Fingerhut was established in 1948 by William Fingerhut and his sibling Manny, selling car seat covers. In 1952, the business re-situated itself to a mail request inventory organization and enhanced its merchandise to incorporate towels, dishes, and instruments. In 1969 the organization opened up to the world.

In 1994, Fingerhut supported the #98 NASCAR Ford Thunderbird for Cale Yarborough Motorsports. Derrike Cope began the year in the #98 vehicle, before he was supplanted later on by Jeremy Mayfield. In 1995 the organization propelled the online business website fingerhut.com. By 1996, Fingerhut was one of the 25 biggest Mastercard backers in the United States.

Today, Fingerhut is recognized from other online retailers in that clients can pay with credit, and make regularly scheduled installments until their requests are satisfied.

The Fingerhut brand has gone through a few proprietorships during its reality, including onetime possession by American Can Company (1979) and its successor Primerica, Federated Department Stores (1999), Petters Group Worldwide (2002), and Bain Capital Ventures (2004). Combined Department Stores Inc. (current Macy's, Inc.) obtained this organization for US$ 1.7 billion out of 1999. Fingerhut's income was US$ 1.7 billion for the financial year that finished in January 2001 (FY 2001). By 2000, Fingerhut had lost US$ 400 million and Federated Department Stores sold the organization in 2002.

The organization has gotten analysis for purportedly captivating in practices, for example, robocalls.