I was hired as a sales consultant for Sears Home Improvement Products, specifically to sell remodel/reface kitchens. After going through Sears' ridiculously deficient training, I believed with conviction in my new employer and the representations made to me by Sears. I believed in the product, service and quality, etc. I was with Sears Home Improvement Products for approx. 4-5 months. It wasn't until the last few months that I began to realize that just about everything they trained me to do, say, and/or represent to the customer was in one way or another false, inaccurate and/or untrue. It was like a 3-ring circus. Sears had me driving all over the state of Oklahoma to do 3-4 hour in-home presentations to customers interested in remodeling/refacing their kitchens.
I sold a total of 7-9 kitchens, was salesman of the month my first month with total sales of over $100,000 (because I believed in the product). I sold a few more after that, but those cancelled for one reason or another (lucky for the customer). Months after I had resigned my position I received calls to my cellular from 6 of the 7-9 customers. Every one of them had a complaint about what they did or didn't end up with.
Sears deceptive practices makes me sick. Much worse I represented Sears, believed in Sears, and played a part in it. I unknowingly made misrepresentations, gave false hope and displayed product samples which apparently ended up not being the same product installed in these customers kitchens.
Sears sends out "sales consultants" who know very little about the product to deliver a presentation of misrepresentations of customer service, high quality product and a false sense of security with their so called warranty and "money back guarantee, " like you see over the door of Sears' Department Stores.
Wow, the job they did on me and all unsuspecting customers. I've filed a claim against Sears with the Dept. Of Labor for commissions Sears has decided I am not owed. The state found in my favor and entered an Administrative Order of Determination against Sears for commissions due.instead of just doing the right thing and paying me for earned income, Sears appealed the Order and it will be 6-8 months before we appear for an Administrative Hearing. I hope to see my case to the end and prevail based upon principle alone. Too many of us give up and have no choice but to walk away for lack of time, money and energy, allowing dishonest companies such as Sears to continue to abuse and take advantage of their customers.
Ive heard so many people tell horror stories like how Sears tried to force an acquaintance of mine to buy a second tire for his truck or he could not drive off their premises. I want consumers to know that Sears has no ones interest in mind other than its own. Period. The money customers spent to have new beautiful kitchens installed is sickening when I think about what they really got.
I did advise one customer who had contacted me long after I had resigned to continue contacting Sears about her botched kitchen, request that they work on it until it is done to her satisfaction and if it is not she should refuse to sign the back of the contract indicating that the installation is to her satisfaction. I also advised her to put a hold on her credit card and any other sources Sears used as payment of the kitchen until 1) it was completed to her satisfaction and 2) the 1 year No Interest/No Payments had expired. Sears should make NO attempts to collect funds from customers who were provided the NO PAYMENTS NO INTEREST FOR 12 MONTHS, a time of which does not begin until after the installation is complete.
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