[davem4616]

Originally Posted by jokefawcett

I have been in the appliance business for almost 40 years. I am new to the area so I can’t help with the who - yet, but just wanted to correct a few errors listed in previous comments. Sears company owned stores (owned by K-Mart) will indeed soon be a thing of the past. The smaller Sears direct stores are independently owned and operated under a franchise agreement that allows them to use the name, gives them access to certain hard and soft lines ie. Kenmore and Craftsmen and allowed them to operate their own service departments if they wanted. The large Sears anchor stores do not own the service department anymore. That division was sold off to an outside company who is allowed to use the name but is not anyway affiliated with Sears.
As far as a comment about mfrg’s providing service they don’t. At best they will form an alliance with local independent servicers to handle issues like the Samsung washer’s “blowing up” recall and at worst assist in trying to find a servicer but if they can’t they will refer you back to who sold it to you and generally you are at their mercy. As far as front side service ie. Delivery and set-up, unless you are willing to Pick - up, unbox, prep, move into your home, install gas or electric, level and test your appliances - find some who can and backs it up. The HD, Lowe’s and Best Buy’s almost assuredly hire 3rd party companies to do this for them ( they do where I am currently working ). So if something goes wrong who do you contact / blame? Figure that out ahead of time because it does happen.
And lastly regarding prices, it pains me say it as I truly believe an independent owner is always the best choice, it does not seem like that is a big thing in Central Florida. So if everything is equal price should be important. I would pay to have professional delivery, professional service, someone who assists with issues, but if none of that is available why spend more?
I would be more than happy to assist with any other appliance questions for those who want and need it.

14 years as manager of independent appliance store chain
24 years as regional manager for worlds #1 and #3 brands

I'll say Amen to this.

We replaced all the new appliances that were in our TV house when we bought it 3+ years ago....and had Kenmore Elite models put in. We bought them at the Sears store in Ocala. We also purchased the service agreements and have each appliance thoroughly checked out annually. The service folks are top notch, not like the poorly trained fellows that tried to straighten out the issues we had with the original Whirlpool appliances that were put in....they really didn't have a clue on what was going on with those low end models