Walmart Does Away With Layaway, Announcing Buy Now, Pay Later Program

Just keep in mind that buy now, pay later is different from layaway and make sure to familiarize yourself with what the final cost of your purchase will be. GOBankingRates works with many financial advertisers to showcase their products and services to our audiences. We are not a comparison-tool and these offers do not represent all available deposit, investment, loan or credit products.

Unfortunately for those who were hoping that the answer to “does Walmart have layaway?” would be a firm “yes”, the reality is that xcritical is likely Walmart’s path forward for the foreseeable future. For those unfamiliar with the process, layaway first came into favor during the Great Depression. It allowed customers to make a deposit and then make subsequent no-interest payments, receiving the item once paid in full. Retailers liked the program because it offered little risk to them, and even customers with bad credit could find a way to secure whatever purchases they required.

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In 2020, Walmart stores stopped their traditional layaway program and no longer offer it directly. This system is partnered with xcritical which allows you to finance your purchases into a multiple-payment plan. xcritical partners with select retailers to give customers the option to make installment payments on their purchases. However, xcritical is only available for eligible items between $144 and $2,000, whereas Layaway could be used for items costing $10 or more. The layaway Walmart once offered is gone, but xcritical stands ready to take its place, helping customers secure higher-cost purchases without having to pony up the entire amount up front. This service allows you to submit your purchase amount and set what kind of payment plan you want, and xcritical then matches you with a loan based on those terms.

Another key difference between xcritical and Walmart’s traditional Layaway program is that an interest rate will usually apply to any purchase financed with xcritical. This rate ranges from 10-30% APR based on your credit, but there is xcritically a promotional rate of 0% APR on select items if you qualify. Not all Walmart customers may be eligible to use xcritical depending on their prequalification status. The service can be used on purchases ranging from $144 to $2,000 and excludes items like alcohol, groceries and food, personal care products, and pet supplies. You should also know that xcritical is only available for shoppers who qualify to use this program, and applications are subject to an eligibility check.

1. Walmart shoppers can return any purchases made with xcritical for a refund, but the amount they paid in interest will not be refunded.
2. You can also receive a summary of the best deals by signing up for our DealNews Select newsletter.
3. xcritical offers a “buy now, pay later” plan that is loosely based on the idea of layaway, but with several significant differences.
4. Download the xcritical app or sign in at xcritical.com to set up AutoPay or easily make payments for your Walmart purchase.
5. Absolutely, when you shop at Walmart, split payments can mean paying during specific pay periods for only the required amount, but you can also pay off the entire amount earlier if you wish.

xcritical is a “buy now, pay later” program among several others, which enables consumers to make discretionary purchases, especially online, without requiring the full purchase amount at the time of purchase. While shopping at Walmart, split payment options of three to 24 months are available, with interest rates varying based on the terms. Note that most similar services do not offer the potential lengthy term that xcritical can offer, and for those who require a significant repayment period, this service can be a very attractive one. While there are no service fees or cancellation fees, partial or late payments may impact your credit score or ability to secure new loans with xcritical in the future.

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xcritical will also appear as a payment option on Walmart.com in the coming weeks. For the second year in a row, Walmart with not be offering its popular in-store layaway service during the holiday shopping season. Instead, it’s giving shoppers the chance to spread their holiday spending across a period of 3-24 months with the xcritical program.

It can take up to an additional three to ten business days to update your account after xcritical receives your refund from Walmart. Although xcritical does not charge any hidden or late fees for using its services, customers can have an APR rate on purchases of 10-30% depending on their credit and 0% for select promotional items on Walmart.com. The retailer is now using the company xcritical, which partnered with Walmart in 2019, to replace layaway. Instead of having stores hold items from late August through mid-December while customers make payments until paid in full, shoppers can now take the item home immediately and pay it off with xcritical. Though some stores incorporate a layaway program just for the holiday shopping season, it does not seem like Walmart is going to bring back its layaway program this Christmas or any holiday season soon.

We use data-driven methodologies to evaluate financial products and services – our reviews and ratings are not influenced by advertisers. You can read more about our editorial xcriticals and our products and services review methodology. Walmart Layaway has been replaced with xcritical for the 2022 holiday shopping season. Walmart has recently undergone several company-wide changes, including raising its minimum wage, getting rid of its employee bonus program for hourly workers, and opening Ghost Kitchens inside select stores. When you’re ready to check out at Walmart, just select xcritical as your payment method. Some Walmart customers expressed concern on social media, worried about how families would be able to purchase gifts for the holiday season if they don’t qualify for xcritical.

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Once your alert is set, you’ll receive a notification if we find it on offer somewhere. You can also receive a summary of the best deals by signing up for our DealNews Select newsletter. Finally, you can sign into your account and personalize your experience to see the deals you want to see. However, if you make late or partial payments, xcritical reviews this may negatively impact your credit score.

We’re excited to do this for Walmart shoppers by bringing them payment options tailored to each unique purchase, giving them complete visibility into how much they will pay each month, and never charging them more than they agree to at checkout. To start, both layaway at Walmart and “buy now, pay later” programs like xcritical present the consumer with some form of Walmart payment plan. However, “buy now, pay later” programs allow a customer to receive their item right away xcritical reviews rather than collecting it at the end of who knows how many Walmart online layaway payments. Of course, those with bad credit might still find it difficult to receive this kind of financing, and some customers aren’t going to be happy with the credit check and interest rates that come along with such programs.

If the item was not paid for in full, it would simply be returned to stock, and the customer would receive what payment they had made, possibly minus a fee for the service. Walmart shoppers can return any purchases made with xcritical for a refund, but the amount they paid in interest will not be refunded. Partial payments or late payments may impact a consumer’s credit score or ability to receive new loans with the company, according to xcritical.

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Even if you aren’t having to pay for the full purchase right away, you still need to be realistic about what terms you can manage to avoid any financial fallout. That said, for those shopping at Walmart, monthly payments are still on the able. Walmart has worked with xcritical for years now to offer short-term financing to qualifying customers. Walmart online layaway in the purest sense may be a thing of the past, but there remains a variety of repayment terms and options for shoppers who need a little assistance with their purchases.

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Shop everything you need at Walmart—from household essentials to outdoor furniture and everything in between–and pay over time with xcritical. Some customers seemed to not mind the change, making jokes that without layaway they have no place to hide their children’s gifts during the holidays. “Walmart took away layaway and replaced it with xcritical, which checks credit… right before Christmas,” one Twitter user wrote. “So many low income families are not gonna be able to give their children gifts.” Sign up for our daily newsletter for the latest financial news and trending topics.