Sears and Kmart Online Layaway Program

Oct. 16, 2018 update: With the Oct. 16 bankruptcy filing by Sears Corp., people may be wondering about items they may have on layaway at Sears or Kmart locations. While the company states that layaway will “continue as normal,” it might be a good idea to consider paying off and picking up any items you have on layaway. Also, see if your local store is one of those slated for closure in the company’s latest cost-saving move.

Oct. 3, 2012 update: Sears is now offering to ship items placed on layaway directly to customers’ homes, starting Nov. 7, 2012. Also, consumers can set items aside in the store’s layaway department and those, once paid off, can also be shipped directly from the store to home.

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On Oct. 6, 2009, during what it dubbed “Kmart National Layaway Week,” the retailer announced that it has extended its layaway program and will now offer online layaway as well, starting Oct. 9. Fellow Sears Holding Company store Sears is offering a similar plan.

Shoppers can choose products from Kmart’s Web site and put them on layaway, picking them up at their local Kmart store once they are paid off. Also, people who place items on layaway while in a Kmart store can now manage their layaway payments online if they choose. Similar, customers who opted for online layaway can make their payments in person at a Kmart store.

Online Layaway Contract Management features include: a Layaway Availability Grid to help confirm which items are available; a layaway calculator to figure out the layaway payment schedule and down payment details; a Layaway Manager function for making payments and viewing other contract details; and contract management e-mails to reminds shoppers when payments are due.

“We have an entire generation of customers that grew up shopping online,” Mark Snyder, Kmart’s chief marketing officer, stated in a press release. “Launching online layaway at Kmart engages these customers by allowing them to spread their payments out over time and better plan their spending.”

As with layaway initiated in the store, customers pay a $5 “initiation fee” plus a down payment of $15 or 10 percent (whichever is greater) at the start of the contract. Online payments can be made via credit card (Sears credit card, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express), debit card, Kmart Gift Card or Kmart Cash Card.

On June 19, 2012, the company announced SearsVacations.com, which, starting July 31, will allow travelers to choose from about 100 travel packages to put on layaway. Prices start at $399 and include hotels, flights, cruises and rental cars. The service has been licensed to Arizona-based International Cruise and Excursions, Inc. Customers will also be able to use Sears credit cards for their vacations rather than layaway. Read more about travel layaway at LayawayPlans.net.

18 Responses to “Sears and Kmart Online Layaway Program”

  1. robin guyton says:

    does sears have layaway, for washer and dryers?

  2. admin says:

    Hi. Yes, you should be able to place washers and dryers on layaway. These appliances are not listed among Sears’ excluded items: http://c.sears.com/ue/home/SearsFastFacts_v2.pdf

  3. Tennille says:

    Hello, Is the layaway program only for in-store pickup or does Sears also ship the merchandise once the layaway is paid off?

  4. admin says:

    Based on the information providing during the checkout process on the Sears website, it seems that customers, unfortunately, are required to have the merchandise shipped to a Sears store and pick it up there.

  5. Michelle says:

    Yes, can you put a dish washer on lay away?

  6. Dolores says:

    If you do layaway online and have to pick the products up at the store but what if there is no Kmart where you live but there is tons of Sears places. Do they ship the Kmart layaway to the Sears once it’s paid off?

  7. Yvonne says:

    My question is the same as Dolores’. There is no Kmart here. If I shop online and put the merchandise in layaway, will either Kmart or Sears shipped it to me? Or can I pick it up at Sears?

  8. admin says:

    The layaway policies for both Sears and Kmart say “the merchandise must be available at the local store for pickup in order to be placed on layaway.” I don’t think they allow it or will ship, but you could try asking the management at your local store (Kmart if you don’t have Sears; Sears if you don’t have Kmart.)

  9. Bonnie says:

    Can you put baby stuff on layaway? I’m asking cause I’m expecting a baby girl in Dec 2010 and haven’t done any shopping.

  10. Dee says:

    Yes you can put baby stuff on layaway. I just put a bassinet/playarea on layaway.

  11. I live on the Connecticut/Massachusetts border. I plan on doing on line lay-away and pick-up at the Webster K-mart. I would like to know if I make my last payment on December 22 or December 15th. what will be the last truck delivery date??

  12. miriam says:

    can you put bed linenss in layaway in sears

  13. Erick says:

    i just put a new tv on layaway at a sears in the next city to mine i was wondering if i could get that tv deliverd to my house after i pay it off at he store thx

  14. harry body says:

    I need to put the whole electronics department on layaway…what’s the first step? Ay-oh…while my guitar gently weeps…

  15. lorraine says:

    so if I put a washer on layaway I have to pick it up It cant be delivered? because I need help to connect it.

  16. lorraine says:

    I need a washer and dryer but have to put them on layaway one at a time my question is does the the exstended protection plan have to be purchased with each appliance or can I purchase it for both later

  17. leonard says:

    I have done two lay aways and payed them off timly and each time I had to wait to recevie them you go to the store and they have a machine to tell you when you can pick up your lay away that was payed off on this date and you come back on that date and it repets same masage again so you as for help and get told its ben here for three weeks now I put another lay on and same thing machine said to come back on another date so you wait again and you go back and ask for help and are told to come back next thurday it might come in
    it ok to have to wait to pick up lay away but three weeks later. its getting old sears may want to order part and stuff earlyer. we are told to pay on time or loss whats on lay away but wait to get it three to four week?

  18. andrew says:

    Can I make a payment at any kmart/sears, not finally payment, at any kmart/sears? I just want to make a cash payment, but there are closer stores then the original store I purchased it from. Ty

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