Toys"R"Us® Extends Free Layaway Offer, Will Pay It Forward When Layaway Orders Are Paid Off As An Act Of Kindness To Others This Holiday Season

WAYNE, N.J., Oct. 18, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Toys"R"Us^® today announced that it will continue its free layaway program through December 16, the result of significant positive response by consumers. In September, the company became the first retailer to offer a free layaway program to help customers stretch their gift-giving budget. Extending the program, which was originally slated to end on October 31, allows customers to take advantage of the flexible payment terms offered by layaway, with no upfront service fee, throughout the remainder of the holiday season. 

During the 2011 holiday season, a nationwide phenomenon began when individuals started paying off the remaining balance on in-store layaway orders for someone in their community, including at Toys"R"Us locations across the country. Taking inspiration from these stories, the company has pledged to pay it forward by Giving Back each time a generous benefactor visits one of its stores and pays off the balance of the layaway order for someone in their community. For each layaway balance paid off as an act of kindness, the company will donate $200 worth of toys – the approximate average value of a layaway order created at Toys"R"Us – to the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, up to $1 million worth of toys. Toys"R"Us is the largest partner in the history of Toys for Tots, having raised over $27.6 million and collecting more than 3.4 million toys since the partnership began in 2004. Customers can follow the company's efforts to Give Back by visiting Toysrus.com/GiveBack.

"Since we introduced our new free layaway offer in early September, we've seen a fantastic response from parents and gift-givers who value the opportunity to pay for their holiday purchases over time, without having to incur an upfront fee. We're pleased to extend this offer for those customers who may not have started their Christmas shopping yet, but would like the flexibility of paying for their purchases incrementally now through mid-December," said Troy Rice, Executive Vice President, Stores and Services, Toys"R"Us, U.S. "At the same time, we're excited to expand upon our ongoing commitment to Toys for Tots, by paying it forward each time a generous benefactor visits one of our stores and pays off the layaway balance of someone in their local community this holiday season. Now, through these inspiring acts of Giving Back, more children in need will have gifts to open on Christmas morning."

Toys"R"Us Engages Social Media Community, Encouraging Fans and Followers to Join Company in Giving Back

This holiday season, the company is encouraging its customers to find ways to Give Back in their local communities, whether they choose to pay the balance of someone else's layaway order, make a monetary donation to Toys for Tots, or find other ways to bring joy to others.

Toys"R"Us will challenge its Facebook fans at Facebook.com/Toysrus and Twitter followers @ToysRUs to  join in Giving Back, from simply liking and retweeting posts to spread awareness for Giving Back, to sharing their acts of goodwill socially to inspire others to pay it forward. Each time someone pays off the balance of a layaway order at Toys"R"Us for someone in their community, the company will update a "Give Back Tracker" on Facebook. The "Give Back Tracker" is a map used to show where the layaway payoff took place, as well as the total amount of toys Toys"R"Us has donated to Toys for Tots as a result of this act of generosity.

For more information on this Give Back program, as well as additional ideas for ways to give back, customers can visit Toysrus.com/GiveBack. Additionally, Twitter users can join the conversation with #GiveBack.

Free Layaway Available on All Playthings, Including the Season's Hottest Toys, In Stores Nationwide

Toys"R"Us introduced layaway in its stores in 2009 for "big gift" items such as bikes, swing sets, dollhouses, play kitchens and more. In 2011, layaway was expanded to include all playthings at Toys"R"Us stores nationwide.

A 20% down payment is required for layaway. Payments may be made at any time at the store where the order was placed in the form of cash, check, credit card, debit card or gift card, but 50% of the total price of the order must be paid within 45 days and the order must be paid in full and picked up by December 16.  In the event a customer cancels their order, there is a $10 charge, however, there are some state-specific exceptions regarding this fee. Please see Toysrus.com/Layaway for full program details.

For all the latest news about the 2012 Holiday Season at Toys"R"Us, visit "R" Holiday Press Room at http://www.toysrusinc.com/press-room/r-holiday-press-room/.

^*Some exclusions apply, such as batteries, diapers, candy, food and formula, select seasonal products, health and beauty aids, apparel and doorbusters. Layaway will not be available on Black Friday. See store for details.

About Toys"R"Us, Inc.

Toys"R"Us, Inc. is the world's leading dedicated toy and juvenile products retailer, offering a differentiated shopping experience through its family of brands. Merchandise is sold in 874 Toys"R"Us and Babies"R"Us stores in the United States and Puerto Rico, and in more than 635 international stores and over 145 licensed stores in 35 countries and jurisdictions. In addition, it exclusively operates the legendary FAO Schwarz brand and sells extraordinary toys in the brand's flagship store on Fifth Avenue in New York City. With its strong portfolio of e-commerce sites including Toysrus.com, Babiesrus.com, eToys.com and FAO.com, it provides shoppers with a broad online selection of distinctive toy and baby products. Headquartered in Wayne, NJ, Toys"R"Us, Inc. employs approximately 70,000 associates annually worldwide. The company is committed to serving its communities as a caring and reputable neighbor through programs dedicated to keeping kids safe and helping them in times of need. Additional information about Toys"R"Us, Inc. can be found on Toysrusinc.com. Follow Toys"R"Us, Babies"R"Us and FAO Schwarz on Facebook at Facebook.com/Toysrus, Facebook.com/Babiesrus and Facebook.com/FAO and on Twitter at Twitter.com/Toysrus and Twitter.com/Babiesrus.

SOURCE Toys"R"Us, Inc.