CONTACT:
Sears Public Relations And Communications
(847) 286-8371
J.D. Power and Associates Awards Highest Honor to Kenmore Elite(R) Dishwashers
2009 Kitchen Appliances Study(SM) Ranks Kenmore Elite Dishwashers Highest
in Customer Satisfaction
HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill., Nov. 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Kenmore
Elite? line of dishwashers ranks at the top for customer satisfaction(1),
according to a new study conducted by J.D. Power and Associates. The 2009
Kitchen Appliances Study analyzed customer feedback on performance, ease of
use, features, style and feel, price and warranty, and ranked Kenmore Elite
the highest in customer satisfaction for Dishwashers.
According to the study, which was based on responses from more than
11,000 customers who purchased kitchen appliances, the Kenmore Elite line
of dishwashers achieved a customer satisfaction score of 810 on a
1,000-point scale.
"Any product developed by Kenmore? begins with one simple thing - a
customer's need. We listen intently to our customers and translate what we
hear into products that deliver on performance, innovation and value," said
Betsy Owens, Kenmore brand's vice president and general manager. "Customer
satisfaction is at the core of all that we do at Kenmore, and is one of the
main reasons why the Kenmore brand has been able to provide trusted and
reliable products for generations. This honor from J.D. Power and
Associates further demonstrates our position as a market leader in the
dishwasher category. We take our customers' opinions very seriously, so we
are thrilled to receive this award."
The Kenmore Elite dishwasher line includes a range of ENERGY STAR?
qualified products including the Kenmore Elite 24-inch built-in dishwasher,
priced as low as $789.99 (# 13102). It has options such as Ultra Wash? HE
wash system that saves up to 41% less water and 34% less energy(2) and
TurboZone(TM) with rotating spray jets to tackle tough, baked-on soils with
no pre-scrubbing or soaking. The line also features the top-of-the-line
Kenmore Elite dishwasher featuring the Smart Display(TM) interface
(#13163), which is priced at $1,549.99. This model is so quiet, at 46 dBA,
you hardly know it is on. To help customers know the cycle status at all
times since it is virtually silent , Kenmore brand introduced the Smart
Display(TM) console that shows an animated visual representation of what is
happening during each stage of the cycle.
"Kenmore has heard from a number of customers that are pleased with the
technology that is available in the brand's latest appliances," said Owens.
"For example, The SmartWash HE(TM) option in Kenmore Elite dishwashers
measures each load's size and soil level and sets the optimal amount of
time, water and energy to effectively clean the load. This helps optimize
water and energy usage, possibly resulting in lower utility bills."
Kenmore Elite dishwashers as well as the brand's wide selection of
other home appliances, including laundry, refrigeration, and cooking
products, along with small appliances, are available for purchase at
http://www.kenmore.com, http://www.sears.com, and at Sears stores nationwide. To hear
real stories from real Kenmore dishwasher owners about their experience
with their Kenmore Elite dishwasher, please visit
http://www.youtube.com/kenmore.
About the J.D. Power and Associates Study
The 2009 J.D. Power and Associates Kitchen Appliances Study(SM) was
based on responses from 3,387 consumers who purchased dishwashers, 4,067
consumers who purchased ranges, cooktops, and ovens and 4,247 consumers who
purchased refrigerators through a retail store or their new-home builder,
or received one through other means (such as a gift) during the previous 24
months. The study ranked customer satisfaction with dishwashers in six
areas: operational performance (including how well the appliance functions,
noise level and energy efficiency); operational features (such as the
number of settings available and appliance capacity); ease of use; styling
and feel; price; and warranty. Kenmore Elite dishwashers received an
overall score of 810 out of a possible 1,000 and were the top-ranked
dishwashers for ease of use and features. The study was fielded between
March and April 2009.
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
http://www.sears.com or the Sears Holdings Corporation website at
http://www.searsholdings.com.
About J.D. Power and Associates
Headquartered in Westlake Village, Calif., J.D. Power and Associates is
a global marketing information services company operating in key business
sectors including market research, forecasting, performance improvement,
Web intelligence and customer satisfaction. The company's quality and
satisfaction measurements are based on responses from millions of consumers
annually. For more information on car reviews and ratings, car insurance,
health insurance, cell phone ratings, and more, please visit JDPower.com.
J.D. Power and Associates is a business unit of The McGraw-Hill Companies.
(1) Kenmore Elite received the highest numerical score for dishwashers
in the proprietary J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Kitchen Appliances
Study(SM). ( )Study based on 11,701 total responses measuring 12 brands and
measures opinions of consumers who purchased a new appliance from a retail
store or their new-home builder during the previous 24 months. Proprietary
study results are based on experiences and perceptions of consumers
surveyed in March-April 2009. Your experiences may vary. Visit jdpower.com.
(2) When compared to a dishwasher manufactured seven years ago.
SOURCE Sears, Roebuck and Co.
Web site: http://www.sears.com
Company News On Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/923204.html
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
