Layaway Plans

In summer 2018, Anthropologie and Urban Outfitters announced a new layaway system. It’s online-only, but signing up allows customers to take an item home and pay in installments with no interest. It’s a partnership with Afterpay, a service that lets users split a purchase into four equal payments.

Since you get to take the merchandise home before it’s fully paid off, this is not a true, traditional layaway system at Anthropologie and Urban Outfitters or any of the other merchants that offer Afterpay. Rather, it’s more like a “bill me later” system with installments like you’d see perhaps on eBay or a home shopping channel such as QVC. Unlike with a credit card, however, no interest will be charged.

So what’s the fine print? Purchases need to total between $35 and $1000. When checking out online, select “Afterpay” and (this is key) provide a credit card, debit card or gift card. You’ll need to make the initial payment immediately and three installment payments will be deducted automatically every two weeks. If for some reason you miss a payment, a $8 fee will be added, up to 25 percent of the total order amount, so be sure that your card hasn’t expired and has enough funds accessible.

Afterpay can be used on clothing, accessories (including jewelry), beauty products, home decor, furniture, photography supplies, and anything else sold by Anthropologie and Urban Outfitters.

The Afterpay system was launched in Australia in 2015. Other retailers accepting Afterpay payments include: DSW, Reformation, Ray-Ban, Steve Madden, Forever 21, Free People, Sunglass Hut, Third Love, Avenue, True Religion, and Skechers.