Super Sears

To the Editors:

Your article on Sears [ECONOMY & BUSINESS, Aug. 20] was fantastic. The company has earned the trust of my grandfather, my father and me. No matter where I go, I know Sears will always be there and will have what I need.

James A. Letton Wichita, Kans.

Forget the Japanese challenge. Quality goods, reasonable prices, relentless attention to the customer, and a rock-solid guarantee are Sears' secrets of success.

Barry J. Stiefel San Francisco

In 1965 I bought a Sears tool kit for my first car. One of the screwdrivers broke when I used it for a job it was not meant to do. I sheepishly returned the item and to my amazement was given a new one. Since then, I have spent thousands of dollars at Sears. If my wife reads this, I need a 3/4-h.p. router. She knows where to buy it.

Jerome Atwood Los Gatos, Calif.

Fourteen years ago, I received a Sears TV as a gift. The set is still going strong and has never been repaired. Although I am only 25, I am wondering which will last longer, my TV or me?

Robert Carlo Jr. Bristol, Conn.

After weeks of watching the Olympics, it was great to see Cheryl Tiegs just sitting there with the Sears catalog, not a muscle showing.

Peg Canode Coolidge Hudson, Ill.

Sears may be "sizzling with new vitality," but until it solves its problems of understocking, poor telephone-order service and mediocre help, I rate it "lukewarm."

Richard B. Matt Ocean City, N.J.

When we went to purchase a new washer and dryer, the Sears salesperson was more interested in selling an expensive service contract than in explaining the machines. The 50 baby chicks ordered in April have not yet arrived; there is no trace of the order except on our bill. Last summer it took more than six weeks to get a part for our Sears riding mower. Perhaps a little less attention to investments, real estate and insurance and more attention to value and service will help Sears continue its success.

Chuck and Lyn McCluskey Bellingham, Wash.

You say Sears' largest store is in Troy, N.Y. Unfortunately, I cannot find it on my tax roll. The city of Troy would love to have its very own Sears, not to mention the property tax the outlet would pay.

Barbara J. Flynn City Treasurer Troy, N. Y.

Taxes from the second largest Sears store go to Troy, Mich. TIME erred.

I can vouch for the fact that "Sears gets letters asking advice on almost any human problem." In the early 1920s, I worked in the correspondence department. Many letters addressed to "Mrs. Sears" sought her opinion about clothes. Men wrote for help with farming problems, and one man even asked for a wife.

Earl D. Reese Palo Alto, Calif.

As long ago as 1925, Sears Executive Robert Wood saw that the automobile would alter our way of life. He began locating Sears stores away from city centers and provided large parking lots. This led to a revolution in retailing and influenced the economic decline of central cities.

Stanley Shipnes Northport, Mich.

I put myself through college by working for Sears part time for nearly five years. My time with Sears was pleasant, productive and educational. A feeling of teamwork always prevailed. The company's treatment of its employees lies behind much of its continuing success.

David G. Burton Jr. Orlando, Fla.

Olympic Afterglow

Shucks, the Games are over [OLYMPICS, Aug. 20]. For two wonderful weeks the world seemed to be a nicer place in which to live.

Frank Nygaard Sherwood, Ore.

All the misguided cynics cannot diminish the pride that we Americans have received from the Games.

Don Young Grand Rapids

The U.S. earned a gold medal for itself in the Olympics. The Games were magic in action.

Sophia Sampson Athens

It is about time someone discovered that fencing is more than a few slashes. Instead of showing two hours of sweaty women running a marathon, television broadcasters should have shown a few minutes of fencing.

Elite Rust Chesterfield, Mo.

The photograph of Mary Decker's fall is a moving statement about a superb athlete. The picture and the person are both world class.

Thilo Steinschulte Alexandria, La.

The Olympics need the Mary Deckers of this world far more than the grandstanding winners. The woman is more awesome in disappointment than in the triumph of her astounding successes.

Ian C. MacMillan Tenafly, N.J.

Mary Decker may be a fine athlete, but she is not an admirable competitor. A good competitor would accept a loss without blaming anyone.

Carol Mikesh Lakewood, Colo.

The same Olympic crowd that made me feel so patriotic at the opening of the Games made me ashamed when it booed Zola Budd.

Judith N. Thelen Cumberland, Md.

With the exception of Joan Benoit's victory in the marathon, all the gold medals won by the U.S. in track and field were captured by black Americans. This feat is testimony that talent combined with motivation and opportunity can prevail against enormous odds. Nevertheless, as a black American I feel we must constantly remind young blacks that regardless of the achievements of Valerie Briscoe-Hooks and Carl Lewis, sport is an extra curricular activity. To abandon academics in favor of sports is as risky as betting the house rent on the lottery.

David L. Evans, Senior Admissions Officer Harvard-Radcliffe Cambridge, Mass.

Gift PACs

I was stunned to find myself listed as having received $300,000 this year from political action committees (PACs) [NATION, Aug. 20]. When listing the names and campaign receipts of certain candidates for Congress, you mistakenly identified total campaign contributions as PAC money. In fact, PAC contributions in my case have been less than 15% of the total contributions this year, and past campaign experience has placed me among the "little guys" when judging PAC recipients.

Bill Green, U.S. Representative 18th District, New York Washington, D.C.

Congressman Green is correct; TIME's chart was wrong. Top recipients of PAC contributions for January-June 1984:

Senate Candidates Paul Simon, D., Ill., $387,892 Charles Percy, R., Ill., $368,024 Jim Hunt, D., N.C., $321,038 Thad Cochran, R., Miss., $310,213 Phil Gramm, R., Texas, $301,856

House Candidates James Jones, D., Okla., $216,599 Tom Foglietta, D., Pa., $151,970 John Dingell, D., Miss., $129,750 Joseph Addabbo, D., N. Y., $127,530 Gerald Kleczka, D., Wis., $123,547

Fighting Kurds

Thanks for writing something--anything-- about the Kurds [WORLD, Aug.13]. I would have been even happier if you had emphasized that Kurds fight like men and have never engaged in terrorism. They simply defend their own, and for that they deserve credit.

Paul Kordestani Maryland Heights, Mo.

Leningrad Troubles

As a native, I was amused to read "Tips for Travelers" (NATION, Aug. 20). Your photography shows not the world-famous Hermitage but quite a different building, the General Staff Headquarters, which has a historical value of its own. At the same time, you should know that apart from being truly beautiful, Leningrad is a very hospitable city, and the harassment the foreign tourists are allegedly subjected to is something that does not really exist.

Vladimir V. Shustov Deputy Permanent Representative of the U.S.S.R. to the United Nations New York City

Hong Kong's Fate

By hammering out a deal with Britain on the future of Hong Kong (WORLD, Aug. 13), China has regained its self-respect and finally rid itself of colonialism.

Monroe Leung Beverly Hills

Before the British sign a treaty to convert Hong Kong into an "autonomous special administrative zone" under Chinese suzerainty, someone in the Foreign Office should study Tibet's tragic history.

Teresa Sullivan Los Angeles