Sears Stores Reopen With Reduced Prices, Report Big Crowds

Sears’ 824 stores across the nation began reopening today after a 42-hour face-lift to complete price reductions on 1.5 billion pieces of merchandise.

“People are backed up as far as we can see. It’s wall-to-wall people,” said Bob Dumas, manager of the Sears, Roebuck & Co. store at the Northland Mall in Columbus, Ohio.

“We have Christmas-quantity people, and we have better than Christmas traffic,” said Dumas, who estimated that more than 1,000 people waited outside for the doors to open.

Workers changed prices Tuesday on everything--including light bulbs, toasters and polished door knobs--as Sears prepared for a new retailing strategy it hopes will win customers.