Sam's Club Chief Executive Doug McMillon (R) talks with Vice President and Regional General Manager John Furner (L) and New York City Markets Manager Mohamed Khan (C) in the toy section of the Sam's Club Store in Secaucus, New Jersey, November 25, 2008. Black Friday sales and store traffic will rise this year as U.S. consumers who delayed purchases in the past few weeks finally head to stores to take advantage of retail deals, McMillon said on Tuesday. REUTERS/Ray Stubblebine (UNITED STATES)

Reuters

Sam's Club Chief Executive Doug McMillon smiles as he tours the Sam's Club Store in Secaucus, New Jersey, November 25, 2008. Black Friday sales and store traffic will rise this year as U.S. consumers who delayed purchases in the past few weeks finally head to stores to take advantage of retail deals, McMillon said on Tuesday. REUTERS/Ray Stubblebine (UNITED STATES)

Reuters

Sam's Club Chief Executive Doug McMillon poses in the Christmas Holidays area at the Sam's Club Store in Secaucus, New Jersey, November 25, 2008. Black Friday sales and store traffic will rise this year as U.S. consumers who delayed purchases in the past few weeks finally head to stores to take advantage of retail deals, McMillon said on Tuesday. REUTERS/Ray Stubblebine (UNITED STATES)

Reuters

** FILE ** In this Nov. 12, 2008 file photo, tourist Chrissy Pike from Newfoundland, Canada, right, gathers with friends by the subway after shopping at Macy's Herald Square in New York. Shoppers from Europe and Asia who used to arrive in the U.S. with empty suitcases to hold their holiday shopping may be looking at their own finances, exchange rates and the price of airline tickets this year _ and deciding to stay home. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

AP

** FILE** In this Nov. 12, 2008 file photo, sisters from Ireland visiting New York, from left, Carol Walshe, Louise Russell and Betty Foley, are shown with another sibling, right, after shopping at the Gap. Shoppers from Europe and Asia who used to arrive in the U.S. with empty suitcases to hold their holiday shopping may be looking at their own finances, exchange rates and the price of airline tickets this year _ and deciding to stay home. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

AP

** FILE ** In this Oct. 7, 2008 file photo, Marianne Skoglund of Orebro, Sweden, coddles an armload of jelly beans while shopping with a friend at Economy Candy on the Lower East Side in New York. Shoppers from Europe and Asia who used to arrive in the U.S. with empty suitcases to hold their holiday shopping may be looking at their own finances, exchange rates and the price of airline tickets this year _ and deciding to stay home. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens, file)

AP

On Nov. 28, Nintendo will release a duo of limited-edition Nintendo DS(TM) bundles, each pairing a Nintendo DS game title with a hand-held system in a bold new color. The Mario(TM) Red Nintendo DS bundle includes a red system emblazoned with a familiar M for Mario, and a copy of New Super Mario Bros(TM). The Ice Blue Nintendo DS comes with a custom carrying case and the popular Brain Age(TM): Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day. Each bundle sells at an MSRP of $149.99. (Photo: Business Wire)

BUSINESS WIRE

On Nov. 28, Nintendo will release a duo of limited-edition Nintendo DS(TM) bundles, each pairing a Nintendo DS game title with a hand-held system in a bold new color. The Mario(TM) Red Nintendo DS bundle includes a red system emblazoned with a familiar M for Mario, and a copy of New Super Mario Bros(TM). The Ice Blue Nintendo DS comes with a custom carrying case and the popular Brain Age(TM): Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day. Each bundle sells at an MSRP of $149.99. (Photo: Business Wire)

BUSINESS WIRE

A girl plays in front of a sale sign posted at clothing store in Daly City, Calif., Monday, Nov. 24, 2008. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)

AP

A free personalization promotion is seen inside a holiday-themed store in New York's Bryant Park November 24, 2008. Facing a slew of bad economic news as the holiday shopping season approaches, small independent retailers and boutiques are adjusting strategies and inventories to attract customers' money, and lure them away from the major chains. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton (UNITED STATES)

Reuters

Sears did away with layaway nearly twenty years ago (at least for most products except fine jewelry), but now is jumping back on the bandwagon as of Sunday. Except for major appliances and home electronics (like that flat-screen you can't afford), customers will be able to put money down on an item to retrieve later, for just a low fee but no interest.

Michael Dwyer, AP

K-Mart got back on the layaway bandwagon in mid-October, and has been touting its revival in ads that encourage shoppers to come and shop early for holiday wares.

Mark Humphrey, AP

Monroe Milstein, founder, CEO and president of Burlington Coat Factory, has long had a layaway program, which is 30 days for regular merchandise and 90 days for Baby Depot items. There is a $5.00 service fee.

Daniel Hulshizer, AP

TJ Maxx has also had a layaway program all along, which requires 10 percent down and pick-up with full payment within 30 days. No fee is specified on the company's Web site.

Elise Amendola, AP

Marshalls, owned by the same parent company as TJ Maxx, has a similar layaway policy.

Paul Sakuma, AP

The Web has also taken to layaway, as services like eLayaway.com offer the ability to use a third-party service for layaway-type purchases.

eLayaway.com

Wal-Mart used to have a robust layaway service, but did away with it in 2006 and has yet to revive it. Other retailers, like Circuit City and JC Penney, also discontinued their programs.

Paul Sakuma, AP

Target never got on the layaway bandwagon at all, and has made no indication that it plans to hop aboard anytime soon.

Tony Gutierrez, AP