Sears, Amazon Expand Tire Installation Program

Sears Auto Centers, a division of Sears Holdings Corp., said earlier today that it will expand its partnership with Amazon.com that provides tire installation for customers who purchase any brand of tires on Amazon, including its own DieHard brand. Initially launched at 47 Sears Auto Centers in eight metropolitan areas in May, the Ship-to-Store tire solution, which is integrated into the Amazon checkout process, is now available nationwide. The program enables Amazon customers to simply select their tires, the Sears Auto location, and their preferred date and time for the tire installation.

"The response from Amazon customers around this program has been extremely positive," said Mike McCarthy, vice president and general manager of Sears Automotive, in a news release. 

Total Retail's Take: This collaboration stems from a growing relationship between Sears and Amazon. Sears began selling Alexa-enabled Kenmore appliances on Amazon in July 2017. Then, in December, Sears’ brand DieHard products were added to Amazon's marketplace. When the tire program was announced it May, it signaled some rare good news for Sears. Further expansion of the program to more Sears Auto locations is proof that it's working. In fact, after this morning's announcement that the tire program was being rolled out nationwide, Sears stock price increased by as much as 18 percent, according to MarketWatch. The partnership also shows how some retailers that have been battered by the Amazon-led rise of e-commerce are now seeking to team up with the leading online retailer, and also opens the door to additional partnerships with Amazon in other product categories.