Sears Hometown Store

I have used the Hometown Sears store on several occasions and have been thoroughly impressed by the new ownership's commitment to customer satisfaction as demonstrated by the outstanding staff. 
I have found exceptionally priced items in the tools' department, appliances, and lawn and garden departments. When I told the staff that I was interested in purchasing an electric range, they helped me anticipate the forthcoming sales and when might be the best time to buy. I am thoroughly impressed by the ease of purchasing large items from a small store where they actually know both their products and their customers' names. You don't find that at the local big box stores. In fact, Oneonta's Sears employees are some of the best in this small town. 
As for servicing my Kenmore refrigerator, the store told me that they subcontract out to another provider. There was a distinct difference in the transparency and quality of the service by the repair person. I told this to store employees and they assured me that it wasn't their employee, but rather a self-contractor who was consistently dishonest about the need to purchase longer warranty plans.
The store employees give me renewed confidence in both local business and Sears as a successful American chain.