Motorcycle Aftermarket Groups File for Chapter 11

I too was sad to hear the Craftsman brand sold. But before that I noticed the quality dropped significantly. I don't know about the Stanley deal but a craftsman socket set from the 90s compared to today reflect a loss of both metal weight in the socket wrench and less fit of each socket. But I intend on sneaking in there this season and getting a few more screwdrivers and other odds and ends.

I'll go to Sears in Town East Mall once more and I expect I'll be one of few speaking English 400 miles north of the border. But I guess there would be even less in Sears without the illegals.

kickstand~prophet said:

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct...ances-2017-1&usg=AOvVaw0bhlmPSFRSYaPRYvfLSiVb

Here is another one. Man selling the Craftsman brand off to Stanley??? The only reason a bunch of us go into Sears. Looks like Sears won't be around too much longer. Sad days indeed.

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That's just blabber apparently.

maximus_flavius said:

Any money that business are taxed, comes from the customers themselves. If Sears has taxes raised 10%, they pass on that cost to consumers (you & I). Meaning people will buy less. Lower business taxes means lower consumer costs, & more purchasing. Business don't exist to provide an ever increasing tax pool for political manipulation, they exist to make a profit for investors. If they can't make a profit, investors will pull out & put their money where it will make money.

If people dont like keeping more of their own money, lower consumer costs, & having businesses compete for customers, there are plenty of other countries that follow socialist ideals, you could move there.

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Another happy commentator who hasn't actually bothered to read the material. Sears has been systematically destroyed to benefit an individual Hedge Fund manager. So get off your high horse & Economics 101 lecture.

http://www.businessinsider.com/sears-failing-stores-closing-edward-lampert-bankruptcy-chances-2017-1

philipbarrett said:

Another happy commentator who hasn't actually bothered to read the material. Sears has been systematically destroyed to benefit an individual Hedge Fund manager. So get off your high horse & Economics 101 lecture.

http://www.businessinsider.com/sears-failing-stores-closing-edward-lampert-bankruptcy-chances-2017-1

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Who allowed the hedge fund manager to ruin the company? Did he do anything illegal? Poorly run companies are bought, sold, & liquidated in America every day. Sears has been run piss-poorly for decades now, the sooner they die off the better, so someone who meets the needs of their customers better can take their place. Sky-high rent at dying malls all across the country, with crappy Chineese goods, terrible customer service, doesn't sound like a good business plan to me.

I wouldn't give out basic economic lectures if I didn't have to hear blather like "capitalism run amok" & other anti-capitalism garbage. In your first 2 posts in this thread, it's obvious that you have little understanding of capitalism. I'm sure that extends to many other aspects of basic economics, as well.

Well then I shall bow to your demonstrably superior knowledge. Thank you for pointing out some of my many shortcomings but I hope one day to be able to at least look upon the the lofty seat of high learning you currently occupy.

philipbarrett said:

Well then I shall bow to your demonstrably superior knowledge. Thank you for pointing out some of my many shortcomings but I hope one day to be able to at least look upon the the lofty seat of high learning you currently occupy.

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Boys, boys, boys....
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SL350 said:

I too was sad to hear the Craftsman brand sold. But before that I noticed the quality dropped significantly. I don't know about the Stanley deal but a craftsman socket set from the 90s compared to today reflect a loss of both metal weight in the socket wrench and less fit of each socket. But I intend on sneaking in there this season and getting a few more screwdrivers and other odds and ends.

I'll go to Sears in Town East Mall once more and I expect I'll be one of few speaking English 400 miles north of the border. But I guess there would be even less in Sears without the illegals.

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I am in favor of people speaking more than one language, even with an accent . . .

Yeeha! Stephen said:

Huge sign of the times for the struggling motorcycle industry.

…Many of these companies are heavily involved in the cruiser and dirt bike markets. Both are declining markets evidenced by the demise of Victory Motorcycles and Suzuki Motocross Racing.
SS

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The majority of bikes and accessory sales in the US is cruiser related. Off-road motorcycles is relatively small in comparison. At least it was just a few years ago. Sales dropping? Yes, but for a multitude of reasons I think. It is not just one brand, but across the board.

Tourmeister said:

I don't think it is merely a lack of interest that is the problem…. There are countless studies that have be done showing that incomes for the middle class have not kept pace with inflation. The simple reality is that for many people, bikes are becoming a luxury… Every bike I have owned since then has been purchased used. I don't buy tons of accessories and farkles either. I buy good gear, but then I hang on to it for 5-7 years at least.

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I agree. The last 8 years we have been told inflation was almost nonexistent. Wrong. Just ask your wife about her grocery bill or look at what a basic lunch cost now in comparison to eight years about. Heck, just 4 years ago!

Price of accessories? Well, when you have companies mandating Minimum Advertised Pricing on accessories, you will overpay. Why do brands do that? To keep the price artificially high to promote a sense of quality that you help to create by paying that premium price. Now you are one of the fortunate ones who could afford the “good” stuff. Sets you a little apart? The premise behind this is the manufacturer makes more $$ because it allows dealers to make more – if they can sell the high price stuff. It also encourages the dealer to stock more product because they cannot be undersold (in theory) over the internet. When people can’t afford the "ggod" stuff, they buy brands that do not have MAP restrictions. Quality is likely the same. It’s all made overseas.