Help
Please review our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for answers to the questions that we get asked most. If you have not found the answer you're looking for here, contact us and we will respond to your inquiry as quickly as possible.
About Us
What is the MySears Community website?
MySears is a growing but personalized online community consisting of individuals interested in sharing their opinions, ideas and thoughts on their Sears and Kmart experiences.
We want to hear from you to learn about what is working and what isn't, with us and across all of your shopping experiences and relationships. So whether you are a loyal Sears, Kmart, Lands End or Craftsman shopper or perhaps have never made a trip to a Kmart, Sears, or any of our affiliates, MySears offers you the opportunity to tell your story and help us improve. Your Perspective is Invaluable...
Using the Site
Are there requirements for writing and posting a review?
Our requirements are simple. Just reveal that you are a real person by registering and then we will confirm your account. Then, get to writing and rating.
Can I format my reviews?
Yes, there is a toolbar at the top of the page to help you with formatting such as italics and bold.
Does the MySears Community website edit reviews?
We do not remove reviews from the site unless a review or its author is found to be in violation of the Terms of Service.
Can the MySears Community website redistribute my reviews?
We may redistribute your reviews in variety of ways. Please consult the Terms of Service for details.
What are comments?
At the bottom of a post, you will have the option to post a comment for an author. Comments are general remarks on the post. You would leave a comment if you want to add an additional piece of information or clarify something in a post. All post comments are made public.
You may also leave a comment for a person on their profile page. All comments are public by default, and are shown to everyone. The recipient has an option to mark the comment left on their profile page as private. Private comments on a profile page are visible only to the person who received the comment.
How do I share feedback on the community features?
We always want to hear from our community members. You may contact us directly via the contact us form.
Writing Reviews
What are "I am" tags?
As you write your reviews we ask you to create "tags" that tell us about you as it relates to the item you are reviewing. For example, if you are writing a review of a Craftsman tool, you might include a Reviewer Trait like "do-it-yourselfer" or alternatively, "not very handy." These "I am" tags are then searchable, so readers can choose to filter reviews by people who they connect with on one or more of these levels. It also makes the site a whole lot more fun and personal!
Who can read my reviews?
This website is a free site, so anybody can read and comment on your reviews. You can also add information to your personal Profile page, which visitors will also be able to see. Any personal information that you provide through our Registration form will be kept confidential. Please see our privacy policy for further details.
How do I write a review?
It's easy to write a review on the site. Simply use our search box for the item you want to review or browse our categories. When you find what you want, click the "Review It" button and you'll be taken to the review form. If you don't find what you're looking for in our catalog of products, services and places, simply add it yourself! In order for your review to be published, you need to register with our site. Your review will be published once it has been approved. This process may take up to 72 hours.
What if I want to write about a product or service that is not listed?
If you don't see a product or service that you want to write a review on, add it. Go to write a review and follow the prompts to add the review into our system. We ask that you do not post reviews on firearms, pornography and illegal drugs.
Are there requirements for writing and posting a review?
Our requirements are simple. Just reveal that you are a real person by registering and then we will confirm your account. Then, get to writing and rating. We only ask that your reviews are your honest opinion and encourage constructive feedback. All reviews are pending and subject to approval.
Can I format my reviews?
Yes, there is a toolbar at the top of the page to help you with formatting such as italics and bold.
Does the site edit reviews?
We do not edit your reviews. All reviews are subject to review and approval by our staff. From time to time, you may see a review with ******. This indicated that the review met our minimum standards but included a word that did not meet out content guidelines.
How long does it take for my review to appear on the website?
All reviews will publish within 72 hours of submission (subject to approval).
Do my reviews have to be positive?
No, you can write whatever you like on the site. We want to hear about both the good and the bad, so please share your experiences honestly. We would only ask that you provide your honest opinion in a constructive manner.
Can I start writing a review and finish it later?
Yes. You can save your work as a draft. All of your drafts can be accessed from your Profile page.
What does it mean to save a review as a draft?
This feature allows you to save a work in progress. After you submit a review, it is stored in draft form, but will not be visible to others on the site until you publish it. While the review is a draft, you can continue to edit it and make changes, and then choose to publish it at a later date.
How do I publish a review saved as a draft?
On your Profile page is a list of any unpublished reviews you have submitted. To publish a draft, click on the link to update the review. Make any changes you would like, then click 'Preview your review'. If your review meets the minimum requirements, you will be given the option to publish it.
Can I post more than one review about the same product?
No. A member may only write one review per product or service. If you wish to add to your review on the product, however, you may update your review at any time.
Can I include links in my review?
Yes, you can link to other reviews on the website from your own reviews. However, you cannot add external links to other sites at this time.
How do I update a review I wrote in the past?
To update an existing review, you must be signed in to your account. Once signed in, visit the review you would like to update and click the 'Edit Review' link. You can then edit the review or add new information and republish it. We will permit this functionality at our discretion. The original version of your review will remain on the site until the edited version is approved.
Can I post my reviews to other websites?
As stated in the User Agreement, you own your content. If you choose to post your same reviews elsewhere, your reviews may receive fewer visitors as search engines will divide their traffic between the two copies. We therefore encourage you to change at least half of the review and provide a new title.
To maintain your status on the network, reviews you publish on the site must have a minimum of 50% unique content.
Can this website redistribute my reviews?
We may redistribute your reviews in variety of ways. Please consult the Terms of Service for details.
How can I increase the number of reads for my reviews?
It's easy! You have many options-
- Post a link to your review on your Facebook or Twitter status.
- Send an email to your friends to let them know you just posted a new review on this site.
- Link to your review on your blog.
- If you're a member of other forums, share a link there.
It helps to tell readers a little about your link before you post it, so be sure to mention the product in a little blurb. For example: "I just wrote a review of my mattress on MySears Community!" and insert your link.
What is the difference between a "quick review" and a "review"?
A review requires a sound bite, star rating, I Am tags and at least 500 characters of text. Reviews are for sharing a detailed rundown of your experience and opinion. Reviews contribute to your writer status so the more you write, the more your reputation grows.
A quick review only requires a star rating and a sound bite. Quick reviews allow you to add a meaningful blurb and rating without writing extra details. Quick reviews do not count toward writer status.
You can find your combined "review" and "quick review" count on your "My Home" page. Access your quick reviews and reviews (filtered separately) from the "Reviews" section on your "My Home" page. You can upgrade a quick review to a review at any time by adding the additional required fields and text using the edit button.
Will my points be displayed immediately after I post a review?
You will see your points added immediately with all actions with the exception of publishing a review. Once a review is published, points for reviews are pending and will be added upon review approval. This can take up to 72 hours to process.
When will I know that my review has published?
Once you publish your review it will be pending until approved. You will receive an email once you hit publish to let you know your review is pending. When your review is approved it will appear on the site and can be accessed from the "Reviews" section on your profile page. You will also see that your review will no longer appear in DRAFT form.
Why was my review rejected?
Your review can be rejected for a number of reasons including, but not limited to: profane language, inappropriate or malicious content or images, review not related to product, spam, discriminatory content, personal information and customer service related inquiries. See our Terms of Service for more details.
If my review is rejected, can I edit it and resubmit it?
Absolutely! If your review is rejected we would love for you to make your edits and resubmit.
Recognition
What is the Recognition Rewards Program?
The Recognition Rewards Program recognizes members for their contributions to the community. Members earn points by participating in various activities such as uploading a profile picture, writing a review, or gaining Fans in the community. All the earned points then contribute to an overall point total. A member's point total determines their Level in the community and that Level is a way for fellow community members to see the most active members of the site. We value all contributions and can't wait to hear what you have to say!
What kind of Level can I achieve and how many points do I need for each one?
There are 5 Levels that you can achieve based on the points you earn for your contributions to the community. Remember that your Level signifies your activity and involvement within MySears.
| Level | Points Required |
|---|---|
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550 - 2,499 |
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2,500 - 4,999 |
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5,000 - 9,999 |
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10,000 - 24,999 |
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25,000+ |
Starting in 2009, you can earn points that will qualify you to achieve a Level. The year in which you achieve that level will appear on the side of the badge.
Do my points reset at the end of each year?
At the end of each calendar year, your points will reset to 0. However, you will see your Reputation Level badge earned for each year on your profile page.
How do I earn points?
Below are the various ways you can participate in the community and how many points you earn for each activity. Note: Publishing a review: Points for reviews are awarded upon review approval. This can take up to 72 hours to process.
Any abuse of the system is subject to account termination. Please note that we reserve the right to remove any posts if necessary.
| Activity | Points earned |
|---|---|
| Uploading a profile photo | 500 points |
| Writing your first review | 500 points |
| Writing additional reviews | 250 points |
| Bonus — if your additional review is >500 characters | 200 points |
| Submitting an idea | 150 points |
| Reads (When someone reads your review) | 25 points for every 250 reads |
| Fans (When someone adds you to their friends list) | 1 point |
| Receiving a helpful vote on your review | 1 point (Limit 10x/month) |
| Posting a forum topic | 10 points |
| Joining a forum discussion | 1 point |
| Receiving a vote on your idea | 1 point |
* The number of points awarded per activity are subject to change
* Learn how to increase the number of reads for your reviews
Is there a limit to the amount of points I can earn?
Yes, certain activities will have a limit to the amount of points you can earn within a given time period. See How Do I Earn Points? to find out which activities have limitations. Just because there are limitations on certain activities, doesn't mean you will not be able to continue to participate in those same activities.
Will my points be displayed immediately after every contribution?
You will see your points added immediately with all actions with the exception of publishing a review. Once a review is published, points for reviews are pending and will be added upon review approval. This can take up to 72 hours to process.
Where can I view my current Level?
Your CURRENT Level and your current point total can be seen on your profile page. Each award you earn will be displayed in the Awards section on your profile page. Your badge will also follow you throughout the site below your profile picture.
I have participated a lot on the site already, do those points count?
Yes, all of your contributions in the past will be tallied and a badge will be created for you if you accumulate enough points. If you had Writer Status in the past, you will notice that a new badge (with your new Level) has already been implemented on your profile page based on the points you have accumulated. At the end of each calendar year, your points will reset to 0. However, you will see your Reputation Level badge earned for each year on your profile page.
Does everyone get a Level?
No... but we would love for everyone to earn a Level! A Reputation Level Badge is awarded only when you have earned the appropriate number of points by participating in the activities previously outlined.
How do I know the Level of other members?
If a member has earned a Reputation Level Badge, you will see a badge displayed below their profile picture on the profile page and throughout the site as well. You can also view the top contributors, here.
Can I win any other awards?
Yes! Below are some of the additional badges that you can receive.
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Simple Thanks – Our way of saying an extra thank you to our members. If a member has been recognized for their outstanding contributions, they will receive a simple thanks badge. |
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Bright Ideas – There are lots of great ideas submitted on the Ideas forum and we are always excited to let members know that we have taken notice. |
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Featured Reviewer – Provide our members with the information they need by writing lots of helpful reviews! We truly value your feedback and will be awarding a Featured Reviewer badge for those who contribute the best ones. |
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Santa's Helper – Our way of recognizing those who helped other members make decisions during their Holiday shopping. |
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Shutterbug – Pictures are a great way to get involved in the community. Upload some of your favorites and we just might label you as one of ours! |
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Sweepstakes Winner – Occasionally we run sweepstakes giving members a chance to win up to $500! Each winner will have a badge on their profile page to let everyone know and congratulate them! |
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ManageMyLife Super Contributor Badge – The Sears ManageMyLife website is just another place where you can participate and get involved. We are inviting the best of the best to wear this badge on MySears so we can acknowledge your contributions everywhere! The MML Super Contributor badge is a way to reward and recognize you as a Super Contributor on both MySears and ManageMyLife. You could be next! Keep up those contributions! |
There are some other badges I have noticed on some people's profiles. What do they mean?
Do I get to keep all my awards?
Absolutely! All the badges you earn will appear under the "My Awards" section on your profile page.
What about my privacy?
We always want to ensure your privacy. You can visit our privacy policy page to review the full terms. Once you are registered on the site your screen name will be visible to any visitor.
What are the rules for posting content?
Throughout the community we do not allow any profanity or behavior considered to be inappropriate. We do not allow personal attacks on other members or posts of malicious nature and reserve the right to remove anything we feel necessary. If we feel it is necessary to remove any content, community points will be deducted and will not count towards your Reputation Badge Level (or Community) point total. We encourage positive and constructive feedback. Please review our full Terms of Service as well as our discussion board guidelines to learn more.
Community
What values direct our community?
Looking for direction on how to contribute to our community? Wondering what behavior our community values? Below is a summary of our four guiding principles.
| (k)Nowledge. We value you, your knowledge and your unique point of view. | ||
| Welcoming. We require an inclusive community that is welcoming and respectful. | Expressive. We value contributions that are highly personal and have personality. | |
| Substance. We value participation that is thoughtful, honest and substantive. |
What is a helpful vote?
When a visitor reads a review, they can provide feedback on a review. We then use the feedback, positive and negative, to help determine review display order. However, we only publicly display the "helpful" votes.
What are comments? What is a private comment?
At the bottom of a post, you will have the option to leave a comment for a member. Comments are general remarks on the post. You would leave a comment if you want to add an additional piece of information or clarify something in a post. All comments on a post are made public.
You may also leave a comment for a person on their profile page. All comments are public by default, and are shown to everyone. The recipient has an option to mark the comment left on their profile page as private. Private comments on a profile page are visible only to the person who received the comment.
How do I share feedback on the community features?
We always enjoy hearing from our community members. You may contact us directly via the contact us form.
Friends and Fans
What are friends and fans?
Each member of the MySears Community website has both friends and fans. Friends are people that YOU like and trust. Fans are people that add you as a friend.
How do I make friends and fans?
It's simple. Just visit a member's profile page and click on the link that says "add [member's screenname] to my friends list." The member will then automatically be added to your friends list.
What is the benefit of having friends? And, how do I access their contributions?
Once you make a member a friend, you can access their latest activity from your profile page. Having friends on the site is a great way to connect with people who share interests similar to yours.
How do I invite my friends to the MySears Community website?
Use the "Invite your friends" link from your profile page to invite new friends to the MySears Community website and find friends who are already here but not yet in your friends network. Anyone you invite will be listed as your friend on the MySears Community website once they sign up and you'll be notified of each other's activity as you both participate in the community.
What is the MySears Community Friend Look-up tool?
Our Friend Look-up Tool allows you to invite friends from your web address book (Hotmail, Yahoo! mail, and GMail are currently supported) directly from the MySears Community website. We will use the address book you have on those sites to look for folks you know who are already on the MySears Community website, and allow you to easily invite those who aren't. We are committed to maintaining your absolute privacy and do not store any personal information you share with us to access those accounts.
Why should I use the Friends Look-up Tool?
If you use one of the supported services, this tool will provide a way to use your existing contacts in your address book to quickly find and invite your friends to the MySears Community website. Plus it saves you from typing in your friends' email addresses OVER and OVER and OVER.
What if I don't want my friends to find me using the Look-up Tool?
No problem. Simply visit the "Account Info" area on your profile page and uncheck the box that says "allow my friends to find me". Your friends will not be able to find you on the MySears Community website using your email address as an identifier.
How do I remove a friend?
There are two ways to remove a friend.
1. Simply visit a member's profile page and click on this link: "remove from [screenname] my friends list"
2. When you visit your friend's tab, you can remove any friend by clicking on the 'remove from friends list' link under their profile pictures
Do I have to manage my fans?
No. They require no action on your part. Simply enjoy having a fan club!
Can I delete a fan?
No. You can not edit your listed "fans".
Why do I have a friend when I register?
We want everyone to feel welcome when they join, so each new member will come into our community with one friend from our staff. You can choose to remove your assigned friend at any time by clicking on "remove from [screenname] my friends list."
Reporting Problems
What should I do if I think someone is violating the consumer agreement?
You will see a "report as inappropriate" button used throughout the site. When you see a violation of our consumer agreement or inappropriate behavior, simply click on this button and let us know! We will then investigate your claim and take appropriate action.
What should I do if I encounter technical problems?
Please use the contact us form. Let us know what you were doing, when it happened, and what browser you are using. Please also include appropriate contact information so that we can let you know when the problem is fixed.