Sears and Kmart have announced they will waive layaway fees in stores and online through Nov. 17, according to an Associated Press report.
Both stores usually charge $5 for an eight-week layaway and $10 for 12 weeks.
Kmart's move comes three days after Wal-Mart said it was lowering its holiday layaway program fee to $5 from $15.
The Wal-Mart holiday layaway program starts Sept. 16 and runs through Dec. 14 and will include more items than last year. Shoppers will get a service charge refund via Wal-Mart gift card when they pay off their layaway purchase.
Toys R Us Inc. is cutting an upfront service fee for layaway orders in store from Sept. 4 through Oct. 31. After Oct. 31, a $5 service fee will apply.
