Business

In Trouble Again: Sears Apologizes For Swastika Ring Listing

Sears apologized after outraged customers complained that a ring featuring a swastika was being sold on Sears' marketplace website.

In Trouble Again: Sears Apologizes For Swastika Ring Listing
Sears
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Sears is now apologizing for selling a men's ring emblazoned with a swastika on its website. 

In response to customers' angry reactions on Twitter and Facebook, the company tweeted that a third-party vendor was selling the ring on Sears' website and Sears regretted the item was put up for sale.

Now, Sears quickly removed the ring from its marketplace website, which advertises itself as a collection of items being sold by thousands of third parties. 

But some were still understandably upset. WHDH spoke with one woman who was offended by the ring listing. 

ELLEN BERNHARDT: "I was horrified. Absolutely horrified to see a swastika. I can't even imagine in my wildest dreams. I don't know what anyone was thinking."

A blogger for a Jewish site on parenting captured screen shots of the page before it was taken down, pointing out the product description that promoted the ring as "Not for Neo Nazi or any Nazi implication. These jewelry items are going to make you look beautiful at your next dinner date."

Quite the write-up. And we should note this isn't the first time Sears has had issues with products and content on its marketplace site. 

For example, twice in 2012, Business Insider reported lingerie sold on the marketplace website was advertised with photos showing a models' nipples.

But marketplace websites like these have their advantages. In 2013, Businessweek wrote about Sears' push to get more customers online with these third-party vendors: "Shoppers can now order at least 75 million products on the department-store chain's Internet platform, most of which aren't car batteries, kitchen appliances, or the other Sears staples."

That's a lot of products to monitor. But also in 2013, The Wall Street Journal reported Sears' push had been effective — though the company was still struggling, sales online had jumped 20 percent. 

We want to know what you think. Should Sears do a better job monitoring the merchandise that's listed on its website, or do you believe this was just an honest mistake? Tweet us @NewsyVideos.