Payroll Deduction

All eligible U-M faculty and staff can use this interest-free payment option on any total purchase over $50.

  • terms up to 12 months ($25 per month minimum deduction)
  • no down payment required for balances under $500, and only 10% of the current purchase price down on balances over $500
  • up to $4,000 total available balance

We encourage you to review the terms and conditions prior to purchase. If you are purchasing in one of our stores, please bring your U-M ID (Mcard or hospital ID) for quickest service.

Terms and Conditions

To enter into a payroll deduction contract with Tech Shop, the employee will need to agree to the following:

  1. I authorize the agreed amount(s) to be paid once each month from the payment of my wages. For bi-weekly employees, installment(s) will be deducted on the second bi-weekly payroll of the month.
  2. I have received and agree to the date scheduled for the final deduction of this contract.
  3. I understand that payroll deductions may not be paid off early.
  4. I understand that there are NO RETURNS OR EXCHANGES on products purchased via payroll deduction. If an item is defective, it may be exchanged for an identical working product.
  5. If my employment with the University ends before completion of this deduction schedule, I understand that the remaining balance will be immediately due and payable. I further understand that I am legally obligated to pay any such remaining balance due. Products purchased via payroll deduction remain the property of the University of Michigan until paid in full. Any balances remaining will be invoiced to me directly. A Negative Service Indicator will be placed on my record in the event that the remaining balance is not paid in full when due.
  6. I understand that if I fail to pay this obligation under the terms agreed upon, the University may refer my loan to a collection agent for further collection efforts, initiate legal proceedings against me or seek any other remedies at law or in equity.
  7. I understand that products purchased from Tech Shop are subject to University rules; violations may result in personnel or criminal actions. Tech Shop reserves the right to deny payroll deduction for any reason, including but not limited to:
    • customer has not met payment obligations to Tech Shop in the past.
    • customer provided false or misleading employment information.
    • customer violated university rules regarding the resale of Tech Shop products.
    • customer already has open payroll deduction contract(s) with Tech Shop exceeding $4,000.

Good to Know

Program Details

Who can use payroll deduction?

Current regular, non-temporary University of Michigan faculty and staff on all U-M campuses and Michigan Medicine can purchase via payroll deduction. Temporary or retired faculty and staff are not eligible for payroll deduction. You may not be eligible if you have an end-dated appointment; we can check this for you.

Are there minimum or maximum amounts allowed?

Yes. The monthly deduction amount must be at least $25. The minimum allowable purchase for payroll deduction is $50. There is no upper limit on total purchase amount as long as the balance due via payroll deduction does not exceed $4,000.

Is a down payment required?

Sometimes. If your overall balance after purchase is under $500, no down payment is required, though you may make one if you wish. If your balance after purchase is over $500, a minimum 10% down payment is required; minimum down payment amount is calculated based on after-tax purchase price, not overall balance amount. You may choose any amount as a down payment, as long as you meet the minimum requirement for your purchase total and the remaining balance due does not exceed $4,000. Down payment is due at the time of purchase.

How do I make a down payment?

Down payment is due at the time of purchase. If ordering online, down payment must be made by credit card. For in-store purchases, down payment can be made by credit card, debit card, cash, or cashier’s check. Personal checks, Shortcodes, and P-Cards cannot be used to make a down payment.

How are payments structured?

The balance due after down payment is deducted in roughly equal monthly payments of at least $25 over the term you choose at the time of purchase.

For bi-weekly employees, payments are taken from the second paycheck of the month.

Are there any restrictions?

Yes. There are several additional policies each buyer should consider:

  • Payroll deduction contracts may not be paid off early.
  • When making a payroll deduction purchase, any existing balance will be rolled into the new agreement; resulting new balance may not exceed $4,000.
  • There are NO RETURNS OR EXCHANGES on products purchased via payroll deduction in most cases. Defective items may be exchanged for identical working products, but not refunded.
  • Merchandise must be in stock at the time of sale.
  • Products purchased from Tech Shop are for personal use only. It is a violation of university rules to sell to another party within two years.
  • Payment amounts may not be adjusted at a later date, even if prices change due to sales or special offers.
  • Payroll deduction may not be used to pay for computer service or labor costs.
  • Employee must be either present in-person at one of our locations or logged into their Tech Shop account online to use payroll deduction.

As a bi-weekly employee, can I choose to pay more than once a month?

No. The University Payroll Department only processes deductions once per month. For bi-weekly employees, that's always the second payroll in the month.

Requests & Approval

Can I walk in and request payroll deduction in person at Tech Shop?

Yes. You can make this request in the store on an inventory available basis. If items are not available at that time, we can create an order and notify you when your products arrive. Your patience is appreciated!

Can I order products online?

Yes. You can place an online order for any product(s) in our catalog and choose:

  • Pickup at the Tech Shop location of your choice. Complete the your contract agreement online, and you’ll be notified via email when your order is ready (usually within one business day). Orders not picked up within 5 days after email notification are cancelled and products released; however, please let us know if you need extra time.
  • Shipping to anywhere in the continental U.S. You can complete your contract agreement online, and your order will ship as soon as all the products in your order are available (usually within one business day).

    What does the payroll deduction approval process entail?

    This process ONLY verifies employment status with the University of Michigan and eligibility of the customer’s compensation package*.

    The approval process does NOT access salary data or determine if salary level is adequate to meet the payment amounts required. Customers are responsible for determining if their paycheck can support the monthly deduction amount.

    *Some types of compensation, such as grants and stipends, are not eligible for payroll deduction.

    Under what circumstances would a payroll deduction request be denied?

    We reserve the right to deny a payroll deduction contract to any customer for any reason, including but not limited to:

    • not met his/her payment obligations to Tech Shop in the past
    • provided us with false or misleading employment information
    • violated university rules regarding the resale of Tech Shop products

    Completing Your Purchase

    What do I need to do to make a purchase?

    • Choose your products.
      • Visit one of our stores (current U-M ID required) or
      • Place an order online. If you choose store pickup, please let your cashier know you are picking up an online order.
    • Choose a payment schedule.
    • Make a down payment (if desired or required).

    What happens if I leave my job before the payment schedule is complete?

    You are still responsible for the amount owed to the Tech Shop. Final paychecks will not necessarily deduct the remaining balance on your payment schedule. You may receive an invoice from Accounts Receivable if there is a remaining balance. Please email [email protected] if you have questions. Note that products purchased via payroll deduction remain the property of the University of Michigan until paid in full. Products sold are subject to university rules; violations may result in personnel or criminal actions.