Layaway

[emerald40]

This was brought up by another poster asking if a seller could offer layaway.  I believe most told him no, it was not possible to do so.

But I have seen it offered in the fine diamond jewelry categories, and here is one example of how a seller is choosing to handle it.

Layaway Plan

Choose which plan you wish to use from the three below:

1. I just want to delay my payment". Delayed payment (buy it now but take up to two weeks to pay)

2. One Month Plan (payments divided into 2 parts and invoices sent every two weeks.)

3. Two Month Plan (payments divided into 4 parts and invoices sent every two weeks.)

We will send you invoices directly to your paypal account. No interest is ever charged and you may pay off as early as you like.

Please note that once you've placed an item on lay-a-way, it is not refundable.

[thenobletuckylife]

I fully agree Emerald...not saying It isn't a nice option...it is. I love children, even those that are not mind and I have extended myself more than once because of this, just wanted to keep the focus on why many times folks look to use it.

I actually support a workable layaway plane...yet my cautious side says folks that already can not get credit may learn to rely on this too much for things they may be able to live without rather than becoming enslaved to another source of payment system.

Those rent to own places sure take advantage of poor folk...or do they...usually I see mega tv's/computers and stereo systems being carted out the door..not washing machines.

Mr C

[castlemagicmemories]

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@missjen831 wrote:

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@castlemagicmemories wrote:

Do they still have Christmas Clubs?

I thought they did away with them in the 80's.  Seriously.

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They didn't get rid of them in the 80s. My mom contributed to hers through the 90s. And I think into the early 2000s. She retired in 2003. We bank at the same credit union her Christmas club was through and I honestly don't know if it still exists! 

Thank you, had no idea they went on that long!

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[thenobletuckylife]

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@missjen831 wrote:

Hey Mr C! I had never heard of that either but I actually witnessed it at Walmart last Christmas! At my local store the layaway counter is at the the "site to store pickup" counter and I had gone in to pick up a site to store order and while I was waiting for my order to be brought out, a woman was putting a cart full of household goods on layaway! I was actually shocked, I didn't think you could put zip block bags and 409 on layaway LOL! She had a few food items IIRC (liked boxed goods), some cleaning supplies and a blanket and I think a few shirts. But as far as what I said about the sale price, I think people for it on electronics and toys that go on sale around Black Friday, they put it on layaway to get the sale price & pay for it when they have the money 🙂

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Wow...now that's a new one on me...guess I finally heard of a situation.

Mr C

[emerald40]

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@thenobletuckylife wrote:

I fully agree Emerald...not saying It isn't a nice option...it is. I love children, even those that are not mind and I have extended myself more than once because of this, just wanted to keep the focus on why many times folks look to use it.

I actually support a workable layaway plane...yet my cautious side says folks that already can not get credit may learn to rely on this too much for things they may be able to live without rather than becoming enslaved to another source of payment system.

Those rent to own places sure take advantage of poor folk...or do they...usually I see mega tv's/computers and stereo systems being carted out the door..not washing machines.

Mr C

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Rent to own stores are sleaze bags.

Same for check cashing sites.

And imo so is layaway.

People would not use any of them if they did not have to.

But when you have kids, you try to make the holiday the best you can.

And for those that do not even have the few dollars to do that thank G-d there is toys for tots in my State.

[missjen831]

All this talk of layway reminded me of a story my MIL recently shared.....she used layaway when her kids were, well kids and my FIL was in the army and one year my MIL's brother came out to Germany where they were stationed for a few years and got a job at the commissary in the layway dept and my MIL had put a bunch of toys on layway for christmas and her brother called her up 1 day and told her to come pick up her layaway even though she hadn't paid for it.....he just let her take it all without paying for it and no he didn't pay for it either! He knew his job was about to end and he was going back home to the states so he wouldn't get in trouble. Neither of them to this day see anything wrong with what they did SMDH.

[ebbyisme]

All the talk of layaways and Christmas Clubs reminded me of a message I received .... the buyer LOVED one of my items and wondered if I would pull it until she had the money. I had no problem waiting a few days, and suggested she buy the item and I would wait for payment. I used to have people do that all the time. I didn't mind waiting until Payday or the first of the month or whatever, and not one of those people failed to pay on the day they had promised.  All my UIDs were always people I didn't hear from. Anyway, after 5 or 6 messages back and forth ..... she claimed she'd have the money when her Christmas club was paid, sometime around the last week in November and the first week in December......

she asked in June............

Don't know if I ever told this story.... it was so unbelievable, I wasn't 100% sure if it wasn't a boardie messing with me...

[Anonymous]

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@tev4all wrote:

@Anonymous

So, there is no official policy concerning sellers offering buyers a lay a way plan? 

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Hi @tev4all, layaway plans by the seller would fall under our Presale Policy. Since we require items to be shipped within 30 days of the date of purchase, these would not be allowed. Buyers looking for more time to pay would be encouraged to look into financing options through PayPal credit or their financial institutions.

[castlemagicmemories]

Thank you so much, Trinton, for your help with this!

You are the most tagged blue and so I know you are very busy, but you always take care of things.  You are appreciated!

[emerald40]

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@Anonymous wrote:

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@tev4all wrote:

@Anonymous

So, there is no official policy concerning sellers offering buyers a lay a way plan? 

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Hi @tev4all, layaway plans by the seller would fall under our Presale Policy. Since we require items to be shipped within 30 days of the date of purchase, these would not be allowed. Buyers looking for more time to pay would be encouraged to look into financing options through PayPal credit or their financial institutions.

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Yet there are over 4,000 listings offering them.

[Anonymous]

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@castlemagicmemories wrote:

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@emerald40 wrote:

It might be the only approved way, but it is limited to those who qualify.

Not everyone can get a standard credit card, but you can start with a debit card, and then if all goes well maybe a credit card with a very low limit.

If paypal credit advances you the money and you immediately get the item, you could just disappear leaving them with the outstanding debt.  

But with layaway, it is easy for a buyer to qualify.  He makes payments and when it is paid off (not before) he gets his item.  And if he does not, the seller keeps the item and all payments made thus far.

And I agree with the other poster, Trinton never said if it was allowed or not.

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@emerald40 wrote:

It might be the only approved way, but it is limited to those who qualify.

Not everyone can get a standard credit card, but you can start with a debit card, and then if all goes well maybe a credit card with a very low limit.

If paypal credit advances you the money and you immediately get the item, you could just disappear leaving them with the outstanding debt.  

But with layaway, it is easy for a buyer to qualify.  He makes payments and when it is paid off (not before) he gets his item.  And if he does not, the seller keeps the item and all payments made thus far.

And I agree with the other poster, Trinton never said if it was allowed or not.

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That's true, not in so many words, but he did recommend PP Credit if anyone was looking for a layaway type situation.

@Anonymous

Surely hate to bother you again but there is some confusion as to whether or not Ebay does allow layaway.  While your post recommended PP Credit, it did not specify one way or the other as to whether Ebay allows layaway by sellers.

Could you address this?  Thank you!!

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@castlemagicmemories so sorry that I didn't address this directly in my first post! I've replied since with more details and a link to our Policy Page. I completely missed addressing the main issue and apologize for any added confusion this caused here.

[castlemagicmemories]

@Anonymous

That's ok!  This is kind of a hot buttom issue recently; I'm just grateful you came back.  This definitive answer is very helpful.  

I was afraid that you might not come back...this can be a hard room to handle!

Anyway, your answer was so smooth earlier I did not realize that it missed that point; no worries!  Sorry to have had to tag you again to this, but thank you so much!

[southern*sweet*tea]

**general reply**

There's nothing wrong with layaway to buy something. There's nothing wrong with saving money in a coffee can or saving it in a bank account, and then using that money to buy something. All accomplish the same goal - to STAY OUT OF DEBT.  I applaud anyone who does that.

People should never be admonished for trying to stay out of debt. 

[tev4all]

@Anonymous

 Wouldn't  IT be prudent for ebay to rearch out to listers offering a layaway plan and helping them to conform to the policy?

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?LH_TitleDesc=1&_from=R40&_from=R40&_sacat=0&LH_BIN=1&LH_PrefLoc=1&_nkw=lay+away&_blrs=spell_check

  Wouldn't this help keep some buyers from becoming unhappy and not returning?

Layaway payment programs

Layaway payments and similar payment programs aren't allowed because the item will not generally be shipped to the buyer within 30 days of the purchase date.

So, as a seller I can't agree to have a buyer wait to pay for an item at an agreed upon date? 

Under this assumption, ebay should require all buyers to pay upon agreeing to purchase, no matter the circumstance.  

[emerald40]

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@tev4all wrote:

@Anonymous

 Wouldn't  IT be prudent for ebay to rearch out to listers offering a layaway plan and helping them to conform to the policy?

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?LH_TitleDesc=1&_from=R40&_from=R40&_sacat=0&LH_BIN=1&LH_PrefLoc=1&_nkw=lay+away&_blrs=spell_check

  Wouldn't this help keep some buyers from becoming unhappy and not returning?

Layaway payment programs

Layaway payments and similar payment programs aren't allowed because the item will not generally be shipped to the buyer within 30 days of the purchase date.

So, as a seller I can't agree to have a buyer wait to pay for an item at an agreed upon date? 

Under this assumption, ebay should require all buyers to pay upon agreeing to purchase, no matter the circumstance.  

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I agree.  Especially at this time of the year.

It could be a big bonus for buyers and consequently ebay if they knew they had other options.

[Anonymous]

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@emerald40 wrote:

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@tev4all wrote:

@Anonymous

 Wouldn't  IT be prudent for ebay to rearch out to listers offering a layaway plan and helping them to conform to the policy?

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?LH_TitleDesc=1&_from=R40&_from=R40&_sacat=0&LH_BIN=1&LH_PrefLoc=1&_nkw=lay+away&_blrs=spell_check

  Wouldn't this help keep some buyers from becoming unhappy and not returning?

Layaway payment programs

Layaway payments and similar payment programs aren't allowed because the item will not generally be shipped to the buyer within 30 days of the purchase date.

So, as a seller I can't agree to have a buyer wait to pay for an item at an agreed upon date? 

Under this assumption, ebay should require all buyers to pay upon agreeing to purchase, no matter the circumstance.  

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I agree.  Especially at this time of the year.

It could be a big bonus for buyers and consequently ebay if they knew they had other options.

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Hi @tev4all, absolutely am going to get this escalated up to our investigative teams for review. With the holidays upcoming, we could benefit from a sweep regarding this topic. Thanks to everyone for bringing this to my attention!