

And you know whats crazy? Id still miss it if it ever closes.

I have a feeling that if Kmart and Sears deal the same fate as Ames, that most of their stores will be absorbed into other chains, such as Target, ShopKo, Pamida, Meijer, TJ Maxx, Big Lots, Bed Bath & Beyond, JCPenney, Costco and Kohl's. I could possibly see most Sears stores that have more than one floor be converted to JCPenney or Target, where most single floor Sears locations could be converted to ShopKo, Target, Walmart, Kohl's, or JCPenney.

Here's what I think may happen to the ones near me
Sears - if this closes I can just see it being empty, its 3 floors, maybe someone will take 1 floor or 2, but it will be hard, also theres a target across the street

Kmart - that would be interesting, cause theres the target thats close enough (by sears), also the building behind it just opened as a international market, they could possible knock kmart down and the roller skating place across from ti thats been closed since the winter (blizzards made the roof cave) and possible a walmart since that would put it in between 2 locations, which are bother on the roosevelt boulavard, and im sure walmart would love having one nearby the target at bleigh and bustleton.

Interestingly enough I went into kmart today, took a few pics, Ill probably post em in the actual kmart thread.

One of the biggest gripes about most older US Kmart stores is their cluttered and unkempt appearance. I wish the US stores would follow the examples set at the Australia and New Zealand stores, since there's a possibility that they have better looking stores with clean floors, etc.

Here's what an Australian Kmart store looks like:
(http://cdn.wn.com/ph/img/c2/43/f7192c418539ec3d5b4663640680-grande.jpg)

I've grown more fond of kmarts crappyness, I don't know what it is but something about it draws me to them.

I visited two Kmart stores recently.  A couple years ago, I still said that I somewhat enjoyed the "old school" feeling of Kmart stores.

Today, I'm slowly getting tired of it.  I spent the week-end shopping at Walmart, Target, Kohl's, Christmas Tree Shops, Lowe's and Kmart.  When you enter a Kmart store it's like stepping back in time. 

The stores still look like they were 30 years ago outside and inside.  They have been slightly renovated at the time of the "Big Kmart" launch, but even that was 15 years ago.  Some locations were slightly improved with new doors, new signs and color schemes, but that was almost 10 years go.

So today all Kmart stores are different, they're old, tired and most are in their original buildings (unlike Target, Walmart and Kohl's).  They have 3 kinds of floor tiles, mismatched ceiling tiles, old "Music & Video" signs in the electronics departments, unappealing garden centers and grocery departments.

That was my Kmart bashing for today!

oh what a surprise the kmart in sykesville is closing (http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/qq37/zonemad96/544526_2730364751725_1635444818_1931533_1858712694_n.jpg)
(http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/qq37/zonemad96/536521_2730369431842_1635444818_1931534_1096085701_n.jpg)

Quote from: zonemad96 on January 29, 2013, 09:52:28 AM
kmart could slightly improve sales easy by doing simple things

1st lower prices you can sell stuff when you can get the same exact product 3 bucks cheaper two blocks down at walmart

2nd STOP PUTTING YOUR DAMN CLEARANCE STUFF IN THE RUNDOWN GARDEN CENTERS who in the hell in their right mind thought it would be a good idea to put Clearance items in a garden center put the Clearance stuff near the front of the store or make it obvious to customers were the Clearance section is the point of a Clearance item is to get rid of it at a low price not throw it in a corner and hope someone see it and buys it thats the most stupidest thing i have ever seen does anyone who works their have any common sense the amount of stupidity pisses me off deeply walmart has the right idea by sticking it in the middle of the store where it will easly be seen and putting up a big sign to let you know its their maybe you wouldn't need to sell that 30$ item for 3 bucks if you stuck it someplace where people would see it and not have it 30$ in the first place when walmart has it for 25

3 if your too cheap to fix your rundown crappy stores up then please for the love of god at least keep them clean

4 clean and fix up the garden centers some im not saying completely redo them but for the love of god their the most rundown part of the store they could at least use some attention so they at least look presentable

their you go four things that only takes common sense and would improve business and profits but kmart is too stupid to do

The reason that Kmart has higher prices is because they still sell mostly American made stuff which is higher and better quality which you have to pay more money for if you want better made American products.

Wal*Mart sells cheap foreign made stuff which does not last and breaks easily due to the fact that it is foreign made.

So the decision is up to the consumer. Do they want to purchase a high quality American made product once at Kmart for a slightly higher price or do they want to waste their money buying cheap foreign made products at Wal*Mart which is not built to last and you have to keep replacing wasting your hard earned money?

Quote from: zonemad96 on January 29, 2013, 09:52:28 AM
2nd STOP PUTTING YOUR DAMN CLEARANCE STUFF IN THE RUNDOWN GARDEN CENTERS who in the hell in their right mind thought it would be a good idea to put Clearance items in a garden center put the Clearance stuff near the front of the store or make it obvious to customers were the Clearance section is the point of a Clearance item is to get rid of it at a low price not throw it in a corner and hope someone see it and buys it thats the most stupidest thing i have ever seen does anyone who works their have any common sense the amount of stupidity pisses me off deeply walmart has the right idea by sticking it in the middle of the store where it will easly be seen and putting up a big sign to let you know its their maybe you wouldn't need to sell that 30$ item for 3 bucks if you stuck it someplace where people would see it and not have it 30$ in the first place when walmart has it for 25

There's one obvious reason they use the garden center area (or at least around here where most of the garden areas are outdoors and not useful this time of year, they use an aisle or two in the back corner of the store):
DISTANCE

If you have to walk through a big chunk of the store to get to the clearance, the hope is that you'll see something (or two, or three) else (hopefully at a higher price point) to buy on the way. 

It's the same reason grocery stores put the most common items (milk, bread etc.) in the farthest locations from the entry (and often far from each other as well) - to get you to travel through more of the store.

Target probably has even a better system - they house clearance on various endcaps throughout the store (usually the end of the aisles closest to the exterior walls) - that way you have to walk all around the store to find it.

Okay here is my revised complaints about kmart

1st lower the prices. You cant sell the same thing that walmart is selling for 5 dollars more than walmarts prices and expect to sell product.

2nd do something about all the clearanced stuff thanks to "BillyGr" it makes more sense to me why they use the garden center (I was honestly oblivious to the reasoning of that) but 2 of 6 kmarts i went to didn't have clearance signs up or easily visible and that's a problem no ones going to go back to the garden center to get the stuff if they don't know its their. When theirs shelves of Christmas ornaments and decorations in february still hanging around theirs a issue.

3rd Keep the stores clean and fix them up some. Im not saying spend 1000's of dollars to remodel them but at least fix the leaking roofs and the bathrooms with broken soap dispensers and simple things like that. Also fix the clutter theirs to many cluttered shelves with to many items on them considering theirs usually like 5 completely empty shelves somewhere in the store.

4th clean and fix up the garden centers some im not saying completely redo them but for the love of god their the most rundown part of the store they could at least use some attention so they at least look presentable. Their cluttered , dirty , and have aged worse then milk.

5th Stop using storage containers to fill empty shelves walmat does this too and i hate that. Thats a lazy way to fix the fact that you have to many shelves in your store and not enough product.

6th Update your price tags. I don't even need to explain this one if something rings up different than what the price tags in that's annoying.

wtf? am i the only one who sees "My precious!!!!" ?
http://www.kmart.com/movies-music-gaming-xbox-360-xbox-360-games/s-24820

Quote from: zonemad96 on January 30, 2013, 11:25:42 PM
Okay here is my revised complaints about kmart

1st lower the prices. You cant sell the same thing that walmart is selling for 5 dollars more than walmarts prices and expect to sell product.

Like I stated in my last post in this topic, the reason that Kmart has higher prices is because they still sell mostly American made stuff which is higher and better quality which you have to pay more money for if you want better made American products.

Wal*Mart sells cheap foreign made stuff which does not last and breaks easily due to the fact that it is foreign made.

So the decision is up to the consumer. Do they want to purchase a high quality American made product once at Kmart for a slightly higher price or do they want to waste their money buying cheap foreign made products at Wal*Mart which is not built to last and you have to keep replacing it wasting your hard earned money?

Quote from: IGA/Kmart Is Forever! on January 31, 2013, 12:15:27 PM

Quote from: zonemad96 on January 30, 2013, 11:25:42 PM
Okay here is my revised complaints about kmart

1st lower the prices. You cant sell the same thing that walmart is selling for 5 dollars more than walmarts prices and expect to sell product.

Like I stated in my last post in this topic, the reason that Kmart has higher prices is because they still sell mostly American made stuff which is higher and better quality which you have to pay more money for if you want better made American products.

Wal*Mart sells cheap foreign made stuff which does not last and breaks easily due to the fact that it is foreign made.

So the decision is up to the consumer. Do they want to purchase a high quality American made product once at Kmart for a slightly higher price or do they want to waste their money buying cheap foreign made products at Wal*Mart which is not built to last and you have to keep replacing it wasting your hard earned money?

Their eletronics, health and beauty, food section, and automotive contain all the same things sold at walmart and is more expensive than what is sold at walmart so your already wrong on 4 departments unless you count the kmart brand products which are obviously cheap to begin with but also a cheaper quality than the name brand products since their ment to be sold cheaper then the name brands.
Joe boxer, basic editions, and atletitech are all 3 clothing brands sold at kmart and none of them are made in the usa as a matter of fact joe boxer is exclusive to kmart i think basic editions is to but im not sure
Proof:

(http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s540/zonezilla/HNI_0012_zps1393d410.jpg)
(http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s540/zonezilla/HNI_0011_zps23da2345.jpg)
(http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s540/zonezilla/HNI_0010_zps9b98be89.jpg)

You either have no idea what your talking about or love kmart so much you will do anything to defend them.
Fruit of the Loom  Men's Boxer Briefs 5pk 52cents more at kmart
8 bars of irish spring soap  72 cents more at kmart
Bell Steering Wheel Cover, Shaggy Pink $2.56 more at kmart
Evenflo  Journey 300 w/Embrace35â,,¢ Marianna $32.99  more at kmart!!!

If I brought those 4 things I would save $36.79 shopping at walmart! Now whats your excuse for kmart being more expensive?

Quote from: zonemad96 on February 01, 2013, 12:24:14 AM

Quote from: IGA/Kmart Is Forever! on January 31, 2013, 12:15:27 PM

Quote from: zonemad96 on January 30, 2013, 11:25:42 PM
Okay here is my revised complaints about kmart

1st lower the prices. You cant sell the same thing that walmart is selling for 5 dollars more than walmarts prices and expect to sell product.

Like I stated in my last post in this topic, the reason that Kmart has higher prices is because they still sell mostly American made stuff which is higher and better quality which you have to pay more money for if you want better made American products.

Wal*Mart sells cheap foreign made stuff which does not last and breaks easily due to the fact that it is foreign made.

So the decision is up to the consumer. Do they want to purchase a high quality American made product once at Kmart for a slightly higher price or do they want to waste their money buying cheap foreign made products at Wal*Mart which is not built to last and you have to keep replacing it wasting your hard earned money?

Their eletronics, health and beauty, food section, and automotive contain all the same things sold at walmart and is more expensive than what is sold at walmart so your already wrong on 4 departments unless you count the kmart brand products which are obviously cheap to begin with but also a cheaper quality than the name brand products since their ment to be sold cheaper then the name brands.
Joe boxer, basic editions, and atletitech are all 3 clothing brands sold at kmart and none of them are made in the usa as a matter of fact joe boxer is exclusive to kmart i think basic editions is to but im not sure

I didn't say that everything that sells at Kmart is American made. What I said was is that Kmart still sells mostly American made products, but not everything.

One thing that I do know for certain is that Kmart does not kill American jobs the way that Wal*Mart does. I read on www.yahoo.com on their news page one day that Wal*Mart's #1 goal is absolutely no competition. What I read about Wal*Mart in this news article is that they pretty much target what competitors it is that they want to permanently shut down. The way that they target their competitors to permanently shut them down is that they take a certain percentage of every sale that they make from the consumer and they put this percentage of money that they make from every sale from the consumer and use it to target their competitors so that they can permanently shut them down. Once Wal*Mart gets rid of one competitor they target another and will continue to do this process over and over repeatedly until there are no competitors left which is why you will see that Wal*Mart is moving these Neighborhood Markets of theirs into small towns so that they can begin to target the small businesses in small cities and shut them down permanently like they currently do with their Supercenters against corporation chains in big cities. But where did I read in this news article that Wal*Mart gets the money from to target competitors and permanently shut them down? The Wal*Mart consumer is where they get it from which pretty much means that it is the Wal*Mart consumer that is giving their money to Wal*Mart so that Wal*Mart can use a percentage of it that they make from every sale to target competitors, permanently shut them down, which in the end is killing just as many jobs that we have here in the U.S.A combined with this recession that we are currently in.

Having said that, the decision is up to the consumer. You can support your local and family owned business as well as other corporation chains or you can go to Wal*Mart where they will use a percentage of every sale that they make from you to target competitors, permanently shut them down, which in the end will result in a decrease of even more jobs being lost. What is more important to the consumer, varies by each and every person. I understand that saving money is important especially in this day and age. But at the same time each person needs to think about what is more important to them. Shopping at Wal*Mart to save money where in the end they will use a certain percentage of the money that they make off of you from every sale to target competitors, permanently shut them down, which in the end will just decrease jobs that we have here in our country or shopping elsewhere which will give Wal*Mart less money, preventing them from targeting competitors while at the same time will save jobs allowing the jobs that are saved to be here for future generations.

Quite frankly I prefer to pay a little extra at Kmart than having to make a trip to Walmart, and I would like to add that Kmart's home brand is not cheap, I purchase those products and they are just as good to me.

Dont get me wrong I love kmart. Thats why I come on here and complain about them, because im pissed of that their letting themselves die like that. Theirs no excuse for kmart being in such bad shape except for the fact that no one wants to  make any effort to keep the  store up and running.

the two main reasons people shop at walmart not kmart is prices, and because kmarts stores look like death. The fact of the matter is is kmart sells the same stuff walmart sells and at more money. Target gets away being more expensive than walmart because their stores are nice and hip people don't mind spending the money since the store is so nice but kmarts stores are run down who wants to go to kmart and spend more money when the stores look like crap? Their are some people but not many.

The brands that are exclusive to kmart like joe boxer or basic editions are made in places like elsavador or bangladesh. So how come a pair of sleep pants from kmart is like 2-5 dollars more? The only people who ever shop in a kmart is old people who have shoped their for generations, and people who come in just to buy one or two items. Kmart just cant keep going like that its hasn't worked and it will never work.

I have fond memory's of being 5 or so and going to my local kmart with my mother. Each section was amazing in its own to me all those clothes all those toys it was just awesome to me as a kid. Then before we left i got a icee and a pretzel and mom got a pretzel and a soda from the snack counter that was right in front of the check out lanes. Yeah sometimes we did the same thing at walmart but it just wasn't the same as when we did it at kmart and I honestly couldn't tell you why but i just know i loved kmart and walmart was just eh to me.

Also I am with the category who would rather shop at kmart then walmart. I love the stores and how their small and homey feeling (not all of them are small but my favorite ones are). I love the clearance section ive got so much cool stuff from that section, I got sleep pants for 2 dollars a pair, I got a $10 bookbag for $2. Even though their stores are rundown I love that about them the stores show their history like with the signs on the wall that say vhs tapes and stuff like that. The fact is we are the minority, mostly all shoppers would rather shop at walmart and unless kmart does something about their stores then their stores will continue to be a ghost town with hardly no shoppers until their finally all gone forever.

I 100% agree with you I dislike walmart so much that i drive 45 minutes to kmart every time i can talk my mom in to letting me drive their. I never heard of the neighborhood market but a small town near me had a walmart in it for the longest time and now they decided to make it a super walmart which is hurting the only other store in that town that sold grocery.

I love kmart I would even go as far to say it has a place in my heart, when their gone its like part of me will be gone. I don't want to see them go but I do want them to wake up and realize they need to do something about themselves.

Quote from: zonemad96 on February 01, 2013, 09:08:11 AM
Dont get me wrong I love kmart. Thats why I come on here and complain about them, because im pissed of that their letting themselves die like that. Theirs no excuse for kmart being in such bad shape except for the fact that no one wants to  make any effort to keep the  store up and running.

the two main reasons people shop at walmart not kmart is prices, and because kmarts stores look like death. The fact of the matter is is kmart sells the same stuff walmart sells and at more money. Target gets away being more expensive than walmart because their stores are nice and hip people don't mind spending the money since the store is so nice but kmarts stores are run down who wants to go to kmart and spend more money when the stores look like crap? Their are some people but not many.

The brands that are exclusive to kmart like joe boxer or basic editions are made in places like elsavador or bangladesh. So how come a pair of sleep pants from kmart is like 2-5 dollars more? The only people who ever shop in a kmart is old people who have shoped their for generations, and people who come in just to buy one or two items. Kmart just cant keep going like that its hasn't worked and it will never work.

I have fond memory's of being 5 or so and going to my local kmart with my mother. Each section was amazing in its own to me all those clothes all those toys it was just awesome to me as a kid. Then before we left i got a icee and a pretzel and mom got a pretzel and a soda from the snack counter that was right in front of the check out lanes. Yeah sometimes we did the same thing at walmart but it just wasn't the same as when we did it at kmart and I honestly couldn't tell you why but i just know i loved kmart and walmart was just eh to me.

Also I am with the category who would rather shop at kmart then walmart. I love the stores and how their small and homey feeling (not all of them are small but my favorite ones are). I love the clearance section ive got so much cool stuff from that section, I got sleep pants for 2 dollars a pair, I got a $10 bookbag for $2. Even though their stores are rundown I love that about them the stores show their history like with the signs on the wall that say vhs tapes and stuff like that. The fact is we are the minority, mostly all shoppers would rather shop at walmart and unless kmart does something about their stores then their stores will continue to be a ghost town with hardly no shoppers until their finally all gone forever.

I 100% agree with you I dislike walmart so much that i drive 45 minutes to kmart every time i can talk my mom in to letting me drive their. I never heard of the neighborhood market but a small town near me had a walmart in it for the longest time and now they decided to make it a super walmart which is hurting the only other store in that town that sold grocery.

I love kmart I would even go as far to say it has a place in my heart, when their gone its like part of me will be gone. I don't want to see them go but I do want them to wake up and realize they need to do something about themselves.

.

I like Kmart, too. In fact, Kmart is the last discount department that still exists that I have to go to. When I was growing up, my mother's two main discount department stores were Kmart and Hills and I loved shopping at both stores and I always wanted to go back to both stores repeatedly even after we had taken a trip to both stores. Not only that, but it was hard for my mother to get me out of both stores as well. Unfortunately, The Hills Department Store Chain was bought out by Ames right before The Holiday Season of 1998. I liked shopping at Ames, too when Hills Department Stores were no longer. The sad news though is now Hills & Ames both no longer exist, which pretty much means all that I have left out of the three discount department store chains is just Kmart. I don't shop at Target because they don't have the selection of products that I am looking for and I refuse to shop at Wal*Mart for the reasons stated on my last post under this topic. But at the same time, I feel the same way that you do, zonemad96. I don't know what I am going to do if Kmart goes under, which I hope and pray that it won't because if it does I will have nowhere to shop at anymore because like I just stated above Hills & Ames are both gone. I hope that you understand, zonemad96, because I understand where you are coming from too, in this post that you left that I have quoted on. Take care.

Kmart is going nowhere fast, closing stores every year. The stores in Green Bay are long gone, so that is no surprise.

Quote from: ShopKoFan on November 04, 2015, 11:54:46 PM
Kmart is going nowhere fast, closing stores every year. The stores in Green Bay are long gone, so that is no surprise.

Kmart sucks, Sears blows!

Quote from: ShopKoFan on September 28, 2016, 03:52:20 PM

Quote from: ShopKoFan on November 04, 2015, 11:54:46 PM
Kmart is going nowhere fast, closing stores every year. The stores in Green Bay are long gone, so that is no surprise.

Kmart sucks, Sears blows!

Right, Kmart and Sears gotten themselves in this mess of mass Kmart and Sears closings that we might see Sears leave the mall and whatever's left of the "Mighty" Kmart in the near future.

Hey, Kmart,

Now that you have closed every single store that is within any conceivable driving radius
of my house, you can turn off the emails and texts offering special deals anytime.