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277 points cebert | 1 comments | | HN request time: 1.029s | source
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janalsncm ◴[] No.44362116[source]
What is the functional difference between BNPL and credit cards that can explain why it’s become popular? A credit card is literally “buy now pay later” so is it just the ease of onboarding?
replies(4): >>44362180 #>>44362248 #>>44362419 #>>44367148 #
1. 9rx ◴[] No.44367148[source]
A credit card is for gaining access to the electronic payment monopoly's network[1]. BNPL is explicitly a loan. Yes, a credit card transaction may effectively turn into BNPL if you fail to complete your end of the transaction in a timely manner, but that is a hindsight outcome, not the reason for choosing the method in the first place.

[1] Nowadays you can often also use the network with other methods, like a debit card, but those alternatives still aren't universally accepted like credit cards are.