I'd imagine that people usually call Sears customer service to get information about home improvement services, credit, repairs, product delivery, and installation. I remember when a shopper could visit Sears for everything from clothing to auto repair. It was one of the biggest retailers in regional malls. Thinking back, I recall the smaller Sears catalog stores where a customer could go in and see appliances and tires and order them for home delivery. In my town, the only Sears store closed several years ago. However, I thought I might call the Sears 800-659-5917 customer service number to see if there's one within 2 hours of my home.
When I called the customer service number, an automated voice response system thanked me for calling Sears Home Services. Then, it provided an option for getting information in Spanish. After a silent period of several seconds, it offered the typical menu of numbers to press for services such as warranties, delivery and installation, and other needs. I selected “all other inquiries,” which took me to “Sears store locations.”
The system told me I could get a text message to help me find that information or go to the Sears website to find a nearby store. I visited the website and followed the instructions in the store locator but still couldn't find a Sears store in my state.
I haven't shopped at Sears for several years since I don’t have a store in my area. A positive takeaway from the call was that when I clicked on the “shop” link on the Sears website, I learned I could still buy merchandise at Sears online. Before this call, I didn’t know Sears was online, so I was happy to see that I can order clothing, appliances, and other items from the website.
Sometimes, I am disappointed when I call a customer service number and the automated system refers me to a website. Those are situations where I know I would be best served by speaking with a human, such as when I need technical assistance with a computer or other device. However, the information the system provided met my needs in this case.
The automated system wasn’t difficult to navigate, and I didn’t get stuck in an endless loop of prompts before learning how to find a Sears store. I appreciate getting through this call quickly and that the user-friendly voice response system enabled me to access a store I did not realize existed online.