Who were Sears and Roebuck?

[RKP5637]

http://www.searsarchives.com/people/questions/searsandroebuck.htm

Richard W. Sears was a railroad agent in North Redwood, Minn. Upon receiving an errant box of watches, he started a business selling watches and jewelry. Alvah C. Roebuck was a watch repairman whom Sears hired as his business grew. Roebuck eventually partnered with Sears to form the foundation of Sears, Roebuck and Co.

[louis-t]

1. "received an errant box of watches"

What, it "fell off a truck"?

[TlalocW]

2. Now I'm wondering...

About the person who was supposed to get them. That sounds like an interesting story.

TlalocW

[jberryhill]

3. Had they actually stayed in catalog sales and delivery, they'd be Amazon

The amazing thing is that what Amazon did was to take over the gap that Sears & Roebuck used to fill before becoming a department store chain.

People in vast reaches of the country nowhere near a city could buy anything from the Sears & Roebuck catalog and have it delivered to them.

[MicaelS]

5. I fondly remember as a kid...

When the Sears Christmas "Wishbook" was published. I wore those things out.

[jberryhill]

6. Yup

[cwydro]

7. Yes, me too.

And dad used to take us to sears on saturdays.

There was a popcorn machine at the entrance. And we always got balloons.

[Wellstone ruled]

4. Fun to go to the old Depot

location in North Redwood Falls,Minnesota,where this all began.