Just a heads up to other fishes out there.
I don't shop at sears.ca very often but I had placed an order on Monday only to have the choice of paying a 2.00 handling charge if I used my sears card or 3.00 if it was another sort of credit card.
When did they start this policy? In my opinion, I think their regular prices are outragous as it is... but now a handling fee! What next shipping charges??

Originally posted by BUSHBUNNY Just a heads up to other fishes out there. I don't shop at sears.ca very often but I had placed an order on Monday only to have the choice of paying a 2.00 handling charge if I used my sears card or 3.00 if it was another sort of credit card. When did they start this policy? In my opinion, I think their regular prices are outragous as it is... but now a handling fee! What next shipping charges??

I don't know when they started this. But I'm as baffled as you are.

On site:


Handling Fees
A non-refundable handling fee will be applied to all orders.

C.O.D. $3.00
Sears Credit Card $2.00
Other Credit Cards $3.00
Prepaid $2.00


I won't be ordering anything soon, now.

Hi fishies,

I took the initiative to call Sears Catalogue this morning, to ask about these charges.

The rep at Catalogue told me it's in place since January.

WHY? To help "out weight" the costs of the catalogues, models modelling in the catalogues, shipping,...blah, blah, blah.

I also told them they just lost a customer as of this morning. Thank god I haven't ordered anything since the New year. Because I refuse to pay more than I have to.

Spoke with a supervisor at a retail store, here in Ottawa. At first she was unaware of these charges. Asked her to verify if parchases at retail stores would be charged the $2 or $3, also.

She called me back "assuring" me that purchases at retail stores would not be subject to these charges

I find it odd at best that these new charges seem to coincide with their new "points redemption" program.

I tried to find the point system at their website but it dosen't list the redemption choices.

SO here it is from a pamphlet that came with my bill in December:

AS OF APRIL 1st, 2007: We're re-launching your Sears Club. Earn up to 3% in Sears Certificates on everyday purchases.

Inside it lists: (I put the numbers in columns but they don't show up here that way, sorry)

Points, Sears Certificate ($), Redemption value(%)
500-> $5-> 1
1000-> $15-> 1.5
5000-> $100-> 2
10000-> $250-> 2.5
12000-> $360-> 3


Before this takes effect, the points program is as follows (with option to convert points to PETRO-POINTS or donate to Boys & Girls Clubs)

1000-> $15
2000-> $30
3000-> $50
4000-> $75
5000-> $100
6000-> $125
7000-> $150
8000-> $175
9000-> $200
10000-> $250
11000-> $300
12000-> $350
13000-> $400
14000-> $500
15000-> $600


The 1000, 5000 and 10000 points levels are the same but there is no in between. We'll have less level choices to redeem our points, which do expire after 30 months. So I would think people will redeem for the lower levels so they don't lose their points, therefore not getting the better bang for their points.

Thanks for clarifying that.
If that's their excuse, it's pretty lame. Would it have been that hard to maybe charge ALL of their customers for a catalog and maybe refund the cost with purchase? Oh well... another customer lost.

I was actually charged this extra money during the summer so as for the rep saying it was only in January, s/he was misinformed.

I know it really stinks! I try really hard to stay away from their outlet site now and when I do order , it has to be a big order so that the $2 will be "stretched" out over the cost of all my items.

I've last ordered on Monday Feb. 05 - total order value $39 + tax, charged on my Sears card, with no handling fee (pick up at my local Sears Furniture store).

Adrian

I also made a catalogue order last week and was not charged any extra when I paid for it.

I have no intentions of ordering online or by catalog as long as they continue to have handling charges, it especially takes advantage of those who live rural areas who can't just run to the store like we can in the city, what if they have to return something like clothing and reorder for size \do they have to pay the handling again? Plus it really bothers me when I am outlet shopping, it ends up not being the deal it looked to be. I emailed them and they gave me their scripted answer justifying the charges even though I speceifically told them not to bother replying

Sears also annoys me with putting unsolicitated catalogues in my mailbox. If I wanted to buy something from them I would request a cataolgue.

More unwanted junk mail and paper to recycle.

Originally posted by brabb Sears also annoys me with putting unsolicitated catalogues in my mailbox. If I wanted to buy something from them I would request a cataolgue. More unwanted junk mail and paper to recycle.

Ditto

Wow those handling fees are high!
I know about 10yrs ago sears charged a $1 handling fee per COD order, but that was it. Most customers didn't even notice it was on there. (Used to manage a catalog outlet).
ty for the heads up.... won't be catalog shopping anytime soon

Laura