They say lay-a-way is coming back

I have asked a couple of times in the last 10 years if the store had a lay a way policy.
One was for a Huscvarna Brush saw and once on a Milwaukee Mag drill.
Both times I was told no.
I remember Gambles Store in my home town had a pretty good lay a way. I even bought shotgun shells as a kid that way. Put some money down in mid August so you were pretty well assured of having some shells come grouse or duck hunting time in Sept. Pay a little every week.
I guess these days if you want to make time payments on something you just use plastic.
Instant gratification, EZ credit has gotten this nation in serious trouble
Report on the wires tonight says that several of the big merchants are bringing it back. Walmart, Kmart etc.
I called the gun store after reading that and asked about their lay a way policy.
They have it.
But... Only 60 days.
I had forgotten there was a back end on the deal.
I still like the idea of lay a way though.
Deferred gratification.
You got 60 days to mull over your purchase and decide if you really needed it. Generally they'll let you switch to a different guage of shot gun shells or TV or toaster if you have a change of heart. But they wont give you your money back. That's how it works IIRC.
Fair enough.
I still like it.

Understand several major retailers here in west Michigan do have a lay-away plan. Interestingly some Christmas Angels have been going in and anominously paying off people's bills on children's things. MERRY CHRISTMAS!

I like it too. Back when we had 4 little children to buy Christmas and school clothes for layaway made a big difference to us. Your right about the delayed gratification, my Wife would save up for family vacations, things she wanted for the house and big items like a washing machine or set of car tires in seperate envelopes she kept in her purse, she would not spend a dime of that money on anything else.

In these tight economic times the major retailers are waking up to one certainty. Many folks don't have money to spare and can't get credit. They don't have it, they can't spend it. Kinda' sort of an old fashion concept of doing business. By the time they have the money saved up, the impulse to buy what was intended has passed. Result..NO SALE. So if Walmart won't do a layaway and K-mart will do layway, who gets the customer loyalty? The one who works with the customer. Result? a loyal customer. Give me a reason to do business with you and treat me good, and I'll continue to do business with you even in better times. Old fashion concept that works!

Ultra i do not like it as a merchant it is book keeping and a drawn out process. I would rather get paid for the item and it leaves. There are some things that it does work for.

Was in WW the other day and the lay away line was half way down one wall. Seems they do and it is popular.

Mark.

Yeah, I wondered about that.
From a merchant's perspective it would be a lot more book work.

Ultra: Look at it this way if you buy a tv and pay $30 I am holding it and its out of inventory. You pay me $10 more than leave for florida The tv is harder to sell in FEB And i have this issue of holding your money etc (state laws vary) I use it for larger purchacces (like your brushcutter) For hay some people may pay me 1/2 one week half the next on say a $1000 purchace. It would get difficult on say a $25 purchace if you paid $5 week. My opinion.