EasyBear vs Sears Home Services: Appliance Repair Compared
Sears Home Services has been a household name in appliance repair for decades. Even as Sears retail stores have closed, the home services division continues to operate nationally. EasyBear is a newer, direct-booking appliance repair service designed for speed, transparency, and affordability.
Both services repair major household appliances, but their approaches to scheduling, pricing, brand expertise, and warranty coverage differ in important ways.
Speed and Scheduling
Sears Home Services offers online booking, but availability is often limited. Many customers report wait times of 5–10 business days for an initial appointment, especially in high-demand areas. Rescheduling can add another week. For urgent issues — like a broken refrigerator in summer — this delay can mean hundreds of dollars in spoiled food.
Sears appointments are typically scheduled in 4-hour windows (e.g., 8 AM – 12 PM), requiring you to block off a significant portion of your day.
EasyBear offers same-day and next-day appointments in most service areas. Booking takes about 60 seconds online. Appointment windows are tighter — typically 2-hour blocks — and technicians send a notification when they are on the way.
Verdict: EasyBear is significantly faster. If your appliance breakdown is urgent, a week-long wait is unacceptable, and EasyBear eliminates that pain point.
Pricing
Sears Home Services charges a diagnostic fee of $99–$149, which is applied toward the repair if you proceed. Repair costs tend to run higher than industry averages — many customers report total bills of $300–$600+ for common repairs. Sears also heavily promotes its Home Warranty plans ($49.99/month), which can make sense for older homes with multiple aging appliances but adds up to $600/year whether you use it or not.
EasyBear provides a free diagnostic — $0 for the technician to inspect the appliance and provide a detailed quote. If you approve, most common repairs cost between $120 and $350, including parts and labor. There is no membership fee or warranty plan required.
Verdict: EasyBear's free diagnostic and lower repair costs make it more affordable for one-time repairs. Sears' warranty plan can offer value if you have 5+ older appliances that need frequent service, but for most households, EasyBear's pay-per-repair model is more economical.
Brand Expertise
Sears Home Services historically repaired Kenmore appliances (Sears' house brand) and has trained technicians for most major brands. They have access to a large parts inventory. However, Kenmore appliances are now manufactured by various companies (LG, Whirlpool, etc.), so the "Sears brand expertise" advantage has diminished.
EasyBear technicians are trained across all major appliance brands: Samsung, LG, Whirlpool, GE, Maytag, Frigidaire, Bosch, KitchenAid, Kenmore, and more. Parts are sourced from OEM suppliers and are typically in stock or available within 24 hours for common repairs.
Verdict: Both services cover the major brands. Sears has a deeper historical parts inventory for legacy Kenmore models, which is a niche advantage. For all other brands, EasyBear's expertise is equivalent.
Warranty Coverage
Sears Home Services offers a 90-day parts and labor guarantee on individual repairs. If you subscribe to the Sears Home Warranty, covered repairs have no additional cost (beyond the monthly fee), but the warranty has exclusions, caps, and approval processes that can slow things down.
EasyBear also provides a 90-day warranty on all repairs, covering parts and labor. The process is simpler: if the issue recurs within 90 days, call and EasyBear sends a technician back at no charge. No approval process, no claims to file.
Verdict: The base warranty is comparable. EasyBear's simpler claims process (just call) is more convenient than navigating Sears' warranty support system.
Customer Experience
Sears Home Services has a large operation, which means experiences vary. Common complaints include long wait times for appointments, difficulty reaching customer support, and technicians arriving outside the scheduled window. Positive reviews often cite the technicians themselves as knowledgeable and professional.
EasyBear benefits from a leaner operation with tighter quality control. Shorter wait times, direct communication with the scheduling team, and a streamlined booking-to-repair process result in consistently higher customer satisfaction scores.
When Sears Home Services Might Be Better
Sears can be the right choice if:
- You have a very old Kenmore appliance with hard-to-find parts
- You own 5+ aging appliances and want a bundled warranty plan
- You are already a Sears Home Warranty subscriber
When EasyBear Is the Better Choice
For most homeowners, EasyBear offers a better experience:
- Same-day service vs. 5–10 day waits
- Free diagnostic vs. $99–$149 service fee
- Lower average repair cost — $120–$350 vs. $300–$600+
- 90-day warranty with a hassle-free claims process
- All major brands covered with OEM parts
- Direct booking — no phone trees or hold times
The Bottom Line
Sears Home Services carries brand recognition and a legacy parts network, but the modern experience — long wait times, high diagnostic fees, and inconsistent service — has not kept pace with customer expectations.
EasyBear delivers what Sears used to be known for: reliable, affordable appliance repair with real accountability. Faster scheduling, free diagnostics, transparent pricing, and a straightforward warranty make EasyBear the better choice for the majority of appliance repair needs.
