Sears Layaway
Sears, Roebuck and Co., which owns Kmart, also offers layaway at its stores, promoting the plan as “Shop Now, Pay Later.”
The company announced that starting Nov. 14, 2008, it would be bringing back its layaway program due to customer demand and the current economic climate, as well as the “tremendous” response to Kmart’s layaway plan. The down payment at Sears is $15 or 20 percent of the purchase price, whichever is greater.
The return of layaway was initially promoted for Christmas shopping, but on Jan. 15, 2009, Sears announced that due to the popularity of layaway during the 2008 holiday season (customers told them the program “saved Christmas”), it would be reinstating its layaway program year-round. Items must be picked up within 90 days.
Excluded are: home electronics, home appliances, cell phones, personal computers, gift cards, magazines, live plants, photo studio portraits, “Doorbuster” and early-open sale items, chemicals and anything flammable. During the holiday season, items must be picked up by Dec. 23. There’s a cancellation fee of $10. The nonrefundable service fee is $5, except in Maryland, where it’s $1. (Summer 2010 update: Sears’ rules apparently no longer exclude personal computers. Shoppers are advised to look online and see if the product they want has a little “layaway” icon next to it.)
A press release stated: “Merchandise from a wide selection of Craftsman tools and storage, lawn & garden equipment, and patio furniture for spring and summer, as well as the well-respected Lands’ End and Ty Pennington lines, along with jewelry and fitness equipment to fit every need are eligible for layaway.”
The program is available in Sears Full Line, Sears Hardware, Sears Grands and Sears Essential Stores, but not Automotive, Dealer, Outlet Stores, or on Sears.com.
Since 1989, only a few Sears stores had accepted items for layaway, and only on fine jewelry, reported the Associated Press. The existing fine jewelry layaway program, which has terms of six to 12 months, will remain in place.
Good Afternoon,
I’m looking to buy some exercise equipment and would like to know if I can do that using layaway.
Hi. Most Sears offer layaway, and that should include exercise equipment. However, you could call your local Sears to be sure.
Does Sears have game consoles, like Playstation 3? And if so, are they available for layaway?
Most Sears locations carry Playstation, Xbox, Wii and Nintendo DS consoles. They should be able to be placed on layaway, because Sears doesn’t list them among the “unauthorized merchandise” that can’t be put on layaway, such as: clearance, automotive, Doorbusters, optical center products, alcohol, flammable products, food, plants, chemicals, photos, magazines and cell phones.
Am I reading correct on that no computers can be put on lay-away, including laptops? What about tvs? Is this the same for kmart as well?
Thanks!
While Sears listed personal computers among the excluded items in its press release in the 2009 holiday season, the current Sears information sheet about layaway exclusions doesn’t mention computers. You should be able to shop online and see if the product you want has the little “layaway” icon next to it. Here’s a link to Sears’ layaway factsheet: http://c.sears.com/ue/home/SearsFastFacts_v2.pdf And it looks like Kmart’s rules are almost exactly the same: http://c.kmart.com/ue/home/KmartLayawayQuickFacts_v2.pdf
Actually, I see now that Kmart lists personal computers among the excluded items. TVs and many other electronics should be fine, though. I searched for a bit on both the Sears and Kmart sites and didn’t find any laptop or desktop computers listed as “eligible for layaway.” I did see the Wii on there, though. You might just need to call your local store, or the toll-free number.
Was wondering if Sears offered layaway on washers, dryers, & refrigerators? Also, where is the layaway icon located if it is available for a particular item?
According to Sears’ official layaway policy, appliances should be included. The layaway icon is a little blue dollar sign on a notepad, displayed to the right of the online listing, but if you don’t see it next to an item on which layaway should be allowed, ask Sears staff.
i WOULD LIKE TO PUT AN REFRGERTER IN LAYAWAY
My son placed a toolbox on layaway and when he made his second payment the clerk keyed in the figure off by 1 penny (the store told him this, it is not something he is thinking happened). At any rate they cancelled his layaway because of it because it looked like he did not make a payment. Ten weeks have gone by and he is completely getting the runaround about getting his money back which is around $179. Does anyone have any ideas? The store is saying it is an accounts payable problems and states they can do nothing for him at all but give him a number which he calls and someone did actually acknowledge that he was due a refund and it was mailed out but in trying to find out further now that he has never received the refund he is being told there is no information in the computer about him. He has all his original paperwork and receipts. Thank you.
According to there T.V. Adds washers dryers etc are up for lay a way. Call your local store they should tell you.
Does anyone know if Land’s End merchandise IN store is able to be put on layaway?
Can wedding ring sets be put on layaway?
Sears’ layaway policy does not seem to exclude jewelry: http://c.sears.com/ue/home/SearsFastFacts_v2.pdf
can a 32″ flat screen tv be put on layaway?
I assume all clothing is ok for layaway. What about video games and a xbox360 console? Thank you
Clothing, TVs and video consoles should all be part of the layaway program, as they are not listed as included in the Sears policy here: http://c.sears.com/ue/home/SearsFastFacts_v2.pdf