Stores That Still Offer Layaway, vs Buy Now Pay Later
Fleet Farm runs holiday layaway from September 20 to December 7, 2026 with a $150 minimum; deal sites report in-store layaway at Burlington.
By Olivia HarperContributing writer. Policy checked .
On this page
Layaway terms change from season to season. This page sums up, in our own words, what we could confirm on October 26, 2026. Fleet Farm's terms come from its own layaway page. Burlington's own pages could not be read, so its terms here are as reported by two deal sites; confirm them at a store before you rely on them.
How layaway works
With layaway, the store sets the item aside, you pay part of the price up front and the rest in installments, and you take the item home only once it is fully paid. Connecticut's Department of Consumer Protection says a layaway agreement should spell out the price, a description of the items, the payments due, and what you forfeit if you cancel or fail to pay and pick up by the end of the plan.
Stores with layaway
| Store | Where | Terms |
|---|---|---|
| Fleet Farm | All stores, in store only | September 20 to December 7, 2026; $150 minimum; 20% deposit; no opening fee |
| Burlington | In store only (as reported) | Deposit of $10 or 20%, whichever is greater; $5 service fee; $10 cancellation fee (as reported) |
Fleet Farm
Fleet Farm calls its layaway a seasonal in-store program. You start at the Customer Service Counter, and every payment and the pickup happen at the store where you opened the layaway. The final payment and pickup are due by December 7, 2026. Layaway not picked up by then costs a $30 cancellation fee, the goods go back on the sales floor, and refunds over $30 are mailed as a Fleet Farm gift card.
Fleet Farm excludes tires and auto services, food and other consumables for people or animals, Christmas decor, special orders, gift cards, tickets, licenses, tobacco, lottery, and UTVs, ATVs and go-karts.
Burlington
Hip2Save (October 2025) and Passionate Penny Pincher (November 2025) both describe Burlington layaway as an in-store option requested at the register, with the deposit, service fee and cancellation fee in the table above. Passionate Penny Pincher adds that the service fee is not refunded. Ask your store for this season's last layaway date.
Layaway vs buy now pay later
Buy now pay later (BNPL) plans work the other way around: you get the item right away and pay it off afterward.
| Layaway | Buy now pay later | |
|---|---|---|
| When you get the item | After the last payment | Right away |
| What it is | A store holding plan | A short-term loan |
| Main costs | Service or cancellation fees, if any | Fees for late or missed payments |
| Risk | Losing fees if you cancel | Spending more than planned, juggling several loans |
New York City's consumer protection department notes that BNPL loans can avoid interest and fees when paid in full and on time, that late payments can hurt a credit score while on-time payments may not help it, and that returns can be harder to sort out.
Before you sign up
- Ask for the terms in writing: deposit, payment dates, last pickup day.
- Ask what you lose if you cancel or miss the deadline.
- Check which items are excluded and whether payments must be made at the same store.
Sources
Layaway Program, Fleet Farm; Burlington layaway, Passionate Penny Pincher; Stores with layaway, Hip2Save; Layaway, Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection; Buy Now, Pay Later Tips, NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection. Checked October 26, 2026.