You have my vote on that!  I argue over and over again the main reason drive right past Kmart to Wal-Mart is not because they don't think Kmart has good prices, but because they take one look at the dingy exterior and think, "That store is ready to collapse -- I'm not shopping there!"

Invest in paint, lighting, floor tiles and new carts -- I think they'd be shocked at the results.

I love Sears, however I quit going to Kmart because there wasn't anything there for me to buy. I am a small built adult woman, the clothes I have found there go from children's, to old lady styles with not much in between. The sizes make that same jump as well. My kids are grown so I don't shop in the children's dept anymore but I'm not ready for the Granny Panties or Depends line of clothes just yet. Now I have moved to a town where there isn't even a Kmart in our town or any towns close to us.

Yep, I don't go to Kmart anymore in large part because of how dingy the stores are. You don't expect a high-end experience in a discount store, but Kmart's are two-to-three decades outdated. (Their ability to have long check-out lines despite there only being a handful of cars in the parking lot is remarkable too.) Target has done a wonderful job of creating a great niche for themselves, and they've done it in large part through creating appealing discount stores. The pictures I've seen in the Kmart new store thread and on the renovation page on the Kmart site are good steps. But, now they need to actually do it in more than a handful of stores. I know, many would say that we're in a recession, so spending should be minimized. But, on the flip side, more and more people are seeking out discount stores because of the economy. So, now could be the perfect time to put a new face on Kmart.

And, I'm a fan of Sears, but I agree that they need to be careful. If they let stores go like Kmart has, I think they'll be in danger of dealing will perpetual same-store sales declines. I know Sears Holdings isn't a big fan of huge capital investments in store remodelings (and there's logic to that to a point), but basic updating must be done.

Hey Everyone! I just started a new topic on store remodels since there seems to be lots of discussions regarding the issue. Kmart has a list of stores that have recently remodeled and I would love to know if any of you shop or recently visited any of them...

Link to the list:   http://www.kmart.com/ue/home/06120_Store_Remodel_list.pdf

And here's a link to my post: http://sk-you.viewpoints.com/topics/Store-Remodeling/posts

Actually... the walk through the mall to Starbucks is very therapeutic to my injured knee, and I actually don't hear ANY Sears pages for noth'n, while walking to and back from the coffee stand.

The coffee helps activate my Tylenol and gives me a little bit of an energy boost to smile, while greeting Customers and doing those football field length stock checks in the store's warehouse.

I don't have a lot of disposal income.

But, I did get a Sears/Kenmore garbage disposer, a while ago.

Still works!

To be honest, i think ALL underpreforming K-Marts should be closed. (and those associates moved into better preforming stores)

I work in Electronics and in terms of promotions & pricing, we are among the same ranks at HH Gregg and Best Buy. (especcially dealing with quality associates) the difference is.. Our Sears has old fixtures and dingy carpets.... which creates this black hole... in an otherwise excellent Electronics department.

We're warehouse upgrading, right now...