Layaway Programs Come Back Into Style

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Walmarts decision hurt lowerclass people only. It was the only way people considered lower class coud buy large purchases like big tvs and christma for their kids without choosing to go without. I don't think it was a business decision. The chains were built on the very backs of the people that removing layaway affected.

lowerclassed w/class of NC 11:22AM November 01, 2008

In response to Sherry, I remember when it was Woolworth that was the one big store in the area. They pushed a lot of the local stores out, and you had no choice. Then it was K-Mart. I still remember hearing the blue light specials. K-mart was followed by Sears.

Same thing, different year, different name. Be it Walmart or Target or whomever, if you are not willing to adapt to the changing times, you will not survive. And don't worry, someone will grow up to beat up on Walmart.

Victor Cruz-Saez of NC 9:50PM October 31, 2008

they still have a layaway option in the jewelry dept.... but that's about it....

-underpaid, overworked, and unappreciated associate

of PA 1:47PM October 31, 2008

I agree that Walmart should bring it back, and should not have gotten rid of it 2 years ago, but give them SOME credit for offering it far longer than most retailers, who dropped layaway decades ago. Walmart knows who their customer base is (low-to-working class). And most of these low-end retailers aren't offering layaway out of the goodness of their hearts--they know that some of their customers are "unbanked" and don't have credit cards. (Hard to believe, and it's not a huge number, but there are people without credit cards even today).

AMY V BUTTERY of MI 12:17PM October 30, 2008

WAL-MART...Bring back lay away for me, Jane Public

Dawn of NH 11:59AM October 30, 2008

Yes walmart should do the right thing and bring back layaway. But since they have gotten to be such business giants they have forgotten just on whose backs they became these giants. They no longer are concerned about the poorer joe and jane public. They have pushed other business out of the area so many are left with few options for shopping. With high gas prices many of us can not drive 15 miles or more to a target or k mart. When you do go into the belly of the beast that is walmart do not ask for help, more likely than not they will look at you as if you were a alien with two heads. They want you to buy gift cards, sure they do, given that not all gift cards are used right away. They get put aside for later, usually for after the holidays for the sales. A lot are misplaced or put in a drawer and forgotten and that means free money for walmart. We did it to ourselves, we let the excitement of a new store push out the mom and pop stores that took care of their customers. If walmart were the same store that they were when they were sucking us in it would be different. Walmart kept up the mask while they wooed us and once we were commited they let the mask fall revealing just another unfeeling corporate giant thriving on the backs of people who can afford it the least.

sherry of LA 10:31AM October 30, 2008

walmart should have never canceled layaway! it helped low income people to get by with low incomes and low raise jobs to pay off the things they put in layaway for their needs. we need wal-mart layaway back! please get the communities together to get the votes on bringing layaway back at walmart!

maria of KS 6:21PM October 29, 2008

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