Wal-Mart Ending Its Layaway Program

[valkyrie]

I don't shop at Walmart or use layaway (I had no idea this still existed anywhere) so I don't give a crap.

I really don't get the "snoopy kids" thing. If your kids can't behave themselves and just have to snoop, it's their own damn fault for ruining their surprise at Christmas. Maybe it would be a good learning experience.

Also, Walmart is never the only place to shop, unless you live in some remote tundra lean-to where there is no mail/UPS delivery. INTERNET.

[blueangel]

Originally Posted by valkyrie

I don't shop at Walmart or use layaway (I had no idea this still existed anywhere) so I don't give a crap.

I really don't get the "snoopy kids" thing. If your kids can't behave themselves and just have to snoop, it's their own damn fault for ruining their surprise at Christmas. Maybe it would be a good learning experience.

Also, Walmart is never the only place to shop, unless you live in some remote tundra lean-to where there is no mail/UPS delivery. INTERNET.

I agree with most of what you said, but I do want to point out that its difficult to shop on the internet without a credit card. There are some people who are unable to secure one.

[valkyrie]

Originally Posted by blueangel

I agree with most of what you said, but I do want to point out that its difficult to shop on the internet without a credit card. There are some people who are unable to secure one.

Debit cards work just as well -- but I suppose there are people who don't have checking accounts.

[AlphaFrog]

Originally Posted by blueangel

I agree with most of what you said, but I do want to point out that its difficult to shop on the internet without a credit card. There are some people who are unable to secure one.

Debit card. If you can get a checking acct, you can get a debit card.

[Still BLUTANG]

i don't get why it's so hard for people to understand that
(1) some people use lay-a-way
(2) some people aren't able to obtain checking accounts and or debit cards

[Kevin]

Only people who have mismanaged their own affairs can't get checking accounts/credit cards. They're not victims.

[33girl]

Well, and some people just like to deal strictly in cash. One of my uncles NEVER had a checking account. When he needed to send a gas bill or whatever, he got a money order. I hate that our society is forcing everyone into using plastic, whether it be a credit card or debit card.

-33
--It's the Mark of the Beast!!
---But seriously, sometimes it freaks me out.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by 33girl

Well, and some people just like to deal strictly in cash. One of my uncles NEVER had a checking account. When he needed to send a gas bill or whatever, he got a money order.

But that's because he wanted it that way, not because he couldn't open a checking account.

[Dionysus]

Originally Posted by 33girl

Well, and some people just like to deal strictly in cash. One of my uncles NEVER had a checking account. When he needed to send a gas bill or whatever, he got a money order. I hate that our society is forcing everyone into using plastic, whether it be a credit card or debit card.

-33
--It's the Mark of the Beast!!
---But seriously, sometimes it freaks me out.

I dealt strictly with cash until a year ago. I've seen what credit card debt has done to people. I didn't trust myself with one, so I stuck with cash as long as I could. Then a year ago, I had to purchase something that only took plastic.

[xo_kathy]

Originally Posted by Kevin

Only people who have mismanaged their own affairs can't get checking accounts/credit cards. They're not victims.

Mismanagement isn't always about spending your cash on booze, cars, and crap you don't really need.

My mother did exactly that when she was first divorced from my father and trying to raise two young kids while working full time. She racked up a credit card debt she couldn't afford so we could have clothes and food - silly her. (Disclaimer for my poor dad - he gave us child support. Mom was a little too proud perhaps and had him give less than required b/c she wanted to make it on her own).

So, because she couldn't (and shouldn't) get any more credit cards, she often used layaway at Kmart to get Christmas presents, school clothes, new towels and/or sheets we'd eventually need, etc.

There ARE people who use it for things they know they will need in the future - not just frivolous things. And as someone pointed out, my mom's situation is probably really similar to a lot of people in rural Arkansas who got Wal-Mart off the gorund in the first place.

[KSig RC]

Originally Posted by xo_kathy

Mismanagement isn't always about spending your cash on booze, cars, and crap you don't really need.

My mother did exactly that when she was first divorced from my father and trying to raise two young kids while working full time. She racked up a credit card debt she couldn't afford so we could have clothes and food - silly her. (Disclaimer for my poor dad - he gave us child support. Mom was a little too proud perhaps and had him give less than required b/c she wanted to make it on her own).

So, because she couldn't (and shouldn't) get any more credit cards, she often used layaway at Kmart to get Christmas presents, school clothes, new towels and/or sheets we'd eventually need, etc.

There ARE people who use it for things they know they will need in the future - not just frivolous things. And as someone pointed out, my mom's situation is probably really similar to a lot of people in rural Arkansas who got Wal-Mart off the gorund in the first place.

Here's the thing, though - layaway is not some sort of service that cannot be replicated. You're simply putting the item in a different location and paying over time - you don't take it with you, right?

So in most cases, people could do the same thing by simply saving their own money, until they reach the entire purchase price - cut the company out of it, and effectively replace layaway. I don't get why we talk about layaway like it's some sort of necessary or singular service.

[Dionysus]

Originally Posted by xo_kathy

Mismanagement isn't always about spending your cash on booze, cars, and crap you don't really need.

My mother did exactly that when she was first divorced from my father and trying to raise two young kids while working full time. She racked up a credit card debt she couldn't afford so we could have clothes and food - silly her. (Disclaimer for my poor dad - he gave us child support. Mom was a little too proud perhaps and had him give less than required b/c she wanted to make it on her own).

So, because she couldn't (and shouldn't) get any more credit cards, she often used layaway at Kmart to get Christmas presents, school clothes, new towels and/or sheets we'd eventually need, etc.

There ARE people who use it for things they know they will need in the future - not just frivolous things. And as someone pointed out, my mom's situation is probably really similar to a lot of people in rural Arkansas who got Wal-Mart off the gorund in the first place.

But, aren't these people in the minority? Most of the people I know who are in debt, spent money and charged their credit cards on things they knew damn well they couldn't afford. These things were like expensive clothes, eating out everyday, and flatscreens. Also, some of them just HAD to live alone. It wasn't acceptable for them to live with roommates, the 'rents, or in the dorms. I knew a few people who had scholarships that paid for their room and board, and only lived there for like a semester or two.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by xo_kathy

Mismanagement isn't always about spending your cash on booze, cars, and crap you don't really need.

My mother did exactly that when she was first divorced from my father and trying to raise two young kids while working full time. She racked up a credit card debt she couldn't afford so we could have clothes and food - silly her. (Disclaimer for my poor dad - he gave us child support. Mom was a little too proud perhaps and had him give less than required b/c she wanted to make it on her own).

So, because she couldn't (and shouldn't) get any more credit cards, she often used layaway at Kmart to get Christmas presents, school clothes, new towels and/or sheets we'd eventually need, etc.

There ARE people who use it for things they know they will need in the future - not just frivolous things. And as someone pointed out, my mom's situation is probably really similar to a lot of people in rural Arkansas who got Wal-Mart off the gorund in the first place.

She turned down the child support, so I guess she's at least partially at fault, yes? Also, could she not have tried to find a better job?

Credit cards are not a must, but a bank account/debit card? Not too hard to come by. Yes, if you write hot checks, that could become a problem, but writing hot checks is pure mismanagement, don't you think?

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by Still BLUTANG

i don't get why it's so hard for people to understand that (1) some people use lay-a-way

I'm not having a hard time understanding that some people still use layaway. I'm surprised, but I understand. When someone here says they or someone they know uses layaway, I believe them.

But I think many here are expressing the idea that there are still viable alternatives to layaway, including some that Wal-Mart may put in place.