What are your opinions on layaway?

I never thought about that....yeah I definitely feel a bit of regret if I spend all that money at once even if I can afford it.

 

Layaway is soooooo much better than using a credit card. Really. I'm a grownup person, have a budget, do NOT have a problem figuring out how much disposable (ie available for non-essentials) income I will have each month. So doing layaway is awesome. I've done them w/companies & w/2nd hand sellers. No problems at all (except the one I had over a payment due when I was on a 5-day trip w/o a computer LOL - I had to email a confirmation)
If people are worried about making a $100 or so payment on a doll each month, I have to wonder. I flat out refused to even consider getting into totally expensive hobbies when I was raising my kids. Now I'm in a position where I can afford to do what I want. Which is NOT to spend hundreds of $$$ all at once when I can budget them out over time

 

Personally, I prefer to save up and pay in full. I look forward to setting aside money for my next purchase, and it helps me focus on that one doll I truly want, instead of making impulse buys

 

I would totally use layaway as an option, as I think it's a great way to reserve a doll (especially if it's limited edition or something) then slowly pay it off.

I personally prefer to pay it all off at once then just silently/eagerly wait for it to arrive XD I prefer the fact that it's already been paid off and I just have to wait for it to arrive OuO

 

Personally I would prefer to use credit if that were an option, just so I can pay all of it on time and build my credit score. I see that as a win-win situation, I get a doll now and I build credit. Waiting too long isn't really my thing, so I guess layaway isn't for me. Not to mention that I'm sort of paranoid that if I don't make the payments for layaway long enough, I'll lose my money and stuff.

 

I haven't used it yet, but I think layaway is a really good option. I'm planning on putting my next doll's body on layaway when I get the money for the down payment. IMO not only does it allow for flexibility of paying for the doll and budgeting, it also makes the wait time less nerve-racking because if the worst-case scenario happens and the company shuts down or disappears before you've received your doll, then you're just out the payments you made and not the complete cost of the doll. Granted it's still not the ideal situation, but it's better to be out $2-300 than $7-800.

 

I'm really starting to dislike layaway and I prefer to pay in full. I think it may be because I'm impatient, and maybe because with the length of time involved, my heart wavers and I start to have doubts and second thoughts about the purchase. Layaway makes it seem like I can afford a doll, but which in reality I really can't. If I don't have enough money to pay for the doll and be done with it and move on to the excitement of waiting for it to arrive in the mail--then I probably shouldn't be engaging in that transaction in the first place. I'm sick of selling dolls after buying them on layaway and be disappointed after waiting so long for them to arrive. It just pulls all the fun out of collecting for me.

 

I always have several layaways going on at once. Works better for me. I figure it all into my budget.

 

I think that, theoretically, it's a great idea.

That said, however, it's not for me.

Mostly because I can easily see winding up with a handful of dolls on layaway at any given time(especially with the rate that Soom releases limited editions, for instance), that I can see it as just being more chaotic and a moneysink for me, personally, than anything else.

At least if I stick to my "one at a time" philosophy, it's less likely for me to be backlogged and ankle-deep in debt paying off a handful of dolls all at once. ^^;;

 

It may sound scary, but sometimes it's just the only way to get the doll in a timely manner, so it's actually pretty helpful. (in my experience)

 

Layaway is my secret lover :U It helps SO SO MUCH.

 

You're not charged any interest if you pay off your credit-card bill all at once. I am pretty sure the entire credit-card industry hates my guts for that reason, because they can't make a penny off me. I'm a save-up-then-spend type, rather than a nickel-and-dime-payoff type. Doll settled, bill paid, no hanging-overhead layaway obligations to follow you around the rest of the year.

 

I like layaway when it's an option. The place I use most only orders dolls from certain companies at certain times, so it doesn't matter how fast I pay, full or layaway, I'm always going to have to wait. So I use layaway and when the doll is in, checked and ready to go, they let me know, I pay off the layaway in full and stalk the post man.
It's much easier to spread out over the budget as a regular bill payment that way. I think the longest I had to wait was 5 months, and not paying it in full gave me that money for other doll things.
After one purchase in full on my credit card that was dragged out and dragged out and excuses directly from a company, I got scared badly and decided to do layaway on debit when ever possible, rather than risk losing money all at once. I got the doll, but man, I was psycho by the time "we'll ship next week" became three months total. But the company I deal with almost exclusively now just shocked me by getting my doll in like 28 days after he was ordered, !

 

I use layaway constantly! We are on good terms I love Soom dolls but most of the time I don't have the money around to pay all of that in one go, especially within a two week ordering period. Also at this point I have a lot of dolls who are works in progress, so I don't mind anymore having to wait a while longer than others to get my doll. With Soom though most of the time they send the dolls at about the time the layaway finishes so it makes no difference.

I will say though that it gets kind of overwhelming when two or three things are on layaway at once. I don't like owing money on things and it gives me incentive to pay off the dolls more quickly, which I almost always do. Both my husband and I have secure jobs as well, so I'm not worried about my finances in general barring unexpected disaster^^ I think if I weren't certain of my income I would be more hesitant about layaway.

 

I adore layaway! My Sooms wouldn't be mine without it! And some of my crew wouldn't be mine either. So far, all smoothly too!

 

I'd say that, like any other credit mean, lawaway as it's pros and cons that you should always consider.

Pros:
1) Generally, there is no interest on layaway
2) If you can't pay everything, generally, you can partly get back your money

Con:
1) You don't get what is bought until full payment is done
2) Generally, you can't enter events while using layaway

Now, it's up to you to choose, but don't forget that lawaway IS credit. Personally, I'd prefer to save for dolls than buying them credit.

 

This. As long as you are certain you can pay off each layaway, go for it. Obviously, things happen, so it's always helpful to have extra money set aside for emergencies so you don't have to worry about not being able to pay off the doll. I haven't used layaway yet, but I definitely consider it to be something I will likely use in the future. Just be smart about it and there won't be any problems.

 

I think that layaway is great for certain people and it's definitely a nice option to have but I personally would never use it, if I can't afford something at a certain time then I can't afford it. I prefer to save up the full cost of the item and then pay for it all at once (no matter what the item is and/or how much it costs), I like paying cash upfront for everything I buy so that I know exactly how much I'm spending.

 

I prefer to save up and pay fully when I'm buying a doll but sometimes, especially with some of the limited edition dolls, I might not have the funds and that's when layaway comes handy. I usually pay it within a month so it doesn't feel like I've been waiting for too long to get the doll.
When I first started the hobby, there were barely any companies that accepted layaway and I'm glad that changed throughout the years.

 

While I can see the advantages to putting a doll on layaway, such as reserving a limited doll when you don't immediately have the cash for complete payment, I tend to be more comfortable with saving up the money and then paying in full. That way, if any unexpected expenses pop up, I won't have to choose between missing a doll payment, and inconveniencing the seller, or paying for, say, repairs to my house or an unforeseen medical bill. Also, if I'm saving up for a doll, and I suddenly need the money for something more important, I'll have the option of diverting doll funds without inconveniencing anyone except for myself.

This does mean I often miss out on very expensive time- or quantity-limited dolls, but that is a 'sacrifice' I make for my own peace of mind. However, it also limits impulse buys, because I can very easily imagine myself thinking, "I have to buy so-and-so right now because so-and-so company might not release this sculpt again", and I'll end up with every limited edition doll that catches my eye. Then it'll be a slippery slope to sleeping on my couch because my bedroom has been taken over by dolls.

However, I've also sold a doll set on layaway myself, and the buyer was lovely and friendly and prompt in her payments, so obviously there's no reason not to do layaway if you're fairly certain of your ability to make the payments, and you're comfortable with it.

Also, this is something that I wasn't aware of: some companies make your dolls before the layaway is finished? That's pretty nice.



*edit:

I don't think that can be counted as a definite advantage to layaway payments, because what if you've paid off all your payments, and then the company, for whatever reason, still does not send your doll? Then you're still out the full cost of the doll with nothing in return, and you're in the same position as those who've made their payments in full. I think a better way of avoiding this situation (because $200-300 is still a lot of money) is to make sure the company you're purchasing from has a good business reputation and is unlikely to close without first fulfilling all their orders and/or simply disappear completely. While I realize there have been seemingly reputable companies in the past who have simply shut down without sending out all their orders, you'd at least be making a more informed and, hopefully, less risky choice.

I'm not saying this as a pro or con for either layaway or full payment, but just that if you're hesitant about making a full payment to a doll company because you worry about whether they will fulfill their promise, then you should be equally cautious about making payment in installments.

When I put items up for sale that's over $150, I offer a layaway with an initial non-refundable deposit and a minimum payment of $50-$100 per month, depending on the item. The deposit is to make sure the buyer is serious, and that they won't decide mid-way through that they saw another doll that they want more and therefore want their money back.

It happens sometimes, and while it's not too big of an inconvenience to relist on the MP, if you have a series of buyers flake out, it can become a serious hindrance to selling your doll. For me, it's less of needing the money than to make sure prospective buyers don't make the decision impulsively and/or irresponsibly. I will generally agree to delay a payment if there's been an emergency, and the buyer was upfront about it and told me in a timely manner, because that speaks to me as a buyer being responsible despite unfortunate circumstances.

If a buyer truly backs out of a layaway, though, whether because they changed their mind or if the money is truly needed for an important real life expense, I will refund all subsequent payments (excepting the deposit), because the deposit is meant to be a deterrent to this type of thing, but if the deterrent didn't work in this case, I don't really feel comfortable keeping the rest of the money. I'm not trying to make extra money out of a layaway, just to make sure the payments do come through.