Sears Launches Automotive on sears.com
Auto Owners Can Research Tires and Batteries Online
Some auto owners just want to know which tires or batteries to buy. Others want to know why. In either case, sears.com can help. Auto owners wanting to make informed decisions about their tire, battery and automotive maintenance purchases may now go to sears.com to research their options at their leisure, find answers to commonly asked questions, and if they wish, learn definitions to useful auto-related terms -- before going to Sears to make their purchase.
Sears, Roebuck and Co., the nation's largest retailer of tires, announced today that it launched the automotive category on sears.com, allowing consumers to research online the appropriate tires and battery for their vehicle. Consumers enter the year, make and model of their vehicle to receive a list and product detail for the choices of tires and batteries designed to fit that vehicle. Auto owners may sort tires and batteries by price, brand or product name, and can then compare up to four similar items side by side. By inputting a local zip code or address in the store locator, consumers will receive a list of the nearest Sears Auto Centers, addresses and phone numbers, then they can print out directions and a map to the store they choose.
Because the products must be installed on a vehicle, they are not available for online purchase, but can be obtained at Sears Auto Centers nationwide.
"On sears.com, auto owners can research the advantages of various products, compare prices and make decisions in the comfort of their own home," said Bill White, president of Sears Automotive. "When they arrive at Sears, auto owners can have a better understanding of what they want, and why, and can discuss any questions with our tire and battery experts."
"We expect our Sears online resource will prove just as popular a convenience with auto owners as it is with families purchasing major appliances, home theater, lawn tractors and treadmills," said Dennis Honan, vice president and general manager of Sears Customer Direct, which includes sears.com and specialty catalogs. "Savvy consumers frequently come into their local Sears store with their sears.com printout of side-by-side comparisons. Automotive is another category where sears.com can help consumers make fact-based decisions for important major purchases. This is the most recent example of how we are evolving sears.com, responding to customer demand."
Research reveals that sears.com already influences one out of 10 major appliance purchases in a Sears store -- that's upwards of $500 million annually. And that's just appliances.
At http://www.sears.com/auto , auto owners also can find the services that Sears Auto Centers offer, such as alignments, brake service, wheel balancing, and more, and a list of what is included in each service. Auto enthusiasts are able to learn more about the brands and models Sears carries for wheels, brakes, shocks, struts, cartridges, maintenance items such as antifreeze, oil, oil filters and lighting, and auto accessories such as car top carriers, floor mats and air gauges.
The new sears.com "Automotive Advisor" section includes information on buying tips, maintenance information, safety and more. Included is a helpful list of definitions of automotive terminology, as well as most commonly asked questions. What is tire speed rating? Should I consider the speed rating when I purchase tires? On what axle do I place my new tires if only two are replaced? How often should I check my tire pressure? What are "cold cranking amps" in an auto battery and how are they important? What is a battery's reserve capacity? How do brakes work? How do I know if I need shocks and struts? Answers are now easily found on sears.com.
Information from the Web can be printed off for quick reference when purchasing at a local Sears Automotive Center, which offers fast, expert service and installation, all at a great price.
Sears Automotive Center is the nation's largest retailer of tires. Sears is the exclusive retailer for the DieHard battery brand, and carries trusted tire brands such as Michelin, Goodyear, Bridgestone, Dunlop, Pirelli and more.
Sears, Roebuck and Co. is a leading U.S. retailer of apparel, home and automotive products and services, with annual revenue of more than $40 billion. The company serves families in the U.S. through Sears stores nationwide, including approximately 860 full-line stores. Sears also offers a wide variety of merchandise and services through its Web site, http://www.sears.com/ .
SOURCE: Sears, Roebuck and Co.
Contact: Tom Nicholson of Sears Auto, +1-847-286-5231, or Ann Woolman of
sears.com, +1-847-286-7079, awoolma@sears.com
Website: http://www.sears.com/auto
Website: http://www.sears.com/