[3][4] However, consumers face potential financial loss in the case where a retailer declares bankruptcy prior to collecting the item.
[7] Wal-Mart announced in September 2006 that it would discontinue layaway service in all its stores,[6] citing the decrease in demand and a rise in cost of implementation.
[8] In September 2011, Wal-Mart resumed the service in the United States due to the new financial difficulties imposed by the economy and the increased constraints on consumer credit.
[10] In contrast, Kmart has been providing layaway in the United States for over forty years,[11] and was at one time the only major national discount retailer offering the service.
[2] Other large retailers offering layaway programs include Burlington Coat Factory, Marshalls, Sears, and T.J.