What are your opinions on layaway?

I love having the option of layaway. I find it particularily useful if a limited edition comes out and you don't have the full amount up front. Also even for non LE it is easier to pay off smaller amounts.

 

It's nice having the option, even if it isn't an option I've used yet. Most of the time I'd rather save the money then purchase the doll outright rather than have to keep up with payments. That's a personal preference though, and I wouldn't say I'd never do layaway at a future date.

 

I agree with this. If a gotta-have-it doll was released and I didn't have the funds straightaway, I can't say I wouldn't try layaway, but honestly I'm scared something would get "lost in translation" with the foreign companies, I suppose. I feel better paying up front. That's probably just me though.

 

I agree with Kavarr.

 

I think a lot of people share your concern. Customer service in this hobby is generally good, but the language barrier is always a concern. It is one of the reasons I hesitate over layaway.

The biggest reason for me though is the fear of forgetfulness. I've never forgotten a payment in my life be it layaway or paying a loan or whatever, but I wouldn't want my doll layaway to be the first!

 

When I bought my first doll from BBB (Bout a month and half ago now), I paid for it in full, up front. However, when I invested in my Alice, I discovered that mintoncard has a layaway option, and I nearly squee-ed. I have it set to auto-draft from my credit card, which gives me enough time, theoretiacally, to pay down the card in the meantime. The only time I've used layaway and had a concerning experience was when I pre-ordered a non-bjd online, and I'm not even sure if they've drafted the first payment yet... >.>;;

 

I prefer layaway because I treat it like I do my credit card bill - pay that sucker down asap and never carry a balance. Having a week between payments lets my paycheck breathe enough where it's not as big of a hit as doing it in one lump sum. I can understand why it'd be more painful for someone who actually goes through with an extended layaway though, because circumstances can change rather quickly with weeks or even months between payments on either end.

 

I personally pay in full. Layaway sounds great and all but I like saving up for what I really, really want. It for me makes getting/purchasing the doll more rewarding and fulfilling. Because I know that I worked really hard to save up, and it helped me manage my money and savings. (That's my personal opinion on myself and how it makes me feel about myself. Not about anyone else though.) I have been really tempted to use Layaway though! (:

 

I think in this hobby, layaway can be a godsend, but only if you plan your budget wisely and are able to commit to it. Usually for planned dolls, I'd save up a dolly fund for them and pay in full. But I prefer to use layaway for bigger purchases and in situations where I might not have enough funds to pay for everything immediately, for example, an unexpected limited release or event. It'd allow me to get a doll that I might otherwise find it hard to given my limited salary every month. But even if I pay by layaway, I try to pay it off earlier if I could, so if the standard layaway plan is 3-4 months, I'd usually try to complete it within 1-2 months. I don't really like to have an outstanding debt for too long, plus I also want to get my dolls earlier LOL.

 

I like the layaway option and have used it to purchase three dolls. As the wait time is usually 3 to four months for the dolls, I choose a short layaway so I only pay a small amount each month, even though I have the money already saved. That way I don't have to pay all of it upfront. I guess it's like a psychological thing -why pay all of it upfront and still have to wait for the doll when I can pay a little each month and not feel like I'm out a big amount of cash?

 

My very first doll (Soom Kyrie) was bought from Soom via layaway. If it wasn't for layaway option, at the time I don't think I would have been able to get her, and thus into bjds to begin with. I never had a problem with anything being lost-in-translation, though I definitely understand the concern.

Now, I still enjoy layaway, for a couple different reasons.
With personal purchases (stuff for sale on the 2nd hand market for instance) I would -prefer- to pay upfront, but sometimes, if the doll is out of my monthly doll budget price range, layaway makes obtaining that doll a lot easier, and paying for it in pieces makes it a lot lighter on the wallet (I have a harder time dropping $1k on a doll at once, but break it up into a couple smaller payments, and I don't feel so self-conscious about spending so much on a doll xD).

On the other hand, with companies, I LOVE the layaway option. For the most part, it's going to take about as much time making and processing the doll as it would be paying for it. So, with layaway, I get to slowly pay off the doll, and if I get a notice saying the doll is ready to be shipped, I can usually pay it off quicker. In the same instance though, having the option for layaway also makes it plausible for me to buy multiple dolls from the same company at once as well. For instance, right now Fairyland is having a limited tan skin thing going on, so I'm planning on getting 3 dolls plus a few extras. There's no way I'd be able to pay for it all at once (one doll, sure), but figuring it would take about 4 months for them to process, I may as well get more dolls for just a little bit more a month, and not feel so bad about spending so much money ^_^

 

Layaway is my lifesavior. Or precisely for my account - it's esier for me to pay smaller amounts each month than all the money at once.

 

Layaway is a lifesaver, I agree with MatsChristiana. I currently have a Dollmore Lusion Elf Dahlia, which I couldn't have gotten without layaway, and have a Dollmore Trinity Elysia on layaway now.

 

I honestly think now adays I'm never gonna buy another doll unless I can do a layaway option unless I somehow have the money up front or can work it off. It's how my laptop was paid off as was my doll.

 

I think it depends on the person. If you cannot save money to save your life, then layaway is good, because you know you are slowly paying. I personally, would rather pay one full payment, then I know it's paid and I don't have to wait as long.

 

I personally really like the layaway option. It gives me more time to budget and save money for other things. Its more of a convinence.

 

I think layaway is fantastic. It's optional, so no-one has to use it if they prefer to save up. But it's brilliant for limited dolls and also for first time buyers. Just knowing that your doll is actually ordered, it can make the wait of saving up easier, I think. I haven't used it for my first doll, but if I decided to buy him a companion next year, I probably would.

The only downfall, I guess, is that you can't foresee the future, especially if you take out a long layaway. Financial situations can change, so you need to be pretty sure that you can keep up with the payments, even if something unexpected occurs.

 

I think that layaway is an amazing idea, due to the fact that there are dolls which I want to have but can not fully afford right away, and if there is a limited doll that I find, I would take the opportunity. Though, if I were to do layaway, I'd probably put in 50-75% of it for the first payment and spread out the rest of the payments as it corresponds with my monthly extra savings.

 

I love layaway so long as I know there will be enough income to pay it off. I bought one little darling on layaway thanks to a kind seller here, and I will be paying off my second layaway shortly (early!) once I get paid for some work I had done recently.

I would rather pay in full upfront, but my wishlist dollies hardly ever come up for sale. Fortunately my wishlist is short so it's easy to separate the "oh pretty!" dolls from the "oh wishlist NEED!" dolls who might require layaway.

 

I personally love the layaway option. I have experience with Denverdoll and just amazed at how easy they are to work with. If it weren't for layaways then I would have missed out on limited collections and it gives me time to save up to pay them off