Does Walmart Have Layaway? [Is It Year-Round, Process & More]

There are tons of items in Walmart stores. In fact, just about any Walmart Supercenter in the states can stock up on up to 120,000 different products. And with Walmart gaining traction in the e-commerce market as well, customers can expect to find a bunch of different products in-store and on the website.

Aside from regular groceries and produce, Walmart also sells more expensive items like televisions, electronics, cell phones, and more. And for most people, paying for these items in full and up-front is hard to do and largely impractical.

So, what options do you have if you can’t pay the full price at Walmart?

If you’re eyeing something at your local Walmart Supercenter that’s a bit out of your price range right now, you may be wondering if Walmart has a layaway plan. That way, you can start paying for the item slowly and receive it once it’s paid in full.

And in this article, we’ll be going through all the details of Walmart’s layaway plan, when you can avail of it, and some other important details to remember if you sign up for the Walmart layaway plan.

Read on to learn more.

Does Walmart Have A Layaway Plan?

Yes, as of 2023, Walmart does offer layaway plans for customers. However, this is only available as the holiday season approaches, so you can’t avail of it year-round. Typically, Walmart’s layaway season begins on August 28 and ends on December 14.

So, you can make your first payment in late August, and you have a couple of months to make the subsequent payments before receiving the product. However, keep in mind that this is only available for purchases above $50.

While the majority of Walmart’s layaway plans are seasonal, there may be some locations willing to offer it year-round, but only for jewelry items. If you’re eyeing a particular necklace, ring, or pendant at Walmart, you can ask the jeweler if they offer year-round layaways in that specific store.

Another option available to customers looking for year-round layaway is Affirm. This is a financing company directly partnered with Walmart and allows you to pay for your purchases through installments year-round, but more on that later.

Does Walmart Have Online Layaway?

Currently, you cannot use layaway for online purchases at Walmart. Walmart’s layaway plans are only available from August 28 to December 14 and are only applicable for in-store purchases.

If you’re looking to buy something through installment on the Walmart website, your ideal alternative is Affirm.

Through Affirm financing, you can avail of 3, 6, and 12-month installment plans for a wide variety of items. On top of that, this is a readily available payment method on the Walmart website, so it’s straightforward for customers to sign up and avail themselves of the plan.

Does Walmart Have Layaway All-Year-Round?

No. As mentioned earlier, Walmart only offers layaway plans during certain months of the year. More specifically, Walmart’s layaway plans are only available during the holiday season and end on December 14.

So, customers looking for layaway plans when it isn’t in season may want to consider using Affirm instead. As noted earlier, this is a company that directly partnered with Walmart and offers financing and installment payments for many Walmart customers.

To use Affirm when buying items in-store, all you have to do is go on the website and apply for financing.

On the website, you will be asked for basic information such as name, age, address, and more. On top of that, before Affirm approves any transaction or financing, they have to do a credit check. Unlike other options like PayPal Pay in 4, Affirm reviews their clients for a good credit score before allowing them to avail of their services.

Some customers report that their Affirm financing was approved with relatively low credit scores between 600 and 630. However, we recommend boosting your credit score to at least 640 or higher to increase your chances of getting approved through Affirm as well as receiving good interest rates.

Unlike the layaway plans, Affirm is available to customers all throughout the year. So, whether you’re buying a television in January or a cool new speaker for your next summer party, you can use Affirm for financing at Walmart.

Can You Put Cell Phones On Layaway At Walmart?

When Walmart’s layaway season opens in August, you can go to the website to view all the items available for layaway. Usually, the items available for layaway at Walmart exclude all wireless cell phones.

So, if you were looking to get a cell phone at Walmart on a layaway plan, you might be better off using Affirm instead since the layaway plan isn’t applicable to wireless cellphones at Walmart.

However, some of the items that are available for layaway during the season at Walmart are electronics without service plans, furniture, appliances, toys, jewelry, auto accessories, and even certain sporting goods.

Again, if Walmart’s layaway season has started, then you can go to the Walmart website to view the products available for layaway. But until the season starts, keep in mind that Walmart won’t publish the list.

So, if you’re looking for installment plans for Walmart items when it isn’t in season, you can use Affirm instead, which offers fairly decent installment plans at relatively low-interest rates.

How Does Walmart Layaway Work?

Walmart makes it easy for customers to apply for a layaway plan. During layaway season, your local Walmart may have a dedicated layaway service desk for customers. However, you can also approach the customer service desk instead if they don’t.

Remember, Walmart layaway only applies to in-store purchases. So, to avail of the plan, you need to go to your local Walmart Supercenter, look for the item you want to purchase, and then bring it to the layaway or customer service desk.

To start the plan, you need to leave a downpayment. Usually, Walmart will ask for a downpayment of at least $10 or 10% of the item’s total price. And once you make the initial payment, you can leave the store and drop by again to make additional payments throughout the season.

You can go to any registry to make payments, but you have to make sure you go to the same Walmart. With Walmart’s layaway, there’s no opening fee, and you can even sign up to receive notifications about your payments.

Things You Need To Know About Walmart Layaway

It’s important to stay knowledgeable on the terms and features of specific layaway plans before signing up. That way, you don’t have to get surprised by additional fees or cancellations because you broke the terms of the agreement.

So, here are some things you have to remember when signing up for the Walmart layaway plan;

You Have To Pay Before the Deadline

While you can make payments any time at any registry as long as you’re at the same Walmart, keep in mind that the season is only open from August 28 to December 14. So, you have to make sure that you make the final payment on or before December 14.

Failure to do this will result in your account getting canceled as you broke the terms of the agreement.

Cancellations

Walmart has a fairly loose cancellation policy on layaway items. If you choose to cancel, you will receive a refund of all your payments, but you will have to leave behind the initial $10 as it’s in Walmart’s policy that customers have to pay a $10 cancelation fee.

On top of that, cancellation fees may vary per state, so read through the contract thoroughly to avoid any complications.

Age

To use the Walmart layaway plan, you have to be above 18 years of age. So, before heading to the customer service desk, make sure you have an ID to prove your age, whether you’re using the layaway plan or Affirm.

Return Policy

Items purchased under the layaway plan are still under the same return policy as most Walmart items. So, once you make the purchase, pay the final payment, and receive the item, you have 90 days to return it if you aren’t satisfied with the product.

When returning items to Walmart, make sure to bring the original receipt with you, as that is the only way you can receive a full refund. If you don’t have the original receipt, all you will receive is store credit.

Conclusion

Depending on the time of the year, customers may access a range of different layaway plans at Walmart. However, this is only active between August 28 to December 14 and doesn’t apply to all items in their store.

If you want to pay for an item through installments at Walmart when it isn’t layaway season, you can also opt for Affirm, which is a financing company that is partnered with Walmart.