# Brands that will Disappear in 2012 **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 24, 2011, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brands-that-will-disappear-in-2012/586676 "2011-06-24T05:51:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Peanuthead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peanuthead/32/360_2.png) [@Peanuthead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanuthead)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2011, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brands-that-will-disappear-in-2012/586676/41 "2011-06-26T06:33:03Z")
> [@Palo\_Verde](#): > > What about Kenmore appliances which are sold exclusively at Sears? How will they be affected? Will I still be able to get my Kenmore dishwasher and fridge serviced? The appliances sold by Sears under the Kenmore brand are in fact made by established companies like Whirlpool, Maytag, etc. The model numbers are coded to indicate which company makes which product. A little research and you should be able to find a list somewhere. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2011, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brands-that-will-disappear-in-2012/586676/42 "2011-06-26T07:45:42Z")
[QUOTE=Soap Opera Digest] Some of the shows even have their own fan sites. [/QUOTE] A television show with its own fan site? Why, I’ve never heard of such a thing! Also, in the Sears paragraph it says this: > [@](#): > > Total revenue dropped $341 million to $9.7 billion for the quarter which closed April 30, 2011. That doesn’t seem so bad. It’s only a third of 1%. ---
**Author:** ![YaraMateo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/58f4c7/32.png) [@YaraMateo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YaraMateo)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2011, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brands-that-will-disappear-in-2012/586676/43 "2011-06-26T07:53:07Z")
> [@Max\_Torque](#): > > There are quite a few A&Ws in my town, but they’re all connected with Long John Silvers; you can order off either menu. I wouldn’t be surprised if they disappeared. > > Bummer about Corn Pops, that’s one of my favorite cereals. Although I like the bagged competitor, “Corn Bursts”, even better. As long as they keep making those, I’m good. My mom loves Corn Pops. She’s not going to take this well. Maybe I should tell her it has enbalming fluid in it. ---
**Author:** ![YaraMateo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/58f4c7/32.png) [@YaraMateo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YaraMateo)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2011, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brands-that-will-disappear-in-2012/586676/44 "2011-06-26T07:58:09Z")
> [@Khadaji](#): > > I’ve seen Rite Aid on these list for at least the last two years 09 and `10, but so far it hasn’t gone under. I hope not. :eek: I love Rite Aid. All the CVS within like a five mile radius of me are dirty and anger me. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![mittu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@mittu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mittu)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2011, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brands-that-will-disappear-in-2012/586676/45 "2011-06-26T12:15:16Z")
> [@Onomatopoeia](#): > > I have this to say about that. {Ahem}… Hahahahahahahahaaaaa! > > You really think Nokia’s partnership with Microsoft is going to save them? Two sinking ships grasping at each other for dear life. Yeah, that’s smart. > > The last Windows phone sucked, was ugly, had a childish interface, and was resoundingly dismissed by the public. Why would anyone put any faith in a Windows run device if there are better alternatives? The writing is on the proverbial wall for MS anything, except for Office. I don’t see how they turn their declining perception around at this point. MS made US$ 18.760 billion last year, so yeah, they aren’t struggling or sinking by any definition possible. Sure Windows Phone 7 isn’t challenging Android or iOS but given that MS are integrating the mobile-esque interface into Windows 8 they don’t look likely to give up on it any time soon. Nokia themselves made €1.850 billion in 2010 so they aren’t exactly looking for pennies down the back of the couch either. They are still the largest manufacturer of mobile phones in the world. Neither company is struggling. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2011, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brands-that-will-disappear-in-2012/586676/46 "2011-06-26T14:03:39Z")
> [@Peanuthead](#): > > > [@Palo\_Verde](#): > > > > What about Kenmore appliances which are sold exclusively at Sears? How will they be affected? Will I still be able to get my Kenmore dishwasher and fridge serviced? > > The appliances sold by Sears under the Kenmore brand are in fact made by established companies like Whirlpool, Maytag, etc. The model numbers are coded to indicate which company makes which product. A little research and you should be able to find a list somewhere. Also remember that this article is just someone’s opinion; it’s absolutely not a statement of fact. I very much doubt that Sears is going to close all 2,000 of its stores in the next eighteen months. Yes, both Sears and Kmart are tired stores. But they still own some great brands in Craftsman, Kenmore, Diehard, etc. and some of the stores are in good locations. If Edward Lampert just invested some money in upgrading the stores and hired some good people with a merchandizing background, he could really improve things. ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2011, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brands-that-will-disappear-in-2012/586676/47 "2011-06-26T15:37:22Z")
Brand != Company or Product. Cingular disappeared - the company did not (well, in a way they did, they were scooped up by AT&T). So, A&W as a fast food ‘brand’ may disappear, but that does not mean the restaurants/etc will - just means that as a ‘Brand’ they more/less stop advertising as a ‘unit’. Companies re-brand themselves all the time - its a way of re-entering the market without actually changing much. It allows you to shed the ‘negative’ aspects of a brand (mouse driven cars) and seem new and fresh again. (I have not read the article, just pointing out that a brand may die, and that has little to do with the company itself at times) ---
**Author:** ![Fish\_Cheer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fish_cheer/32/17179_2.png) [@Fish\_Cheer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish_Cheer)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2011, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brands-that-will-disappear-in-2012/586676/48 "2011-06-26T19:17:04Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > 1. A&W fast food places (the root beer will survive) > > A&W has some of the best junk food, especially their fried cheese curds. And I have always liked the root beer keg. Does A&W sell poutine in the U.S.? ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2011, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brands-that-will-disappear-in-2012/586676/49 "2011-06-26T19:30:25Z")
Not that I have personally seen **Fish Cheer** , although I know some restaurants in border-states sell poutine so maybe A&Ws up north do. Most national chain restaurants have certain slots in their menu dedicated to “regional variety” foods. As for Sears, I think Sears Holding Corporation is still in a state in which it can survive long term. I mean they are making money year to year mostly. A company with $43bn in revenue that was in the green overall in 2010 would be very unlikely to disappear in 2012. I do agree that in some places Sears and KMart stores are essentially competing with each other. I think Sears Holding needs to find a way to clearly delineate the market segment for the two stores and then I could see both brands surviving. FWIW around here I seen Sears in generally smaller locations (like inside of a traditional mall, where they are a large store but not as big as a big box K-Mart with full grocery), and those Sears stores seem to mostly be dedicated to tools, appliances, and automotive supplies and services. I think if Sears can do that nationally–basically make Sears their higher-quality tool & appliance & automotive shop and keep K-Mart essentially as a Wal-Mart competitor then there will be room in the market for both brands and no reason to close one down. As others have said **if** they have to close one down I’m not sure it wouldn’t make _more_ sense to rebrand all the K-Marts as “Sears Supercenters” or something, Sears has more cachet in my opinion than K-Mart. ---
**Author:** ![jasonh300](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/46a35a/32.png) [@jasonh300](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasonh300)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2011, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brands-that-will-disappear-in-2012/586676/50 "2011-06-26T20:44:28Z")
> [@Hello\_Again](#): > > I really don’t see how Nokia is on this list and Borders isn’t. Borders is in it’s last ditch effort right now and they only have a few weeks left. They’ll be gone in 2011, or they’ll get bailed out and stay around a few more years. > [@Palo\_Verde](#): > > What about Kenmore appliances which are sold exclusively at Sears? How will they be affected? Will I still be able to get my Kenmore dishwasher and fridge serviced? Doesn’t KMart sell Kenmore appliances now? As it is, we haven’t had a Sears Service Center anywhere near New Orleans in almost 20 years, so all that work goes to Ideal Appliance (local I think) regardless of what brand you have. > [@GuanoLad](#): > > A television show with its own fan site? Why, I’ve never heard of such a thing! > > Also, in the Sears paragraph it says this: > That doesn’t seem so bad. It’s only a third of 1%. 300 million is **3%** of 10 billion. A little worse, but not that bad. A company with 10 billion in revenue probably has 300 million between the cushions of the sofa in the executive waiting room. ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2011, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brands-that-will-disappear-in-2012/586676/51 "2011-06-26T22:13:31Z")
KMart sells many of the same tools as Sears…but at a lower price. I just bought two Thorson multihead wrenches at KMart-they were $3.76 less than at Sears. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2011, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brands-that-will-disappear-in-2012/586676/52 "2011-06-26T22:54:53Z")
> [@jasonh300](#): > > 300 million is **3%** of 10 billion. I went over and over with the maths and got utterly confused. ---
**Author:** ![R.P.McMurphy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@R.P.McMurphy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R.P.McMurphy)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2011, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brands-that-will-disappear-in-2012/586676/53 "2011-06-26T22:57:33Z")
> [@YaraMateo](#): > > My mom loves Corn Pops. She’s not going to take this well. Maybe I should tell her it has enbalming fluid in it. If my memory serves me, Corn Pops were originally Sugar Pops. Then they became Sugar Corn Pops. When all of the controversy erupted about the amount of sugar in cereals marketed to kids, they became Corn Pops. So maybe the cereal will survive but they will just change the brand name to Healthy Natural Corn Pops. (I used to love that stuff.) ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2011, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brands-that-will-disappear-in-2012/586676/54 "2011-06-28T11:55:23Z")
Looks like Saab isn’t dead yet. An unidentified Chinese company bought 500 Saabs for several million dollars. This will give Saab the money to pay its workers and avoid liquidation. Also, they sold their factory and are leasing it back. We’ll see if they can beg, borrow, and steal enough money to restart production. Even if they can, they’re almost certainly just putting off the inevitable. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2011, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brands-that-will-disappear-in-2012/586676/55 "2011-06-28T12:17:20Z")
> [@Fish\_Cheer](#): > > Does A&W sell poutine in the U.S.? Unfortunately they don’t. Cheese curds are a regional food popilar in Wisconsin. What’s the name of that poutine place in Montreal with the Tintin scenes painted on the walls? That was some good stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Fish\_Cheer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fish_cheer/32/17179_2.png) [@Fish\_Cheer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish_Cheer)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2011, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brands-that-will-disappear-in-2012/586676/56 "2011-06-28T20:46:49Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Unfortunately they don’t. Serves them right, then. > [@](#): > > What’s the name of that poutine place in Montreal with the Tintin scenes painted on the walls? That was some good stuff. Frite Alors? ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2011, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brands-that-will-disappear-in-2012/586676/57 "2011-06-28T21:26:41Z")
That’s it! Great stuff. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2011, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brands-that-will-disappear-in-2012/586676/58 "2011-06-28T23:26:16Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I’m surprised to see Yum is looking to sell A&W. You’d think they’d want a hamburger chain as part of their fast food group. They sell hamburgers? Always thought of A&W as more a root beer and Coney dog (extra onions!) place. As long as my wife can get her A&W diet cream soda. It blows even more than their diet root beer, but it makes her happy. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brands-that-will-disappear-in-2012/586676/59 "2011-07-01T01:09:09Z")
[Over here](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/29/american-restaurant-chain-go-under_n_886739.html) is a list of American fast-food firms looked at from some sort of financial aspect. The riskiest I have made #1, the reverse order from the cite. 1. Denny’s (That will leave a gap, a unique national chain) 2. Arby’s/Wendy’s (I like Wendy’s!) 3. Morton’s Restaurant Group (Ice cream? Never heard of them) 4. IHOP/Applebee’s 5. Domino’s Pizza Remarkable, Domino’s make a good product. Their people work hard. They might lose it all because someone did not do their sums properly. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brands-that-will-disappear-in-2012/586676/60 "2011-07-01T01:24:57Z")
That’s not a list of fast-food restaurants, but restaurants in general. Morton’s, for example, is upscale, as is McCormick & Schmick’s. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brands-that-will-disappear-in-2012/586676.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brands-that-will-disappear-in-2012/586676.md?page=4)