Sears was the Amazon long before there was an Amazon.

Their catalog ordering system was phenomenal at one time. You could order farm machinery, houses, barns and virtually anything under the sun and have it delivered to you.

They got content in their ways and listened to a bunch of people that failed to realize the power of the Internet.

They should have put the catalog online as a PDF with click to order and pay capabilities and allowed free shipping to stores for pickup.

Instead they arrived late to the Internet scene and were never able to make an effective shopping experience that worked.

Lets also not forget it's not just pension costs it's the ever escalating health care costs for current employees and (retirees ?) that is decimating Sears and others. This cost will destroy everything and everyone if it's not addressed head on and sooner rather than later.