Kmart Layaway
Unlike Walmart, which did away with layaway in fall 2006, Kmart, which is owned by Sears, Roebuck and Co., has embraced the concept for more than 40 years. The company is even making layaway a major part of its 2008 holiday season advertising campaign, promoted by mascot Mr. Blue Light.
The program originally re-launched with a layaway term of eight weeks, but in 2010 a 12-week option was added. Buyers must put 10 percent of the purchase price down (minimum $10 2010 update: It’s now $15), plus pay a $5 nonrefundable service fee ($10 for 12-week layaway). There is also a $10 cancellation fee assessed ($20 for 12-week) if you decide not to buy the items after all. The payment schedule is biweekly and the payments are for 25 percent of the original balance due. “Price adjustments” are limited to one per layaway term, and prices may not be changed for holiday merchandise.
As of October 2010, the terms for 8-week layaway are: $5 service fee, $10 cancellation fee, $15 or 10% down — whichever is greater. Payments are made in four installments, based on the balance due after down payment. The terms for 12-week layaway are: $10 service fee, $20 cancellation fee and $30 or 10% down. There are six payments on the 12-week plan.
Holiday decorations must be paid for or returned to the sales floor by Dec. 5. Home electronics costing more than $200 can’t be placed on layaway after Nov. 16. No new items may be placed on layaway between Dec. 12, 2008 and Jan. 2, 2009. (In future years, similar restrictions are presumed to apply.)
Some items can’t be placed on layaway, such as personal computers, food, plants, magazines, prescription drugs, cell phones and processed photos or Portrait Studio pictures. (Summer 2010 update: While Kmart’s rules still exclude personal computers, Sears does not list those products on its list of items that can’t be placed on layaway. Shoppers are advised to look online and see if the product they want has a little “layaway” icon next to it.)
You can read the Kmart layaway policy in full at the store’s Web site.
can’t find how to make layaway payments on line.
Hi. Go to http://www.kmart.com. At the lower right is a link to Layaway. It’s green. Then it will take you to another screen where the middle option is “make payments/manage my contract.” You’ll need to sign up there. You also need to have your layaway contract number handy (it’s on your receipt.)
I went to my local K-mart and was told that at this point they are only doing a normal layaway which is 8 weeks. If I ordered today I would get the item in the middle of October. The problem I have is I have 3 kids to buy for and would rather buy more stuff from 1 store and make more payments and not have to store (hide) the items for a 6+weeks. Some company needs to come up with a plan that I can buy everything at 1 time and be able to spread it out.
Jennifer
I went into K Mart yesterday and placed items for my kids Christmas. I was also told that it was eight weeks. When we arrived to the counter they informed me and my husband that it’s actually twelve weeks. We had the option to do eight but we took the twelve. If anyone is having problems with storing the stuff dont put anything on layaway until a later date. We have three kids also.
I could not fnd the link to pay my layaway payment. I think it should be easier to find the link.
Hide gifts @ a relative’s house…
Go here and click on Manage My Contract for the Kmart online layaway payment: http://www.kmart.com/shc/s/dap_10151_10104_DAP_Kmart+Layaway
I love the concept of on-line layaway at Sears and Kmart Stores, only it is extremely frustrating trying to locate the few items available for layaway. Because the site is sometimes slow this adds to the frustration. It would be nice if they had a drop-down list or default layaway option in order to easily locate those items available for layaway. Would also be nice to have the option to put items on on-line layaway and have have them shipped to your home. This would allow more items to be added to layaway and the consumer would not be restricted to items in stock at a local store.
This layaway is not set up right to make a payment online with paypal like they said I could I have sent several letter to help@customerservicekmart,com and they are just ignorring them. Now my 1st payment never could get made because the sight doesn’t work and I don’t know what is happening with my layaway. I did go to my pay pal and have a payment for kmart and they aren’t taking it. kmart could email me and tell me whats going on but I have not heard anything from anyone!! Thanks, Betsy
There has got to be somebody that works at Kmart that knows a little bit about computers. This site is sad and need a face lift. How are you guys planning to be good or with this type of set up. Hire an 8 year old to fik this probelm so this company can gather more business. Layway link?
I have tried to make a payment and I clicked on the link mentioned above but cannot find a place to pay online. What is going on?
@George
Sure, the site could be done better, but the Layaway link was easy to find.
Scroll to the bottom of the page and look at the side scrolling navigation menu. It starts with the “Shop Your Way Rewards”. You’ll see the ugly pea green Kmart Layaway icon.
Saving you the trouble of looking through that nonsense for a lousy icon, here’s the URL
http://www.kmart.com/shc/s/dap_10151_10101_DAP_Kmart+Layaway?adcell=layawayscrollbanner&adCell=W6
What if I paid off the item before the eight weeks are up, can I pick up the item early?
Yes. You can pick it up as soon as it’s fully paid for.
I could not make it back to the store in time to pay on my layaway. The layaway was put back and I was charged $30.00 for nothing. Feel like I was robbed. I will not be shopping at Kmart the rest of the season.
Can you actually place things on layaway from home on the computer or is it only that you can pay on your layaway? Shopping at home and being able to place it on layaway from home would be awesome.
debbie- oh yes you can place it on layaway online and pay it online. i did it yesterday.. it is awesome!
I wish that KMart had a 3 month plan. For example I’m trying to budget and save up money for a TV or computer and I find it hard to save cash at home without spending it. Same goes if I keep it in my bank account. If I put something on layaway and pay on it gradually then within 3 months I can own it outright. Great for those who don’t have credit cards or cards with a spending limit, also for those (like I said) who are trying to save up for something but have a hard time saving : )
Kmart does have a 12-week layaway option, but only on items over $300, and with six payments. http://www.kmart.com/shc/s/dap_10151_10104_DAP_Kmart+Layaway
DO NOT PAY WITH PAYPAL! I made my final payment on Dec 12th, it’s now Dec 19th and they still haven’t accepted the payment. I have spke to everyone under the sun and still no answers. If it’s not accepted by tomorrow, I’m cancelling the layaway, and taking my business elsewhere.
I hate this can find the icon to make my layaway payment….I think they should’ve made it easier to make a payment…..HElp!!!!!!!
did they ever except the paypal ?? i need to know so i can get my kids bikes off layaway for easter??
I put a 4 piece outdoor furniture set on layaway Thuurs. That afternoon I found the exact 6 peice set for $120.00 cheaper at Bed Bath and Beyond. The store manager in Martinez GA told me on the phone it would be a $10.00 cancellation fee. When I got to the store, he charged me $20.00 and was extreemly rude (and wrong ). I called the number on the website and made a complaint. So far nothing has been done. My family and our co workers are no longer KMART or Sears consumers.
It stinks
Please bringa Kmart back to Humble tx or Spring tx we MISS YOU OH SO MUCH i NEVER KNEW HOW MUCH I LOVED YOUR STORE UNTILL YOU TOOK IT AWAYS …..i HAVE TO DRIVE AT LEAST AN HR TO GO TO YOUR STORE PLEASE TELL ME YOU WILL COME BACK SOON….
Very frustrated at this point. My layaway payment was due on 8/31 but I’m on vacation in florida. Called my local kmart and asked if I could make my payment over the phone with my debit card. She said no but I could go to my kmart.com and pay online. I thought awesome. I tried for 30 minutes trying to locate where you go to do this. I called back to the store and asked the lady where I go, she said she wasnt sure
but she took my phone number and said she would call me back – she never did. I went back to the websight and left a help me message on the contact link. Still no one has helped
Oh, I also tried that link in the above comments and it just gives me an error message
I also tried paying a layaway online I just get that error message, come on kmart whats really going on?
I called several of my local Kmarts to make sure I could place a layaway for 12 weeks for xmas presents….I explained to them that there website said as long as I purchased over $300 i could…but they had NO IDEA what I was talking about and continued to say they will only do 8 weeks even tho the website said that the specific store I was calling would do 12 weeks!! Very Frustrating!! It would be nice to have the employees know there website to be able to help the customers out!! I will be doing my business some where else. It would have worked out perfect for christmas being that it is exactly 12 weeks until xmas is here and had planned on spending well over $500.
The layaway payment site NEVER works!!! Kmart needs a much better tech support, because the current one sucks!!!!!!