Extra! Extra! Read all about it!!
I just got off the phone with our friend Paul from I Heart The Mart. He’s pretty tight with the peeps at Walmart, and he has confirmed this…
Any item you put on layaway right now at Walmart can be price matched and paid for on Black Friday!
WOW! Talk about one stop shopping, this is Fabuless news! Be sure to read over the Walmart Ad match Guarantee and maybe even print a copy to take with you and refer to at the store. You can also view our Black Friday deals comparison chart to give you an idea of which stores have the best deals on items like electronics, toys, small appliances and more!
OK! So this is what you do…
Walmart Christmas Layaway Overview…
Available nationwide Sept. 16 through Dec. 14, layaway at Walmart will give families 90 days to shop, pay and stretch their paychecks further this holiday season.
Layaway features at Walmart include:
- An expanded list of eligible categories, including small home appliances and select sporting goods such as basketball goals, trampolines and large exercise equipment. Customers can also use layaway for a broad selection of electronics, toys and jewelry.
- Early layaway access for shoppers who like their local Walmart store on Facebook. Customers simply need to sign up on their local Walmart Facebook page to be able to start their layaway on Sept. 14.
Here are a few of the changes from last year:
Individual items must be priced $15 or more, and the total layaway purchase must be at least $50. If the order is cancelled or not paid in full, the open fee is not refunded; however, no additional cancellation fee will be charged. Layaway open fees and refunds may vary by state.
View our Black Friday Deals Comparison Chart.
Read more about Walmart’s Layaway Details.
Print Walmart’s Ad Match Guarantee.
View the Walmart Black Friday Ad.
Thanks again I Heart The Mart for the info!
You can Download a PDF, or view it in it’s own page!
A HUGE thanks to Debt Free Spending for creating and maintaining this list!
About Cathy of Fabulessly Frugal
It all began on October 8th, 2008. Cathy and Monica started this coupon blog to help friends and family learn about their new money saving hobby couponing! Since then they have taught thousands of women (and men) 
What about items that are only a certain price for an hour?
It has to be during the offer period in the ad.
the only problem with this is layaway is closed at 5 pm on Thursday when some of the deals start so you cant get the prices
The Walmart deals aren’t for a set amount of time, they just start at different times. Since you’ll have the exact item in layaway, then you’ll have the item and can get the price.
I called and talked to several Walmart’s in the area and they said this is a no go. Did you talk to any of the managers? If so, who and what store.
same here. they treated me really crappy and acted like i was stupid when i mentioned this. they said they need proof of an email from corporate before they’ll even think of honoring this
I thought this idea was great because I am disabled and never get to take advantage of the deals because I can not stand in long lines or sit in my wheelchair for long periods of time. I called my area Walmart to confirm the layaway concept and they said that the layaway will be closed all day Thursday & Friday. So, this will not work. The manager did say that if I am in the line between the guarattee hours that I will get one of the three items. Ya, thanks Walmart!!
Can you lay away items on line?
Layaway is in stores only through December 14th
That’s awesome! I really want the $89 wii, but didn’t want to leave Thanksgiving dinner to be there at 8pm. This way, hopefully I can just pay for it on Friday and get the great price.
I am just curious? What is the benefit of layaway and why do people use it?
People use it when they can’t afford to purchase the item(s) in one trip. If, for example, you can’t afford to buy your kids Christmas presents in December because it will be too financially taxing, you can put them on layaway in July and make payments on them until it’s paid off. It’s better than using a credit card.
Or, you can hid the gifts if you have “Curious” kids
Because the store keeps them for you!
Unless it is the exact same item, and most likely it will not be, it won’t work. I was a Walmart manager for 5 yrs. A large percentage, the majority even, of Black Friday items are not regular store items. They are specials that are different in some way, have a bonus item, or an item that is not normally carried. I think it is great if you find an item they carry year round that will be going on sale, but I have never seen that happen before.
You’re correct, it has to be the exact item.
Yes, I went there just now to but the Fuhu Nabi 2 Tablet on layaway, but it’s not a “regular” item, and they won’t have them available until Thursday night earliest.
See ours HAS the Nabi2 I PUT it on layaway over a month ago! And my walmart is telling me I cant come take it out fri morn and pay it off at BF price, that they wont have layaway open till monday.
That’s what mine told me. They aren’t opening layaway up until after all the black friday deals are over.
The walmart layaway ad states excluding Black Friday. You might want to make sure it is open before you give out this information.
http://news.walmart.com/news-archive/2012/08/20/christmas-layaway-is-back-better-at-walmart
I’m not seeing anywhere on that page where it says it excludes Black Friday. Paul from I Heart the Mart was on the phone with corporate today and they told him this information, which he relayed to me and on his website. http://www.iheartthemart.com/2012/11/14/walmart-black-friday-deals-2012-get-black-friday-price-deals-right-now/
It’s says it at the bottom of the image to the right on the ad.
maybe it means you can’t open a layaway that day but u can still price match what is already on layaway? Wow. How confusing will this be!
I have called over 20 local Walmarts in Illinois and they said that the Layaway Department will be closed on Black Friday.
Yes, do you know if the item needs to be price matched at the exact times indicated in the ad, or just on those 2 days?? (following up with the first 2 comments)
I’d like to know this too.
If it is a competitor and they have prices only for a certain block of hours, you’d need to price match during those hours.
Note that the Walmart ad doesn’t have odd times that they end (they just start at odd times). The prices are good “while supplies last”. So as long as you have the item, you’ll be able to get the price any time that day.
Hi!!! do you know if the black friday ads will be in stores or just we can see it on internet? thank you!! Im interest in one tv in sears is cheaper that walmart and I want to put the tv in layaway in walmart and take black friday ad from sears for price match.
So far it’s just online that I’ve seen. The ads will be in the Thursday newspaper.
yes, this is very, very important to get it right, please, if anyone sees a problem with the scenario above (e.g., as the former WalMart mgr has alluded to), please let us know.
this is huge because it will enable me to spend Tday with the family instead of standing out in the cold somewhere!
Walmart has their ad online (and we have info here: http://www.fabulesslyfrugal.com/black-friday-ad). You’ll want to be sure the item you put on layaway matches the one in the ad.
oh, one other question … so you put it on layaway and pay for the balance on Black Friday, but do you get the product/item then? I am guessing not because most of those items will be long gone!
I was just at our walmart yesterday and asked this exact question…I was told that since I handed them my item to put it on layaway then that it was “held” in the back for me and that it won’t be put out for buyers on Black Friday. If I was to go in on Black Friday, and pay it off, I can pick up my items right then. Hope that makes sense?!
heather did you put the item in layaway? if so they have to hold it for you with your name on it. did you pay regular price or black friday price? layaway is closed on black friday so don’t know how this will even be possible.
My understanding of layaway is that they hold the actual item for you. Right here it says that if your account is cancelled, your item(s) will be returned to inventory.
http://www.walmart.com/cservice/contextual_help_popup.gsp?modId=1097364
I found out a couple days ago from someone in layaway..but he said that you put the exact item on layaway, the price will automatically drop to the sales prices on black Friday then when I pick it up I pay the adjusted price. They even said I will receive a text notification if something I put on layaway decreases in price. So I said…so I don’t have to be here black Friday to pick it up I can pay my balance in Dec and allnia good and they said yes. Then I called 3 other walmarts and discussed the same thing and they all confirmed what the first person told me. Not sure if it varies state to state as to when it needs rk be paid or not..
Oh that would be good news seeing as how I have items on layaway already and this price drop wasn’t explained to me. Fingers crossed! Although, I will say when I bought items for Back to School and the prices dropped, I was able to get at the lower price too.
I just was at walmart and asked them about the layaway stuff and they said the barcodes are different for the black friday items. They said it would not work and you would be charged the same price even if it is the same item. Hope to get some clarification on this so I can save some hassle on black friday.
I am all for figuring out a way to win in all ways but I would seriously never risk getting the things I want at the sale prices that are only good for a few hours on a hope that walmart will have their crap together on already the most insane day. Im betting they will know nothing about it, they will try to say you can’t price match on layaway, you will probably have to pay it off then return it then buy again at the door buster price or the price match. Which would be a giant hassle but would ensure you got the item. I think this is really great in theory but walmart has to much history of not knowing what is going on and they need weeks to get something like this right.
my family is celebrating thanksgiving on Saturday, that way everybody has the day off, there is no issue with shopping thurs and fri and everybody has the day after off too…..I don’t let the calender dictate what we can and cannot do:-)
the way this coul dbe used as a big advantage is for price matching, the majority of items that are black friday deals are different even if they look the same, we bought sony cameras there last year and they were identicle in every way even the bow everything but the doorbuster ones had one number different in the sku, this is how walmart avoids having to price match on very expensive electronics. the sku from best buy will almost never match at walmart even though we all know they are the same.
Anyways, if you are getting items at walmart to match to say targets black friday ad then those exact items are already on the floor and so you could put them all on layaway and then have them adjust the price on black friday. I remember lines of 100 people or more when they used to allow layaway on black friday so this just sounds like a recipie for disaster
I just contacted several of my local Walmarts and they said layaway will be be closed all day on Black Friday.
Correct, you cannot put anything on layaway on Black Friday, but you can pick up Layaway anytime your store is open.
the layaway is closed during black friday, so how would we get the layaway out or even get the price match? also walmart doesn’t match their own prices, only other stores so don’t think this will work, but sure hope i am wrong. help.
I also just called my local Walmart here in Michigan and they said that Walmart will close at 6pm on Thrusday and be closed all of Black Friday until Saturday morning to avoid this exact thing. The items will not price match. She also said another reason for that is that the UPC’s on all of the Black Friday items are not the same because these items are brought in and specially stocked just for black Friday for just that reason as well.
I would suggest that people call a couple of their local Walmarts, ask someone in the layaway dept otherwise you may get the wrong answer. If you can get a consistent answer like I did then that is what I would go with. I put the lg blu ray player on layaway but I will still be at Walmart during the sale because the sylvania portable dual DVD screen thingies are different from what they have now to what they will be during blitz so I will be at Walmart anyways…plus there are kids toys specific to the sale that they don’t have in the store
I, along with many other bloggers, have been in communication with Paul, who is in communication with the Walmart people… he’ll be asking them these questions today. One thing that was pointed out, maybe you can’t put things on layaway on BF, but you CAN pick items up? Personally, I’m just going to do all of my shopping online (well, I’ll go to Fred Meyer just because it’s a tradition for my daughter and me).
if the layaway is closed you cannot pick up items on black friday either. walmart layaway is always closed on black friday.
From what I understand about Layaway, is you can only put things on layaway when it’s open, but you can pick up and pay for layaway whenever the store is open.
For those that are calling the store, get on the phone with the people at the layaway desk.
Tried to do this today and was told BFmerchandise has different SKUs so they WILL NOT honor it. Let’s face it, if I camped out to get a great deal to find that all are gone because of layaway I would be peeved. This will not work. Thanks for spreading rumors and wasting my gas driving to Walmart.
All the merchandise will NOT be gone just because people put it on layaway…pallets of merchandise specifically shown in the black Friday ad are shipped and wrapped up until the sale begins. And the person that you talked to about the sku being diff is wrong…some items are different not all. You wouldn’t have wasted gas if you had taken the above advice and called first…duh.
You are so wise. I should have contacted you prior. Perhaps you can enlighten us on pallets since you seem to know so much.
A pallet is a wooden….shelf you can call it I guess it holds all the items like 20 wii consoles..the merch is wrapped in plastic and when the clock strikes 5am or in this case 8pm…everyone goes nuts and tears through the plastic to grab a wii before they are all gone. You can expect they will only have a limited number of door crasher deals like the wii. At least that is what it is like at a Walmart super center since its open 24 hrs people crowd around the pallet waiting to tear open the plastic and grab the wii.
I sense sarcasm in your message about me being wise…but anytime you go to a retail store you may see a pallet with boxes stacked while the associate stocks the shelves.
Personally I think a little more research should have been done before posting this “recipe for disaster”. The way you guys worded this it made it sound like Walmart was backing this up. Sadly not the case. My boyfriend went down today to put some stuff on layaway only to find out that layaway will not be open; therefore items cannot be gotten for the Black Friday price. And yes, I DO agree with Nocando; you made it sound official, therefore I understand this person’s frustration in driving down there only to see the deal is dead in the water.
Lynn, it seems we are getting mixed signals. I personally had a phone conversation with Paul from I Heart The Mart, who has a personal relationship with the Director of Communications and Community Relations at Walmart. She gave him that information and asked him to share it! So he did, with me, and several other bloggers. (http://www.iheartthemart.com/2012/11/14/walmart-black-friday-deals-2012-get-black-friday-price-deals-right-now/). You will see on the Walmart facebook page that they are saying Layaway is closed until 9am Friday. So it sounds like this varies depending on the store you go to. We thought we had it right from the source. As we receive more official clarification, we’ll let you know. In the mean time, no need to shoot the messenger!
Cathy, you are absolutely right and my apologies. It was rather frustrating and I vented inappropriately:( Thank you for clarifying.
Have you ever tried reaching anyone on the phone at Wal-Mart before? Good luck with that.
I just talked to our local store and they said they aren’t price matching any Black Friday ads AND layaway is closed on Black Friday because of this- I also goggled and called a few other stores in different parts of the country and got the same answer (just so I knew it wasn’t a local problem). What I am figuring is that Wal-Mart is hoping to spread this rumor so people go put the items they desperately want on lay-away now- don’t go stand in line at other stores so they don’t get the items they want- and then they’re stuck paying Wal-Mart full price for the item- which people will do because they figure they don’t have any other options. Fab Frugal- it appears as if your source may not have the right scoop!
if they do i will buy it and return every single item. it is the principal of the matter.
I contacted the manager of the local WalMart store. I wanted to put an I-Pad on layaway then pick it up Thanksgiving night. It’s the same every day price, except you get a $75 WalMart gift card as a bonus when purchased during the hour sale. She said Layaway is not open during the one hour sale, so therefore I couldn’t complete my purchase. Sadly, I’ll go stand in line…I wonder if it would help to have Paul from I Heart the Mart contact my WalMart?
This is a quote from walmarts Facebook page to clear up questions and confusion:
“Our ad match guarantee will also be in effect on Black Friday. This allows our customers to match the price of any local competitor’s printed ad for an identical product right at the cash register. The printed ad must be brought into the store, and be in effect at the time of purchase.
If you have an item on Layaway and would like to receive the reduced price during our Black Friday sale the item(s) would need to be deleted from the Layaway account and added back to receive the event price (or price matched whichever is lower). Keep in mind layaway will be closed until 9am on Friday. Layaway items in Event 3 that begins at 5am on Black Friday 11/23/12 will be the only items eligible and the adjustment must be made in our Layaway department on 11/23/12.”
This clarifies so much! Thank you! So ONLY items that start at 5am can be put on layaway and then adjusted.
You can only price match items you already have on layaway (and must pay it off to get the price). Your not able to put those items on layaway at that time.
I dont see this post, can you get a link
Here is the info that Walmart is putting on their facebook page about this: https://www.facebook.com/walmart/posts/10151303601634236?comment_id=25909063&offset=0&total_comments=1298 and https://www.facebook.com/walmart/posts/10151303601634236?comment_id=25909153&offset=0&total_comments=1298
Read more at http://fabulesslyfrugal.com/2012/11/start-your-black-friday-shopping-at-walmart-now-layaway-and-price-matching.html#UUgcUfAqxEy78zML.99
Here is the info that Walmart is putting on their facebook page about this: https://www.facebook.com/walmart/posts/10151303601634236?comment_id=25909063&offset=0&total_comments=1298 and https://www.facebook.com/walmart/posts/10151303601634236?comment_id=25909153&offset=0&total_comments=1298
We went to Wal Mart to ask about this and it is a no go according to the store manager. The items in the ad – even those they normally carry – will have a different SKU for Black Friday so if you put an item in layaway now, you will still pay regular price even if you pick it up on Black Friday.