Walmart Black Friday and Layaway Clarifications

Every year at this time there are always so many Walmart Black Friday questions and a lot of misinformation out about different things.  Let’s see if we can clarify a few things.

UPDATE: Ok, not so much an update as a reminder. Remember that while you have to go to the service desk to put things on layaway or to get them out of layaway you can make payments on your layaway at any register.

Can I put something on Layaway on Black Friday?  The Customer Service desk will be closed until 9AM on Friday morning so the Event 1 or 2 items, including the “door-buster” One-Hour-Guarantee items are not eligible for Layaway at that price.  If any Event 3 item is still in stock at 9AM, then you can put that on layaway at the Black Friday price.  Here’s more info on Walmart’s Layaway policy this year.

Can I Price Match another store on Black Friday?  Yes but keep in mind that the layaway desk will not be open until 9AM so if another store’s sale ends before that time, you can’t get that item.  Although this hasn’t been specifically addressed, I would assume any “door-buster” items at another store will not be able to be PM’d because those would typically be unavailable at 9AM.  However if you don’t want to put it on layaway and just want to do a straight PM at the register, feel free just make sure it is an exact match.

Can I layaway something now that will be on sale at another store (or at Walmart) on Black Friday, then go in and “re-do” my layaway to get it at the new lower price?  Yes, but only if the new, lower price will be available after 9AM on Friday.  In short, if you want one of those great TV deals that are on the Event 2 section of the Walmart Black Friday Ad and are planning to put it on layaway now and get it for the lower price on Black Friday, (to ensure it is in stock) fuhgeddaboudit.  The Event 1 and 2 pricing will be unavailable at 9AM.

A few other things to keep in mind, usually the really great deals on Black Friday are something that will only be in the store on Black Friday.  For instance there is an Emerson 50” HDTV that is in the Event 3 pricing for $298.  So does that mean you can go to the store today, put that TV on Layaway, then re-do your layaway on Black Friday to get the lower price?  No.  Why?  Because your Walmart probably doesn’t have it in stock.  (At least mine didn’t and it’s not available on their website)

Also, there is $5 fee you pay to put an item on layaway that you get back in a Walmart giftcard when you complete your layaway agreement.  If you put something in layaway and then re-do it, you lose the $5 fee and have to pay another $5 to start the new layaway agreement so keep that in mind.  Just make sure you are saving at least $5 with the new layaway agreement.

In short, if you were looking to use the layaway system to somehow “game the system” on Black Friday, make darn sure you know what you are doing because the majority of Black Friday deals will not be available for that.

If you have any more questions, please leave them below and I’ll answer as best I can.

Thank you to the fine people at the Online Walmart Customer Service Desk for clarification on a few points.

Here is a list of the 2012 Walmart Black Friday Deals you can look over.

:follow: