Sears Blue Electronics Crew Launches Trade-In Program
Partnering with Gazelle, Sears Simplifies the Home Electronics Trade-In Experience to Give Customers Cash Back on Their Used Electronics
With the holidays just around the corner, and shopping already underway, the Sears Blue Electronics Crew launched a new trade-in and recycling program that allows Sears.com shoppers to turn-in used electronics, such as cell phones, cameras and MP3 players and redeem them for Sears gift cards that are valid online and in-store. The new program is in partnership with Gazelle, which specializes in providing practical, responsible, rewarding ways for consumers to get value for used, working electronics, and gives customers the flexibility to trade-in unwanted gadgets from more than 20 product categories, including cell phones, laptops, MP3 players and digital cameras. Electronics items that no longer work will still be accepted at no cost for recycling, but consumers will not receive value for these items.
The program is free, easy to use and helps customers avoid the worry and hassle of selling items themselves. Interested customers can follow these easy steps to participate in the program:
1. Visit www.sears.gazelle.com.
2. Get an offer on electronics by answering a few quick questions.
3. Ship items. Shipping is free and many customers will also qualify for a
free shipping box.
4. The customer receives a Sears gift card in the mail for the total value
of their items. As a special holiday promotion, through Dec. 31, 2009,
participants will receive an additional 5 percent of the value of their
trade-in, added to their Sears gift card.
"Sears Blue Electronics Crew's trade-in program is a great option for customers who want to turn their used electronics into potential buying power, while also helping conserve the environment," said Karen Austin, president, Home Electronics, Sears Holdings. "We are proud that through this partnership with Gazelle, approximately 90 percent of the home electronics items that costumers send in are expected to be reused and the remainder will be responsibly recycled. This prevents products from ending up in landfills, making Sears a leader in eliminating e-Waste."
Every item that Gazelle receives during the trade-in transaction is hand inspected by a trained member of their gadget lab team. During this process, item value is confirmed, and all personal data is removed, providing Sears customers with the peace of mind that comes with a secure, online service. Payment to participants will be determined by the type of product, its age and condition. Payment will be sent within seven days of items being inspected.
"With this program, Sears customers will now be able to turn last years cell phone into this years holiday gifts, said Israel Ganot, CEO of Gazelle. "That is what reCommerce is all about. Redefining consumption by rewarding consumers for responsible consumption behavior, extending the life of products and keeping electronics out of landfills. We applaud Sears for their commitment and look forward to bringing their customers this new service and Gazelle's industry leading customer experience."
To see the full selection of home electronics from Sears, visit www.sears.com.
About Sears, Roebuck and Co.
Sears, Roebuck and Co., a wholly owned subsidiary of Sears Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ: SHLD), is a leading broadline retailer providing merchandise and related services. Sears, Roebuck offers its wide range of home merchandise, apparel and automotive products and services through more than 2,300 Sears-branded and affiliated stores in the United States and Canada, which includes approximately 929 full-line and approximately 1,200 specialty stores in the U.S. Sears, Roebuck also offers a variety of merchandise and services through sears.com, landsend.com, and specialty catalogs. Sears, Roebuck offers consumers leading proprietary brands including Kenmore, Craftsman, DieHard and Lands' End -- among the most trusted and preferred brands in the U.S. The company is the nation's largest provider of home services, with more than 12 million service calls made annually. For more information, visit the Sears, Roebuck website at www.sears.com or the Sears Holdings Corporation website at www.searsholdings.com.
About Gazelle
Gazelle (www.gazelle.com), a service of Second Rotation, Inc., is committed to providing an easy, fast, and safe way for consumers to get cash for selling unwanted electronics or to recycle them responsibly. To date, thousands of consumers have used the service as a way to clean out closets, get cash and help out a good cause. In addition, Gazelle empowers consumers to avoid time consuming and risky online experiences associated with peer-to-peer selling. Consumers can rest assured that all personal information is thoroughly removed from their item while benefitting from conveniences like free shipping and packaging. Based in Boston, Gazelle is backed by premier venture capital firms Venrock Associates and RockPort Capital Partners.
First Call Analyst: Westenberger, Richard
FCMN Contact: Dorothea.Zinnanti@eurorscg.com
SOURCE: Sears, Roebuck and Co.
CONTACT: Larry Costello of Sears Holdings, +1-847-286-9036,
larry.costello@searshc.com; or Regina Pelz-Westergaard of Euro RSCG Worldwide
PR, +1-847-286-8984, regina.pelz-westergaard@eurorscg.com for Sears Holdings;
or Michael Schneider of RF|Binder Partners, +1-212-994-7546,
Michael.schneider@rfbinder.com, for Gazelle
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