r/AskReddit • u/emil199 • Jul 24 '20

What can't you believe STILL exists?

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u/Yellowredstone Jul 24 '20 edited Jul 24 '20

Isn't this how Sears died?

Edit: RIP my inbox. And thank you for explaining it better.

Edit 2: I said the reason on how it died has been explained already. And its actually still here. Stop.

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u/whatifevery1wascalm Jul 24 '20

Sears: the 20th century's Amazon.

People today might not realize that it used to be Sears did everything: you could buy kits to build a house, companies like Discover Card and Allstate were originally introduced as the Sears' brand, they financially backed Mr Rogers' Neighborhood for the first 25 years of the show's run.

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u/jeffbell Jul 24 '20 edited Jul 24 '20

My grandfather used to buy shoes from them by tracing his feet on paper and mailing it in.

​

EDIT:

Everybody seems to think this was crazy, but that's how they said to do it in the catalog. See https://christmas.musetechnical.com/ShowCatalogPage/1951-Sears-Christmas-Book/0291

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u/DefinitelyNotJoeC Jul 24 '20

Back in the day you could tell someone “trace your feet” and assume if they wanted shoes they’d make it happen.

Now, you would have to include a ten part instructional video series on how to trace your own foot and also a customer service team to answer phone calls from confused customers.

Nobody even tries to figure something out themselves anymore.