# What is the point of a "layaway" purchase at a store? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 9, 2018, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-a-layaway-purchase-at-a-store/825835 "2018-12-09T04:00:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2018, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-a-layaway-purchase-at-a-store/825835/61 "2018-12-13T13:13:58Z")
There used to be coin-op TVs in airports as well. And I can see how it would work there or in a hotel, but not how it would work for one you had at home. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2018, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-a-layaway-purchase-at-a-store/825835/62 "2018-12-13T13:38:41Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > There used to be coin-op TVs in airports as well. And I can see how it would work there or in a hotel, but not how it would work for one you had at home. Heck, the UK even used to have coin-operated heating! You had to put a coin into a gas meter, which would then provide a half-hours’s worth of gas to the heater in the room. (I’ve never been to the UK, but I’ve read about this in books. Seems to be mostly related to times before & shortly after WWII. Don’t know if is still in use there.) ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2018, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-a-layaway-purchase-at-a-store/825835/63 "2018-12-13T17:19:32Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Since when do banks pay interest on savings anymore? As far as I am concerned, \<.25% is no interest. My savings account pays 2% interest right now. If you’re getting less than a quarter percent, find a better bank. ---
**Author:** ![Disgruntled\_Penguin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@Disgruntled\_Penguin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Disgruntled_Penguin)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2018, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-a-layaway-purchase-at-a-store/825835/64 "2018-12-13T18:18:32Z")
I used to work at a place that did layaways and have heard most of the reasons stated above though the idea never appealed to me but the true answer seems to be you don’t get celebrities to pay your bill if you pay up front. Now there’s a reason I can get behind. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2018, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-a-layaway-purchase-at-a-store/825835/65 "2018-12-13T18:45:15Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > There used to be coin-op TVs in airports as well. And I can see how it would work there or in a hotel, but not how it would work for one you had at home. The only time I’ve ever been through the Greyhound station in DC was 2001 and they still had coin-op TVs there. No idea if they’ve finally gotten rid of them in the last 17 years, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they are still there. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2018, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-a-layaway-purchase-at-a-store/825835/66 "2018-12-13T19:09:06Z")
> [@asterion](#): > > The only time I’ve ever been through the Greyhound station in DC was 2001 and they still had coin-op TVs there. No idea if they’ve finally gotten rid of them in the last 17 years, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they are still there. While traveling cross country in the 70s, those coin op TVs had the most comfortable seating. People (including me) would sit/sleep in the seat until security/LEO roused them, then you’d feed a quarter in and doze off again. No free dozing! ---
**Author:** ![Thylacine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thylacine/32/1143_2.png) [@Thylacine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thylacine)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2018, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-a-layaway-purchase-at-a-store/825835/67 "2018-12-15T00:00:13Z")
Our financial year ends with June and the sales start around the same time, lay-by is possibly most popular with the big toy sales, low prices, free storage until December and it doesn’t seem that much over 6 months. I used it before credit cards if I didn’t have the funds needed when something I wanted went on sale. Now I just buy it and pay next week via plastic but for many that still isn’t an option. Why pay more next week when you can claim it now? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-a-layaway-purchase-at-a-store/825835.md?page=3)