J.D. Power and Associates Awards Highest Honor to Kenmore Elite(R) Dishwashers

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill., Nov. 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Kenmore Elite® line of dishwashers ranks at the top for customer satisfaction(1), according to a new study conducted by J.D. Power and Associates. The 2009 Kitchen Appliances Study analyzed customer feedback on performance, ease of use, features, style and feel, price and warranty, and ranked Kenmore Elite the highest in customer satisfaction for Dishwashers.

According to the study, which was based on responses from more than 11,000 customers who purchased kitchen appliances, the Kenmore Elite line of dishwashers achieved a customer satisfaction score of 810 on a 1,000-point scale.

"Any product developed by Kenmore® begins with one simple thing - a customer's need. We listen intently to our customers and translate what we hear into products that deliver on performance, innovation and value," said Betsy Owens, Kenmore brand's vice president and general manager. "Customer satisfaction is at the core of all that we do at Kenmore, and is one of the main reasons why the Kenmore brand has been able to provide trusted and reliable products for generations. This honor from J.D. Power and Associates further demonstrates our position as a market leader in the dishwasher category. We take our customers' opinions very seriously, so we are thrilled to receive this award."

The Kenmore Elite dishwasher line includes a range of ENERGY STAR® qualified products including the Kenmore Elite 24-inch built-in dishwasher, priced as low as $789.99 (# 13102). It has options such as Ultra Wash® HE wash system that saves up to 41% less water and 34% less energy(2) and TurboZone(TM) with rotating spray jets to tackle tough, baked-on soils with no pre-scrubbing or soaking. The line also features the top-of-the-line Kenmore Elite dishwasher featuring the Smart Display(TM) interface (#13163), which is priced at $1,549.99. This model is so quiet, at 46 dBA, you hardly know it is on. To help customers know the cycle status at all times since it is virtually silent , Kenmore brand introduced the Smart Display(TM) console that shows an animated visual representation of what is happening during each stage of the cycle.

"Kenmore has heard from a number of customers that are pleased with the technology that is available in the brand's latest appliances," said Owens. "For example, The SmartWash HE(TM) option in Kenmore Elite dishwashers measures each load's size and soil level and sets the optimal amount of time, water and energy to effectively clean the load. This helps optimize water and energy usage, possibly resulting in lower utility bills."

Kenmore Elite dishwashers as well as the brand's wide selection of other home appliances, including laundry, refrigeration, and cooking products, along with small appliances, are available for purchase at www.kenmore.com, www.sears.com, and at Sears stores nationwide. To hear real stories from real Kenmore dishwasher owners about their experience with their Kenmore Elite dishwasher, please visit http://www.youtube.com/kenmore.

About the J.D. Power and Associates Study
The 2009 J.D. Power and Associates Kitchen Appliances Study(SM) was based on responses from 3,387 consumers who purchased dishwashers, 4,067 consumers who purchased ranges, cooktops, and ovens and 4,247 consumers who purchased refrigerators through a retail store or their new-home builder, or received one through other means (such as a gift) during the previous 24 months. The study ranked customer satisfaction with dishwashers in six areas: operational performance (including how well the appliance functions, noise level and energy efficiency); operational features (such as the number of settings available and appliance capacity); ease of use; styling and feel; price; and warranty. Kenmore Elite dishwashers received an overall score of 810 out of a possible 1,000 and were the top-ranked dishwashers for ease of use and features. The study was fielded between March and April 2009.

About Sears, Roebuck and Co.
Sears, Roebuck and Co., a wholly owned subsidiary of Sears Holdings Corporation (Nasdaq: SHLD), is a leading broadline retailer providing merchandise and related services. Sears, Roebuck offers its wide range of home merchandise, apparel and automotive products and services through more than 2,300 Sears-branded and affiliated stores in the United States and Canada, which includes approximately 929 full-line and approximately 1,200 specialty stores in the U.S. Sears, Roebuck also offers a variety of merchandise and services through sears.com, landsend.com, and specialty catalogs. Sears, Roebuck offers consumers leading proprietary brands including Kenmore, Craftsman, DieHard and Lands' End -- among the most trusted and preferred brands in the U.S. The company is the nation's largest provider of home services, with more than 12 million service calls made annually. For more information, visit the Sears, Roebuck website at www.sears.com or the Sears Holdings Corporation website at www.searsholdings.com.

About J.D. Power and Associates
Headquartered in Westlake Village, Calif., J.D. Power and Associates is a global marketing information services company operating in key business sectors including market research, forecasting, performance improvement, Web intelligence and customer satisfaction. The company's quality and satisfaction measurements are based on responses from millions of consumers annually. For more information on car reviews and ratings, car insurance, health insurance, cell phone ratings, and more, please visit JDPower.com. J.D. Power and Associates is a business unit of The McGraw-Hill Companies.

(1) Kenmore Elite received the highest numerical score for dishwashers in the proprietary J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Kitchen Appliances Study(SM). ( )Study based on 11,701 total responses measuring 12 brands and measures opinions of consumers who purchased a new appliance from a retail store or their new-home builder during the previous 24 months. Proprietary study results are based on experiences and perceptions of consumers surveyed in March-April 2009. Your experiences may vary. Visit jdpower.com.

(2) When compared to a dishwasher manufactured seven years ago.