Sears is adding to its layaway plan. Now, customers can go beyond winter holiday purchases and plan and pay — over time — for vacations through Sears Vacations.
The business, which first launched in February of this year, is managed, hosted and operated by International Cruise & Excursions (ICE), Inc., a licensed partner of Sears Holdings. Last week, SearsVacations.com went live offering consumers full-service travel packages.
Sears Vacations, which bills itself as the "Official Sponsor of Family Fun," kicked off the site with 100 separate packages priced at $399 or less. All of the services available come with a "Best Price Guarantee" and a variety of payment options including layaways. Sears' customers also can earn the retailer's Shop Your Way reward points when booking travel services.
According to a report on SmarterTravel.com, Sears Vacations requires a $99 deposit on vacation packages. While it does not charge interest on principal owed, Sears does add a $9 fee on top of monthly payments. The site was unable to get details on cancellation policies and other fine print and has recommended that consumers take "a thorough look" before signing up for the offer.