Who uses layaway

I have used lay-away 3 times. Once to nail down my 16ga Model 12, once to grab my 1858 Remmington before it got sent back to the warehouse and once to get 5 cases of 16ga shells nailed before they were delivered. (The only shop that carries 16ga here usually sells the entire shipment the day they come in.)

I will use it again in a similar cirumstance.

Pops
 
I'm USUALLY in the "if I have the money I buy, if not, I don't" camp. I also try and save as much as possible out of every paycheck. Still, not a fan of putting myself in debt.

Well, I am walking around my favorite gun store one bright morning when class was canceled (skipped) because I just knew there was a deal in there. Seriously, I woke up the day before with a feeling in my bones.

And there was. A used Ruger SP 101, .357 magnum, for $390. They can't get any of the non-crimson trace models in new so I put it on layaway. I didn't have the funds to get it that day (just barely!), but I did have enough savings to cover me in case something went horribly wrong. That price for a gently used tank? And no new ones to be found, so no problem.

Then my girlfriend piped up. "I want a gun, I like that one." It wasn't even mine at that point and already it was hers. Feeling once again hollow inside, on the way out the door I spot a Remington 870 Express, synthetic stock, extended magtube, 18" barrel, for the same price as the Ruger. On the way into the store, I saw a gentleman purchase one of these. I asked how many they had left, only one, they got 12 that week and in four days only that one I was holding needed to be adopted. So I put her on layaway too.

If I didn't have the savings, I wouldn't have done it. But the biggest factor for me, was availability. I have been itching for an SP 101 and a good shotgun for a longtime, seeing the opportunity, perhaps my last for a while, I took it and I couldn't be happier (I have yet to pick up the 870, my girlfriend and I love the Ruger).
 
I would use lay-a-way but the policy at my local gun store blows. They want 25% down and the balance in 30 days. Might was well but it outright. I guess if you see something you have to have and don't have the money right that second it would work, but I would prefer 6 mo.'s to a year to pay it off, the 30 days doesn't really help me.
 
Layaway is a great way to add to the collection without setting off the red flag with the wife.

As others here said, it's also more responsible than using plastic.
 
Life changes result in different buying habits. My first purchase was 32 years ago when I was raising a family below the food stamp level. That was a major purchase and was done on layaway. 10 years later, I took a small signature loan to buy 4 investment OU shotguns when I found myself in the right place at the right time. It worked out well and I doubled my money on those. I sold 3 and traded the last for several guns which are still in my gun rack. Now, after 32 years, guns are more of an impulse buy. If it tickles my fancy, I pull out the cash or credit card without any knashing of teeth or hesitation I felt the impulse on Monday and today I was able to pick up a new .44 Special Blackhawk from my FFL. People go through phases in life. At any given time, there are customers in each specific phase. The wise businessman offers options for everyone.
 
I am cursed. Almost every time I have, something unexpected happens to where I won't have enough money to get it in the time allotted. Last year I dropped I think a bill down on this .40 Hi Power, had all the cash in my pocket that day but no purchase permit. Was coming back the next day. Went to work that afternoon and got laid off for like 4 months, totally out of the blue. But had a feeling something like that would go down for the simple fact I put a gun in layaway.
 
I used layaway once. I had a dealer who does it, but you have to ask on the right day. He has guys paying on guns for over a year and sometimes has very little money down on them. Ironically, he always seemed to do this for customers he didn't know and not for the regular customers. If I had a local dealer who did the 10% down then 10% a month til paid off, I would have more guns. Probably have less cash to.
 
I do that alot.

I usually buy used guns anyway.

I once bought a beautiful used PT101 Taurus that the gun store put in a paper bag for laywaway storage and when I went to pick it up about three weeks later there were many small scrub marks in the stainless finish from the paper bag.

I almost told them I did'nt want it but I figured I could buff out the scratches.

I kept the gun,the price was good and enjoyed that gun while I had it but could never get those small scurb marks out and eventually traded it for another gun.

Still wish I had it though.

Other than that I have had not other bad experiences wirth layaways of handguns with Northern Virgina gun stores.

I would simply recommend if you are laying away a gun with a nice finish that you take a small plastic single pistol case,nothing fancy,to lay it away in if it does not have a box with it already.

If it's a beater or you just don't care about that kind of thing then you are already ahead of the game.

By the way,I have a beater P95 on layaway ($225 total price) right now to match the beater P95 ( same price) that I love shooting right now.

Bookends you might say.

I'll be picking it up on the 21st because of Virginia's one gun a month rule.
 
I've never used lay-away for anything, but I'm curious what happens when the purchaser defaults on the terms. I can see that happening a lot more these days. A person pays $800 over eight months on a $1K gun then loses their job and can't pay the rest. I'm sure a decent shop owner would refund most of it, keeping only enough to cover their costs, but not all shop owners are decent. That person just out the $800?
 
I've never used lay-away for anything, but I'm curious what happens when the purchaser defaults on the terms. I can see that happening a lot more these days. A person pays $800 over eight months on a $1K gun then loses their job and can't pay the rest. I'm sure a decent shop owner would refund most of it, keeping only enough to cover their costs, but not all shop owners are decent. That person just out the $800?
Click to expand...

We refund all monies less 20% and that 20% can be used as a store credit.
 
I used layaway for my SR9. Main reason being that I wasn't sure if I would be able to find one once I had enough. and sure enough they were sold out when I picked it up 20 or so days later.
 
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