[snorkel]

The microwave was relatively new back then, but it was so useful that everyone was willing to save up for one. Sewing machines and Atari 800 … not so much. Atari 2600 was worth the expense except for Pac Man and E.T.

This was some years before consumer goods all being made in China and sold at bigger box stores and online at much lower cost. Sears was never seen as a bargain hunters store, and alas it didn’t last in the age of low margin consumer goods retailers.