I think it's a about time retailers start phasing out layaway. With the wide spread use of credit cards, it's no longer necessary. When was the last time you even saw someone at the layaway desk?

With credit cards so prevalent, who even uses Layaway?

"With credit cards so prevalent, who even uses layaway?"

People with sub-300 credit scores who sit at home eating gummint cheese, plotting their $30 Blue Collar TV Season One purchase.

Well, and a portion of the population who don't want their oversized Christmas presents sitting in the shed so the kids can find them in October.

What's layaway?

Paula, from what I can tell, it's when you tell a store you want something, then they set it aside (in the store) after you give them some money (like some set percentage of your layaway purchase). Then you pay it off whenever you want before a certain date. If you don't pay the whole thing off by the certain date they keep your money and put the merchandise back on the floor to sell.

Speaking of credit cards and stuff that should be phased out, what about checks???

Whoops, didn't mean to step on your toes, 24fan24... your comment wasn't displaying when I posted mine.

I almost forgot all about layaway. I didn't even notice places still even offered it.

there are people in the world who do not have a credit card. and those people aren't sitting on their asses eating "gumment" cheese. for a lot of poor people, layaway is the thing that can use in order to get their families things they need. before you start talking trash about things you don't know, i suggest you walk a mile in their shoes. i know what it is to be poor, because i was their once upon a time in my life. i worked my ass off to get where i am today. and i am proud of myself. And I thank GOD that he gave me the heart, the will and the strength to help those who don't have much. I thank my parents for raising me not to prejudice.

"You furnish your cousin, we'll furnish the trailer."

Ouch.

Funny, but ouch.

We still need check because my mortgage company won't send me paper statements if I sign up for electo-payment. My electric utility doesn't even offer the option of electro-pay.

Some of you sound so stupid, layaway is still used in today's society. If you had any sense at all you would realize that layaway is good if you don't really need the items until a certain time such as Christmas. Instead of paying all at one time you can spread the payments out and have money for other things.

There are many young couples who do not want to use credit cards, but look forward to placing a layaway for their children at Christmas time. They have limited income and budget their payments each payday. They have the option of shopping before all the toys are picked through. I feel Walmart is making a mistake and Kmart will be the place to shop for the consumers who use layaway.

.....Layaway has always been a racket, just like credit. A certain percentage of layaway stuff doesn't finish getting bought, and they keep the money. If Walmart's giving this up, it's only because the cost of storing the "layed" items is negating the profit.

.....Being poor can get you exploited, with stuff like layaway, %500 payday loans, and exhorbitant check-cashing fees. Stick to cash if you're poor. Otherwise, you're getting what little money you have, taken.

When you are a divorced father with 2 children. No help from the other party. You have to do what you can. Layaway helped me out. I could get the stuff my children asked for from Santa. Now to tell you the truth I'm not sure what I can do. Now why would I want to pay and extra 3-10% on things when I could just put it on lay away. I work 48 hours a week for a small town police department. I don't sit on my ass waiting for the blue coller crap. I'm not what i would call poor either. When you can grow up. Think past yourself and mom and dad stop paying your way you will find out that there are some things you may find that really help you out.

Layaway has nothing to do with being poor. It is away to get what you want when you do not have the money at the time to get it. Layaway does not cost any extra. But you want to pay anywhere from 6-15% extra now that is just stupid. Well i guess when Mom and Dad are paying your way that is all good. When you are a divorced father with 2 children. Working in a small town police department and disabled vetrean. You look to get all the help you can.So when you get all growed up and look past your own ego at the little people. You can see how that the World of the mighty Walmart just keeps screwing the little guy.

Turns out we SHOULD have been using layaway :( Someone on gottadeal.com forums found that you put something on layaway before a holiday (christmas) and get it out near your payoff date and it is price adjusted to the clearance price. Meaning you put all that holoween candy in layaway and pick it up in January for $0.10 a bag or something. Dang I wish I had know this, could've got a steal on a VCR!

i dont use credit cards and to those of you who do more power o ya! Lay away is great for those of us that don't use those things!

not everyone uses credit cards. i have decent credit.. but dont wnat to pay loads of interest on the purchases so layaway is perfect.

Well, I work for Wal-Mart and it's NOT all that! I'm happy I have a job and I can pay my bills, I'm not happy having a job at the wal-mart I work for. I firmly believe they shouldn't phase out the layaway. Even the employees cannot just go and buy something straight up! We need the layaway. I can honestly say that alot of people(including myself) are going to shop elsewhere. I am not a rich person who can afford to pay for 15 credit cards and charge everything. BUT....wal-mart will see what the decision is a year after layaway is gone...BIG mistake!

I cant believe I'm reading some of these comments! How dare you judge people who dont have money! Who are you? Are you really that shallow of a person, I dare you to ask? No, I'm not poor, and no I'm not rich. I'm comfortable. Some people (People with Sense) dont have credit cards and dont want them. If you dont have the money to pay cash for a purchase then maybe you dont need it. Layaway allows people to save or pay on it without interest. And I use layaway, and no I dont eat "gumment cheese" and so what if I did, jerk And that's the nicest I can say about you. Layaway does not and should not label you as poor. If it allows you to get Christmas for the kids or seasonal clothes - then so be it. At least you were smart and paid for it without paying interest like a credit card. I hope all of you that are negative people wake up one day.

What about those who can't get a credit card what happens then not everyone is approved for one and your only way of doing Christmas gifts is layaway is Walmart going to make it more easy to get a Credit Card threw them there should always be a back up plan i think..

For one thing Wal-Mart DOES NOT keep the money if the layaway is not picked up. It is refunded to the customer. Another thing, it is great to put items on layaway and know that if you don't actually need it for a month or so then you are still going to be able to get that item and it won't be sold out. With the high use of credit cards, layaway was a great way to pay stuff off without having to pay finance charges. They are cutting their own throat by doing away with layaway and will be using a lot of customers. Most layaway departments had literally hundreds of customers use them every week.

Layaway should be retained and credit cards limited... I've never seen some one file for bankruptcy for too many layaways credit cards on the other hand.... Not everyone was taught to properly save for purchases they want or need layaway sometimes helps be responsible so you don't lose your money.

AS A SINGLE WORKING MOTHER WITH FOUR CHILDREN AND NOT SO GOOD CREDIT,WAL-MART'S LAYAWAY PLAN HAS HELPED MY CHILDREN TO HAVE A GREAT CHRISTMAS EVERY YEAR OF EACH OF THEIR LIVES. I AM SADDENED BY THE NEWS. BUT I ALSO REALIZE THEY HAVE TO DO WHAT IS BEST FOR THEM.

AS A SINGLE WORKING MOTHER OF FOUR CHILDREN, THE WAL-MART LAYAWAY PLAN HAS HELPED ME TO GIVE MY CHILDREN EXCELLENT CHRISTMASES FOR A LONG TIME. ALTHOUGH I AM SADDENED BY THE NEWS, I UNDERSTAND THAT THEY HAVE TO DO WHAT IS BEST FOR THEIR COMPANY.

Walmart isnt going to lose any money. In fact they will probably gain money. More than 50% of the time people will put items on layaway, and then when its due to be out the customer will cancel it. During the time its on layaway the prices will drop which means someone else would have paid full price if it wasnt on layaway. I don't understand why people think walmart is so bad. Hell they beat everyone elses prices. They also price match other stores.How many other places do that and how many places will let you return stuff without a receipt. Everyone still needs to think about that.

i may not live in no fancy pants big home, but its not a trailer. wal-mart needs to understand they are WAL-MART!!!! they are trying to keep up with the "big companies" but please dont ever forget its wal-mart! im sorry but if you can get your hair done, nails done, do your banking, rent a movie, buy some bananas and get your oil changed all in one place then im sorry but obviously your not a fancy establisment such as a macy's. its wal-mart!!!! bring back layaway for the poor folks.

Some of you are truly missing the point. Layaway has nothing to do with being poor. It's smart. The bottom line is Wal-mart made their fortunes at the expense of the Middle and working class American/family. Now they wish to appeal to upscale customers much the same way Target has. I agree with a previous poster that mentioned not wanting to spend their money on something at one time.

I use layaway all the time. I work 40 hours a week and I have two children. Layaway allows me to get them the things they need without having to use credit cards or being broke. I have several credit cards, but it's my goal to get away from using credit cards on non-emergency purchases. 9 times out of 10, a $30 purchase at Walmart is not something that most of us absolutely need!

Walmart had the best layaway ever! There is no service fee associated with it. You keep the items in for two months, you only pay 10% down, you never have to make a payment if you don't want to and if you don't want the items afterall you can keep it. Walmart never keeps all your money. They give you two months to receive the credit from the refund. After that time you lose 10% of the down payment. Not the entire amount. Some of you are so biased about who uses layaway and for what purposes.

Think about your first apartment or dorm room. Imagine buying one item a month versus being able to buy multiple items by delaying the final payment of the items. I think what Walmart will do is have an increase in theft and a lose of business from people that can not afford to shop there unless they have the ability to lay items away. I hope they lose 75% of their business. They should stop trying to keep up with the TARGET of the world!

Those of you who think Wal-Mart's layaway plan is for the poor are totally missing the purpose of it. I have used Wal-Mart's layaway for the past two years. I am married with two small children and being able to put the things they wanted on layaway has been a blessing. Many of the toys on my children's list were popular Christmas toys. When everyone else was running around looking for the toys in December, I was at home relaxing because we already had the items before they were sold out. I wish WM would reconsider b/c I think a lot of people used layaway plans for Christmas for the very same reason ---- Avoiding running around from store to store looking for popular Christmas toys.

Those of you who think Wal-Mart's layaway plan is for the poor are totally missing the purpose of it. I have used Wal-Mart's layaway for the past two years. I am married with two small children and being able to put the things they wanted on layaway has been a blessing. Many of the toys on my children's list were popular Christmas toys. When everyone else was running around looking for the toys in December, I was at home relaxing because we already had the items before they were sold out. I wish WM would reconsider b/c I think a lot of people used layaway plans for Christmas for the very same reason ---- Avoiding running around from store to store looking for popular Christmas toys.

Some of us choose not to have a credit card because of the high interest rate so a layaway comes in handy when purchasing large items or many items when you have a big family.

"Gumment" Cheese? You arrogant little (insert profanity)! [sarcasm]I'm aint poor and I don't eat gumment cheese my brotha![/sarcasm]

I do however use Wal-Marts layaway, and have used it for the last ten years. Why is this???
Because I'm not a moron like you who would put toys and gifts on a credit card only to have to pay 18 - 21% interest on my purchases.

When parents have to pay out a thousand dollars to purchase gifts for runny little snots like yourself at christmas, paying a little at a time over the course of two months minimizes the impact of the purchase for customers, which includes the middle class.

The fact of the matter is that I (like many) have spent well over $75,000 over the course of those last ten years in this store. Why is this??? Because they have a great selection of merchandise, the best prices and have always met my desires when dealing with items that I have had to return.

I usually don't have anything bad to say about this store, but it still doesn't change the fact that over the last ten years, I have molded myself into using Wal-Marts layaway as part of a traditional Christmas shopping practice.

It really is too bad that I will have to drop that chunk of Christmas cash over at "Gay"-Mart now, because their selection and prices are no match for Wal-Mart. But that's just the way it is going to have to be. For those who think that Wal-Mart will not lose money on the deal...
You will see that Wal-Marts Christmas sales will be way down compared to K-Marts.

Well, I've said my piece. [sarcasm]Ima off ta duh welfare offise to git ma cheeze certificate... Git 'er done![/sarcasm]

Matt from Maine

Not only is layaway great because of the low payments, but after a few payments, what you layed away is yours in full without large payments left owed to the credit card companies. It is also a great way to keep those Christmas presents out of the house until last minute so that the curios little ones won't find their gifts and ruin all of the fun and surprise out of Christmas! And yes, a lot of people (myself included) use layaway because their credit score sucks because of stupid mistakes being made by growing up. But I am not a redneck, I am a single mother of one, I work a full time job, and I don't get child support. But my credit isn't that great, so Walmart won't give me a credit card. I'm sorry that we all aren't perfect. I am now a loyal K-Mart shopper. Thank you, Walmart!

Not only is layaway great because of the low payments and no outstanding debts to credit card companies with high interest rates, but it is also a great way to keep those Christmas presents hidden from curious little eyes! Some people, including myself, have a bad credit rating, and Walmart won't give us a chance with a credit card to help us raise our score. I think it is a very inconsiderate thing to do to the people who can't have or choose not to have credit cards. I am a working, single mother of one who does not recieve child support, and I don't have the money to pull out of my ass to give my son a nice Christmas without layaway. So I am now a loyal K-Mart shopper. Thank you, Walmart!

Not only is layaway great because of the low payments without outstanding credit card debt, but it is also a great way to keep those Christmas presents hidden from curious litte eyes! I am a working single mother of one who can't get a credit card due to bad credit. Am I a redneck or a bad, scummy person? No, I'm not. I think that if Walmart is doing away with their layaway program, they should at least give people like me a chance to raise their credit rating by giving us a credit card with a low credit amount and let us prove ourselves. I think it a very inconsiderate thing to do. I am now a loyal K-Mart shopper. Thank you, Walmart!

I have a high credit score, my kids are grown, and I work 60 hour weeks in a job I love. I am also a regular layaway user. I like it for several reasons: My family is large, so I use it for gift purchases rather than buying a large group at one time. When I find a particular item for a gift, I lay it away so it will be available when I need to give it. I prefer to make payments to the layaway rather than pay interest on a credit card. I choose to not have any credit cards. Furniture, linens, clothes, toys, small appliances and gifts are what I layaway. While I live in a city, rural Wal-Marts may alienate more customers than they realize by emliminating layaway. Contrary to popular belief not every American feels the need to carry credit cards. But then again, I don't go to Starbucks for my caffeine either. I will garantee that my dollars will be used in other stores once layaway stops.

Walmart has just discovered another opportunity to get richer and make the poor get poorer. If you read the press release, they are pushing their own credit cards as an alternative to layaway. They may be without interest for 6 to 12 months, but they know this makes the consumer too comfortable using them and likely to carry a balance afterward.

My family has what it needs, so I wouldn't say we are poor, but big Christmas expenses for the kids and are huge families were greatly helped by using layaway. It's alot easier to know you have to pay so much each paycheck than it is to save the money ahead of time without some other emergency taking from it.

I always loved Walmart until this year. In the past 12 months, they have doubled and tripled pricing on many items and discontinued many many more. Our store NEVER has anything you need in stock so it's a 15 mile drive to the next one to buy what you need. As someone said, Walmart is going after the upscale consumer now at the expense of the people who made them a retail giant in the first place.

Walmart won't lose business? I drive right by Target a few times a week and find myself stopping in more and more for planned shopping since for the first time ever, Target is less expensive on many items that I buy weekly. I also find myself looking online for alternate resources, usually with lower or comparable pricing including shipping. I know I'm not the only one so I can only hope others do the same and start taking away some of Walmart's power.

It isn't about rich or poor. I would say 95% of the people who use layaway, do it to give their children a great Christmas. I have three children. I started out poor and have progressed in my finances to the point that I am comfortable. My kids do not ask for much and I have taught them to appreciate what they do get, because we have been without things needed. However, I remember being a child myself. To this day I can not tell you how, but Mom always made it seem like we had a hundred gifts to open. Although I do not know for sure, over the years I have suspected the layaway program. It has given me the opportunity to purchase all the things at Christmas that give my child memories like I had and am glad to have. Now, my mother was a single mother of two as I am of three. But her children and mine have not been affected by it.

If they do choose to end layaway, my children probably will be. It will be hard to acquire gifts on a credit card I do not have or to get one with the credit I do not have. I can save the cash as if I was making a payment, but if I get a flat tire, I will use that money to change it and then be thankful I did not have to ask someone for a loan that I could not get anyway.

Some of the comments made here really have been horrible. The only way I can respond, is by saying I hope you never become one of those that you so easily dismiss. Why? They will make it through, but the spirit you carry will be crushed by true hard times. And should these times fall upon you, I hope they do not break you completely.

Iam not poor,but i use layaways. I see stuff that i wanna get that i cant go and get all at once. At Christams especially when u buying things for more than one child it can get expensive. Last yr it was 600 dollars and if wasnt for layaways then i dont know. I am single mother and the dad doesnt help. So i do think that it is goingto hurt alot people. By the way to the narrow minded folks that think u have to be poor to use it, u have alot to learn.Think about this too u cant be too poor if u have 60-90 days to get it out and your layaways is 400 plus casue u have to make them payments. That is not alot of time when u got other bills, but narrow minded people dont think about that. Layaways help alot.

I agrre layaways has nothing to to with being poor. It helps. People that need things and cant get it all right now but want to get it before it is all gone. I am a single mother of 2 and layaways help me out alot. When u have more than one child having to buy the things they need all at one timeis hard when it's gonna cost you alot to get it. Christmas especailly last yr i spent 600 on my girls. If it wasnt for layaways they wouldnt have gotten all the stuff they got. SO layaways help alot of people out including me i sue them and i love it. For the narrow minded people that think you have to be poor to use layaways.. think about this layaways help when you bills mortgage,kids car note. You cant be too poor if u got a roor over your head,bills a vehicle and YOu are paying your bills.Wal-Mart just dont understand how that is going to hurt alot of poeple that count on beening able to put their childern things on layaway. That is going to get alot of other retailers their business on that alone.

I cannot belive what some of you are saying about layaways. It is not just for poor people. I for one use layaway at christmas so i can get my 2 beautiful children gifts without them finding them. My husband and i dont have credit card nor do we want any, the majority of our nation is in serious trouble due to the peices of plastic. I for one do not want to be in debt up to my ears because i charged everything to a card. Layaway is a simple way to get what you need with no intrest and with no worry about your children finding gifts. I think it is horrible what Walmart is doing...they pay their workers next to noting(coming from first hand experiance) and work them to the bone. And for you who say walmart is loosing profit on layaways....Walmart profited 77 BILLION last year after taxes. I think they can afford to keep layaway around to help out those of us who use it.

I am upset that Walmart will not be having layaway anymore. I only purchase things at Walmart because I can put it on layway when they have it in stock. I get paid only once a month and if I have to pay cash then I will go to the mall and buy it there. It doesn't matter how they price it and what designers come there, kids don't want clothes bought at Walmart. I also have to budget Christmas gifts and Walmart layaway means that I don't have to shop in the crazy crowds. I think it is a mistake and I know that people will always shop at Walmart but I think they will be stuck with some items and will have to do a lot of markdowns to get rid of excess stock.
Don't want to help out the "little people"? We'll go elsewhere!

Boy there are some real "hoity toity" people out there! Not everybody has or wants a credit card. Why pay more than you have to? Lets see you pay the price plus the tax and dont forget the INTEREST. Credit cards will put you in debt. Walmart looks to making more money out of this. Layaway is not only for the poor. We are "comfortable". We probably pay out between $1000-$1500 on Christmas, and we are only a family of four. That is not counting buying for family gift exchanges. We still use layaway. Most of you need to stop judging people. I hate people who think they are better than anybody else and think their crap dont stink.

A big part of the decision to phase out the layaway plan at Wal-mart is because they want Targets consumers, notice Target doesn't have layaway either. But what Walmart doesn't realize is that a majority of their business is from middle to low class or people who like to get comparative pricing. Taking out layaway will decrease their holiday sales. I look forward to putting a majority of my purchases on layaway near the holidays so that I don't have to make multiple shopping trips, I can make payments, and I only have to deal with the overpopulated, headache of a parking nightmare that is wal-mart. If I wanted to deal with bad parking I would go to the mall at least then it's worth it (multiple shops)!!!!

I am a single mother that works at CIGNA Healthcare and DO NOT just sit on my behind collecting government assistance (or any other assistance in that case). So for you who think that those are they people who use layway, AWAKE UP! I think that layaway is a big help and a great alternative to credit cards and their high ass interest rates. For those who down layaway must have great credit or either greatly declining credit because of all your interest rates due to the use of your goody-two-shoes credit cards. Which using them only mean you really DON'T have the money right now to purchase what you want and you are basically using the same concept of layaway except your are paying MORE for the product (interest). That DUMB!!!!! So before you look down your long noses at peolpe who use it, re-evaluate your ACTUAL financial situation.

I also think its a big mistake to get rid of the layaway plan it has been a god send for me over the years, it helps me not to use my credit cards Im not poor just smart. The only other store that does layaway is Kmart. Maybe there business will increase.

I think it is an absolutely horrible idea to get rid of layaway. Like everyone has said, for the people that do not have credit cards and high interests rates, layaway is a life saver to them. I think it will be in worst interest to do away with layaway...

I think its rediculious that they are doing away with the layaway plan especially when you want to purchase items such as computors or televisions or any other items that are costly.Now I'm thinking on doing my shoping at Target, K-Mart,Best Buy,or circiut City where I know that I have that option of layaway. And not to mention that I thought that Wal-Mart was a family friendly franchise that catered to the consumers needs. I don't own credit cards or checks so I buy with cash and and I would like to shop whrer I know I have the option of the lawaway plan.