Believe it or not, we’re nearing holiday shopping time again and already, Walmart is trying to stay ahead of its competition by announcing its plans to bring back the layaway option. While this type of credit has already been available from Sears and other merchants for a few years, it hasn’t been offered by Walmart since it ditched its pay-as-you-go plans in 2006.
Retailer Looking to Provide Options for Budget Shoppers
Reportedly, since the economic downturn, customers have been hoping Walmart would offer some form of layaway plan to help them secure gifts before the holidays without paying in full at the time of purchase.
A layaway plan allows shoppers to pay for an item over time, interest-free, then pick up their merchandise when it’s paid in full. This practice actually became popular during the Great Depression but became a thing of the past for many retailers once the economy began to pick up again.
Walmart says it hopes bringing back the layaway plan will help ease the difficulty of paying for items in this tough economy.
“We’re always looking for ways to ease budget strain for our customers, and we know this holiday season brings with it additional financial pressure,” Duncan MacNaughton, chief merchandising officer at Walmart’s U.S. division, told The Associated Press.
Layaway Limited to Toys and Electronics
Currently, Walmart Stores Inc., which is based in Bentonville, Ark., says it will be limiting its layaway program to toys and electronics with a price tag of $15 or more. In addition, the total layaway purchase will have to add up to at least $50.
The retailer will also charge a $5 non-refundable service fee and $10 cancellation charge for orders not picked up by the program’s end in December.
It will only be available at stores–not online–and will require a 10-percent down payment.
For those looking to take advantage of the layaway plan, it will begin on Oct. 17 and require customers to pick up their items by Dec. 16. If it is successful, it may be extended throughout the year.
if walmart is going to have layaway again it needs to have it on everything not just toys and electronics these items are very costly and alot of people need to have away to provide the everyday things like cloths shoes etc there are so many people that are on fixed incomes and this is the only way they have to get things for school or special holidays like christmas cause they dont have the money all at once to get them so it would be nice to be able to shop at walmart more and not just for somethings i wouldnt be able to afford.
I couldn’t agree more, Rhonda. I wish they would bring back the layaway dept permanently. It would help a lot of people and would bring Walmart a lot of business.
Just go to k-mart you can put anything on layawy
No K-Mart in the San Antonio TX area. Glad that walmart is trying to lure customers back with the layaway plan….even if only on certain items its a good start.
I’m so happy to hear Walmart is bringing back layaway especially for the holidays. I also strongly agree that everything should be eligible for layaway. I would like to buy clothes and other items for my grandbaby not just toys.
I’m glad Walmart is bringing back layaway,but why can’t we layaway clothes,and other items that people buy for the holidays. Even with the layaway noy everyone is going to buy electronics and toys for one another. Some people are lucky if they can afford the necessities. Walmart be realistic and let us put what ever we need on layaway.
as a walmart employee in electronics i would like to take the time to inform you that the layaway program was taken away because customers wouldnt take their merchandise so the employees had to restock it and only costed the customer $10 restocking fee which didnt cover the 2 hours of labor to do so
i used to help out sometimes in layaway when we still had it and soooooo many people would not only not pick up their stuff we had several people who used layaway like their own personal bank. and by that i mean that they’d put X amount on layaway and comeback a week later and take it off layaway just to get their money back. it ended up costing more money than it was worth.
in other words a relatively small number of people to ruin it for the rest of us.
and think about it this way… if all goes well maybe we’ll add clothing and other departments as well. as long as it’s being utilized properly and not misused it’s a great program and (even with our upstairs layaway storage) I kinda miss working back their!!! lol!
Tj maxx has layaway! You can put anything but clearance on layaway there!
Seriously?? As a Tj maxx addict, that is very dangerous information for me to know!
Hello
My name is Stacy Perry, CEO of Layaway Express
It is great to hear that walmart is bring back its layaway system.
I was reading this story and I had a few questions.
1. Why only toys and electric. I assume for christmas season and electric items are expensive. But why not all items that walmart sell except for food. Layaway Express will continue to buy all products for customers. Thats right I mean bedding, clothing, electrics, toys, shoes, appliances, all walmart products can be put in layaway with layaway express. Starting September 17, 2011 layaway express is doing away with its layaway fee and only charging $10.00 if you cancel. Layaway has 30 days, 60 days, 90 days, all the way up to 6 months. You pick what fits your budget. Whats the min down to start a layaway its only 10% or $25.00 which ever is less. NO LAYAWAY FEE.
We asked a walmart manager and they told us this is layaway program is only in the trial periods it may go away again. As the CEO of LAYAWAY EXPRESS we are not going anywhere and we will never stop letting customers lay back walmart products.
We also do layaways for all other major department stores that have a refund and exchange policy. Including kmart, sears, TJmaxx, Marshall’s, best buy, toy’s “R” US. Our home office is now located in cincinnati ohio our customer service number is 1-866-611-5737 option 1 our website is http://www.layawayexpress.com Walmart is not going to put its online items in layaway but layaway does accept online items
I have several family memebers who work at walmart stores, they did away with the Layaway due to the space in the back rooms. Now they are only bringing back the Layaway for Holiday in Toys and Electronics because they were told these to departments had the Highest Sales since they did away with the Layaway. Just be glad they brought some of it back and maybe they will look at the big picture and start building their stores to hold the Layaway area. I’m happy I can put my son’s toys in layaway now cause K’mart Stores Suck at any selection of Toys, cloths ect., due to Sears being partners now.
Just a bit of advice my mother was one of the customer that would utilize the layway. When they took that option away she started to go to the bank and get gift cards every payday starting in Aug. and the gift would only charge a fee after 6 months and she had the option to go anywhere and make a purchase. she also would get a gift card from wal-mart and use the same card to add more money.
TJ Maxx, Burlington Coat Factory, K-Mart, Cato’s and Sears offer layway plans
If you can’t layaway clothing, bedding and other such items, WHY BOTHER bringing layaway back? See ya at K-Mart~!
I “LOVE” the fact that Walmart is bringin there layaway plan back, even if it is for the hoilday season…I tried both K-Mart Layaway as well as Walmart..and I must say that K-Mart selection in toys and Electronics r way over priced then Walmarts. K-Mart does not have a good selection of things…So even if it is for the holiday season I will for sure be taking advantage…but like other said I wish they will bring back layaway for everything and not just certain items…
I dont understand why only toys and Electronics. So guess i will be going to Kmart so i can do all my christmas shopping.
I too a diehard walmart shopper was crushed when walmart got rid of their layaway.It was the only way i could afford christmas for my kids. As happy as i was to hear this i was just as quickly upset to hear of the limitations. my kids are older and do not need toys and they already have the electronics. so sad to say i will NOT be using the layaway. the items i need are not allowed so thanks but you fail at this lame attempt.
I can’t wait for walmart to start their layaway again I always thought they should of never drop their layaway that is the best store ever welcome back but also you should be able to put anything on layaway there d should not be just toys or electronics.They will gain no matter what the store gets good businesses regardless.the store is for the people.
I’M GLAD TO HEAR THAT WALMART LAYAWAY IS COMING BACK.HOPEFULLY WE GET A CHANCE TO KEEP IT THIS TIME SO IN OTHER WORDS IF YOU KNOW THAT YOU ARE NOT GOING TO GET YOUR LAYAWAY OFF THEN DON’T PUT IT ON.THIS IS A BIG HELP FOR ALOT OF PARENTS WHO IS STRUGGLING WITHOUT JOBS LIKE ME .MAYBE MY KIDS WILL HAVE A BETTER CHRISTMAS THIS YEAR SO THANK YOU WALMART!
when they stopped their layaways i quit shopping there!
I agree with alot of people walmart should offer layaway for everything except food. kmart does alot of people really need this. With the price of gas and the cost of everthing else going up we need the extra help. So walmart give the poeple the extra help we need.
I agree with everyone on this. Being a woman with 7 grandchildren all under the age of 4 The plan of Layaway sounds great to me. I also buy clothes as well and really can’t understand why they will not offer it on those items. It is not ALL about toys !! Christmas has become so materialistic anyway. I wish we all still remembered the true meaning of Christmas. As far as the Walmart employess saying it was taken away because people would not pick up their electronics and they had to go through the trouble of putting it back…..REALLY it takes 2 hours to put something back on a shelf ?
Well I do a layaway every year at Kmart and as some of you previously stated, they don’t have a great selection of toys. Last year they lost a lot of layaways including my sisters. The employee stated that they had so many layaways and so little room so I hope Walmart is prepared and doesn’t do the same.
Being a Walmart employee, I am happy that we are bringing layaway back, even with the limitations. I read some comments on here about kmart not having good selections and too high prices; by the way both are true; so as far as putting up toys there; that’s a no for me! I agree fully to the walmart associates # 7 and # 8 comments. It was because people ABUSED the program causing us to have to work even harder to place items back on the shelves. And yes # 22, Susie, it does take that long and maybe longer to place items back on the shelves; they do have to be separated into each department first. Hopefully, it will last, if people don’t abuse it in these three months. If you know you can’t afford to get two flat screens costing up to over $1400.00, maybe its wise to not go that route wasting your time putting it up and wasting a walmart associates time having to carry it and store it in the back..just a thoughtt! But I will be taking advantage of layaway!
I think walmart should allow the layaway to be open to all hardline products. Walmart talks about hard times but, its not just Christmas we struggle with. We struggle throughout the year. There are many people with more then one child to provide for, Walmart could make it easier on everyone if they wouldnt limit the wayaway.
i work at wal mart and i agree on both sides. i use to work in the layaway department. It can be diffacult when people dont pick it up and we have tp put it away but guess what thats is what we are paid for so suck it up…But then again i use to put suff an layaway to get my kids things for school and i cant afford it now because of not having layaway at school time.. I think people should beable to put what they want as long as it is not food or on sale….wal mart needs to look at the big picture most parents are single and work two jobs just to get by they need to bring back layaway all year for clothes to
I think its a waste of time to bring the Walmart layaway back if u arent going to include everything. With the way that the economy is today there are way more important things that us the consumers need like clothing and shoes. There are way too many single income families that need things that are truly necessary such as clothing, shoes and food not toys, electronics or even jewelry. I worked for Walmart a couple of years ago and I agree that it did help out the customers but thats only because it included everything. I think they need to reconsider their options because more people need help with more important things. I think if they are going to bring it back then they need to include the things that the customers really need.
I understand why they took it away was not only due to people not going through with there layaway but also do to the lack of space and more were shoPping by credit cards. I was one on the other hand to love to wait in long lines to use the layaway. And I always got mine out. But I agree with almost everyone why can’t we put clothes and other stuff in that as well. And not every item should be 15 and up. That will tend to add up very fast for people. I was so happy when I heard the news walmart was bringing layaway back cause let’s face it kmart just don’t have what walmart does on the toys and prices. But I know with this limited stuff u have to put in many people will have to most likely go to kamrt anyways for all the other stuff they need as well like clothes for there kids. I know this may sound like a start to bringing back layaway but why bother if u have to still go back to kmart for the rest. I will not be doing my shopping at walmart this year because my sons just wanted clothes this year. And my little girls of course loves there toys but I won’t have a layaway at two stores so its bake to kmart for me. Man walmart just when u get my hopes up. Its sad to think of how many ppl would have been able to save money shopping at ur store this holiday instead of going to kmart. I wish my boys were still into toys. Nice try walmart but if u guys would have went the extra mile to include the clothes u would have had my business this year. I know its a start walmart and its better then not doing it at all this year. I hope you do well and go the extra mile next year. I love your store and I know it really sucks still for a lot of people but it might just save someone from haven a bad christmas this year so I guess that’s all that matters.
why does walmart just not utilize scan guns for customers to scan items they want to put in layaway eliminating any need for storing items or restocking if they arent picked up with this they could have some sort of agreement that the customer could give walmart a notice within so many days of intent to pay out layaway which would allow an order to be placed from the walmart warehouse at which time the order could be pulled virtually making it no different than ordering it online and shipping to the store.im sure some sort of system could be put in place to guarantee that whatever the customer puts in layaway will be in stock and available for pick up at a time they choose
There is no room in the backroom to store all that extra freight. And what happens when the ones that put all the clothes and junk on layaway dont pick it up? The store becomes overwhelmed with merchandise they cant sell and takes up space that they dont have in the backroom. idealist thinks theres a magical warehouse somewhere that can hold all this freight. He says it doesnt need stored so i guess it just floats in limbo. Its not greed that old DEE is trying to claim. People are going to buy their necessities with cash or credit. walmart has made it so the extras they couldnt afford can now be had.
I just found this site 3 months ago called layaway express and I was scared about using it because never heard of the before. But talked to several people at customer service and they were so friendly. I decided to order a powerwheel cop charger and now I can’t wait for my son to open his gift. I just got the powerwheel yesterday and it is awesome and very quick shipping. The item is brand new still in the box. layaway express I will order from you again. I did have to call customer service to understand how to buy something thats not on the site but they added the products while I was on the phone and walked me through the process.
I will say ” I will take what I can get ” and be happy for that.At least this layaway plan will help some maybe not all but some.Thanks Walmart for bring this back, lower income people need this for there children.: )
My husband and I went to walmart earlier and tried to put stuff on layaway for our 4 children and was told we couldn’t put the toys we had for our 1yr old in because they were infant toys and the computer wouldn’t let them be added, I was very upset that we couldn’t get anything for our baby and we got the toys from the toys section of the store not the infants department and no where in the ads or commercial does it state toys for babies aren’t allowed, toys are toys! We continued and put the stuff we had for the other children in and know have to go to kmart to put a seperate layaway for our baby and pay another fee! I’m very disapointed in walmart):
yeah why toys and electronics only sad for kids that need clothes more than toys my dau is a single mother of 3 hell they need more school clothes and shoes and jackets for the winter im disabled on a check once a month shes in college wow we were happy until found out only toys and electronics wow great i wish kmart was in houston texas area cause this is crazy b,s dont want to be too rude but what can you say ty huh for what ///////// sad
I went on the internet and saw this website back in 2004 and the website was kinda cheesy but I thought I give the company a chance and I was so happy with the service. My packages were shipped fast and on time. Layaway Express listed tracking numbers. Last Year I order a couch and it was delievered right to the living room and they set it up. The men that came to the house took the trash and was very friendly and clean for working all day. This year I used it for my christmas shopping and There website site saids there honoring BLACK FRIDAY SALES UNTIL DEC 15 2011. So that gives me a chance to buy other gifts at cheap prices. Layaway Express your #1 for our family and freinds
I had heard layaway policy was electronics and toys only – didn’t know the $15 per item rule. Figured I’d get the toys taken care of for grandkids. When the cashier told me that little tidbit of info, I just said “Well, then I will just leave that stuff in the cart here to be put away…There’s no way I will remember where it all goes.” They were $10. and smaller items, stocking stuffers, etc but still added up to over 100 bux. Oh well, Walmart – that $100 AND the ALL the rest of my list was purchased at KMART and TARGET.
I’m not using the walmart layaway. I always use kmart. I either put the stuff in layaway online or in the store. So you don’t have to have a store where you live, because they ship it to your home. Most times, shipping’s free over a certain amount. I find our kmart’s prices competitive with the local walmart’s. They do need to expand the toy selection a little better, but I can overlook that since I can use coupons, they have a rewards card, and save gas doing one layaway at one store. We also use CVS and Walgreens since they have money back programs, and CVS has a rewards card. We’ve used Sears layaway to buy major appliances. From what I understand, kmart has appliance layaway too. Other than that, we shop secondhand stores for all kinds of things, and I make gift baskets for the adults, or give gift cards. We either put money back for those, get deals on them online at giftcardrescue, or buy them with swagbucks. I plan to check out layaway express and elayaway. We don’t use credit cards or anything. It would be nice to see more stores offer layaway on more things. Walmart is always going to do what cuts the most costs and makes them the most money. That’s business. So, I’d not hold my breath waiting. I’m shocked they brought layaway back at all.