My experience (here in the East) has been a positive one. I think the joining of the two retailers has been beneficial for both. I think that Sears started to work on actually delivering on what their advertising and slogans have been promising (which, in fact, was based on their reputation of about 40 years ago, a reputation on which they’ve been coasting since the late 70s). They seemed to have a watershed moment about five years, almost as thought they had hit rock-bottom. Which, in essence, they had.

As for Kmart, I prefer shopping there much more than I do Walmart. I don’t know about CA, but Walmart stuffs their stores to the bursting point with merchandise, the result being that the stores are always a mess and you can have a hard time finding what you need. In addition, cleanliness doesn’t appear to be a priority in the Walmarts here. With Kmart, it can be hit or miss in terms of store presentation. Some seem to be better kept than others, but overall I find it a more pleasant shopping experience than Walmart (I say this with great reservation as I find ANY shopping experience to be on par with root canal therapy. I’m not sure what’s wrong with me – I think I lack the requisite female shopping hormone, or something).

Kmart’s selection isn’t always the best, but their prices on what they do carry are good. Also, I can occasionally find the odd clothing item or home decor that I actually like and will use. This has never happened at Walmart. A couple years back I got a fabulous leather jacket at Kmart: black, classic styling, butter-soft glove leather. I got (and still get) more compliments on that jacket from people who can be very selective (read snotty) about the retailers they patronize. Of course I go and spoil it by telling them that I paid $79 – full price! – for it at Kmart (I can’t help myself – the looks on their faces are priceless!)

So for the time being, I will continue to buy at Kmart – if only to keep Walmart from becoming the “company store” to the U.S.