Wal-Mart Ending Its Layaway Program

[kddani]

The only point I can see in layaway is when you're buying your kids toys or something for Christmas/their birthday and have no where to hide them, layaway takes care of that for most of the time.

[AlphaFrog]

Originally Posted by kddani

The only point I can see in layaway is when you're buying your kids toys or something for Christmas/their birthday and have no where to hide them, layaway takes care of that for most of the time.

Better use: I put all of my "going away to college stuff" (towels, sheets, shampoo, soap, etc) on layaway. No storing the stuff in my room at home until I was ready to go, and when I picked it up the week before, it was already boxed and ready to go.

[winnieb]

Originally Posted by kddani

The only point I can see in layaway is when you're buying your kids toys or something for Christmas/their birthday and have no where to hide them, layaway takes care of that for most of the time.

I use walmart layaway for this very reason. It allows you to get all the good gifts early and never worry about hiding them at home! I have snoopy kids!

Me too! My son's birthday is Dec 11 and christmas is right after that. It is the only way to cut down on hiding the presents and and saving some too vs paying all at once since the majority of birthdays in my family are in December.

[sdsuchelle]

Layaway is awesome when you find something you really want but don't have the money for it right away.

This happens to me quite often.

[kddani]

I don't know. I was raised to not buy things you can't pay for. Hence why i'm not in credit card debt like many people.

Layaway charges a fee. During the time your stuff is on layaway, there's a good chance that it will get marked down out on the floor.At least when I worked at TJ Maxx in HS, we would not mark down your stuff. Doesn't seem real economical.

[AlphaFrog]

Originally Posted by kddani

Layaway charges a fee. During the time your stuff is on layaway, there's a good chance that it will get marked down out on the floor.At least when I worked at TJ Maxx in HS, we would not mark down your stuff. Doesn't seem real economical.

Layaway at Walmart is free, and if it gets marked down, they give you the discount.

[kddani]

Originally Posted by AlphaFrog

Layaway at Walmart is free, and if it gets marked down, they give you the discount.

Obviously i've never done layaway at Walmart.

But knowing that, sounds like a business decision. Layaway costs money to staff and storage space and packaging for all that stuff.

[blueangel]

Originally Posted by kddani

I don't know. I was raised to not buy things you can't pay for. Hence why i'm not in credit card debt like many people.

Layaway charges a fee. During the time your stuff is on layaway, there's a good chance that it will get marked down out on the floor.At least when I worked at TJ Maxx in HS, we would not mark down your stuff. Doesn't seem real economical.

Exactly. I am, however, a big fan of credit cards-- IF you pay them off each month. I like the float. And.. Discover Card Platinum has zero fees (if you don't carry a balance)-- plus you get some really good cash back deals. You can even get gift cards instead-- some of them will even double your cash back. With partners like Crabtree and Evelyn, The Gap, etc.. it's a great deal. They even have a special Gas credit card (you can have more than one type of Discover Card free), you get 5% back on gasoline and car repairs. There's a milage card, and a student card. https://www.discovercard.com/cardmem...a-card/compare
But, I only recommend this IF you are disciplined and IF you don't carry a balance.

Back to Walmart... Not being a Wal-mart customer, (there are none near me) I don't know much about the store personally, however.. I just did a story on this very subject yesterday.

The bottom line: All is not lost for those of you who shop at Wal-mart. Some of the hot shots in the company say they're working on some alternatives. And-- right now-- if If you're a current Wal-mart credit card customer, there apparently is zero interest offers for six and twelve months.

[ASUADPi]

I see both sides of the arguement but let me say my 2 cents...the Walmart I live near and go to the most often, I'll notice during the holiday season that families are putting like two shopping carts full of stuff on layaway. I mean, to me if you're putting stuff on layaway you don't have the money for it at that moment in time, I'm wondering if they'll have the money 30 days later. And I'm not talking two carts full, I'm talking crammed full of crap, every possible space used and brimming over.

I mean to me it's "keeping up with the Jones". I have to wonder, how much of that merchandise isn't even bought in the end? That is being held in layaway, so therefore no one else can purchase it.

That's the downside, Walmart can't sell the items until the 30 days are up and either all the items are paid for or not.

I'm not sure I'm making any sense right now.