Sears Ends 100 Year Relationship: Stops Selling Whirlpool Appliances

Ending a business relationship that dates back more than 100 years, Sears announced this morning it would no longer sell Whirlpool appliances. As first reported by the WSJ, in a note sent to its stores last week, Sears said that Whirlpool was making demands that would have made it difficult to sell its appliances at a competitive price, although some have speculated that the true reason for the end in the century-old colaboration is Whirlpool’s concern about Sears viability.
“Whirlpool has sought to use its dominant position in the marketplace to make demands that would have prohibited us from offering Whirlpool products to our members at a reasonable price,” Sears wrote to its employees. The department store chain added that it will provide “tools and instructions” to its employees regarding how to deal with “excess inventory,” and how to move into its Kenmore or other appliance brands.
Earlier this year, Sears CEO Eddie Lampert took aim at the retailer’s vendors, saying: “We will not simply roll over and be taken advantage of – we will do what’s right to protect the interests of our company and the millions of stakeholders we serve.” Sears went on to sue two of its Craftsman vendors in contract disputes. The lawsuits have been resolved.

This post was published at Zero Hedge on Oct 24, 2017.