Sears router, crap or?
Department store routers: Generally quality matches price. There were exceptions, but now I know of no commercial grade dept. store routers. Expect a modicum of service for rare to occasional use. Most are restricted to 1/4 shanks, depth setting is a guess, cutters often stick in the collets or change position spontaneously. Can’t spend the money on an industrial tool? Buy with intent to sell. Get a DW or PC, use, test, and sell. You’ll have a hell of a time trying to ruin one of these and you can easily get 1/2 your money back if you sell or trade it. Better to have a good experience routing than a frustrating or perhaps a risky one. Caveat: Sears (specifically) does have routers at many price breaks and for the commercial user. The on-sale 40-100$ routers are not for the serious woodworker. These guys (Sears) are masters at instituting new features and appealing advertising matched by unbeatable prices. Some of these features are genuinely clever and ahead of their time. DeWalt’s new
