If you are buying an item the store keeps in stock, ask if it will be physically set apart from the other merchandise when you begin payments. For example, some stores may have a separate area or section of their stockroom where they store merchandise being purchased on layaway. If the item you want must be ordered, ask the sales clerk if the item will be ordered in advance so it will be available to you when you make your final payment. This is especially important when you are ordering merchandise needed by a particular date. To ensure that you receive the exact item you are purchasing, ask the clerk to identify the merchandise in writing.
Many stores have a space on their sales receipt to identify the layaway merchandise.
Remember, until you finish paying for the layaway item, the retailer has your money and the merchandise. If the store goes bankrupt while you are still paying, your money and the merchandise may be lost. To help avoid this, and to find out if there are any complaints against the store, check the store's reputation with your local Better Business Bureau or consumer protection agency before you buy merchandise on layaway. In addition, if you have not shopped in that store before, you might start out by purchasing a relatively inexpensive item on its layaway plan. Also, to avoid any confusion, keep good records of the payments you make on the layaway merchandise.