After a partnership that has lasted over 100 years, the department store Sears announced last month that they will no longer be selling Whirlpool Corporation’s appliances including their subsidiaries Amana, Maytag and Kitchenaid. In a note sent to its stores last week, Sears said that Whirlpool was making demands that would have made it difficult to sell its appliances at a competitive price. Choosing to end this relationship will remove some of the top selling appliances from their stores and will further diminish their already shrinking market share in appliance sales.
Sears has been struggling financially in recent years and is closing stores in an effort to sustain profitability. They were once the king of appliance sales in the US, but there is a growing shift towards buying appliances from locally owned companies such as Don’s Appliances. Consumers have begun to turn away from big box stores like Sears where it can be difficult to get a personalized sales experience and professional installation. Don’s Appliances, for example, does not sub-contract its installation and delivery to a third party and instead employs true professionals who are experts in their field. Consumers have the right to demand high quality service and a knowledgeable sales department when making their purchase, and we at Don’s are happy to meet their expectations. We also believe that Whirlpool Corporation makes top notch appliances at an outstanding value and are happy to be your one stop shop for these excellent brands.