Other retailers also have also upped the ante recently with their layaway and other programs. Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE: WMT) reduced its upfront fee from $15 to $5. It also offers to match the lower prices advertised by local competitors. Kmart has waived layaway fees for shoppers. Target (NYSE: TGT) does not offer a layaway program but also matches printed advertisements for prices at competitors’ stores, but recently said it would match certain online retailers’ prices as well. Those include Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), Walmart.com and Toysrus.com.
Toys”R”Us also announced that it will donate $200 worth of toys to the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation every time a “generous benefactor” pays off the layaway balance of someone in their local communities this year, up to $1 million worth of toys.