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277 points cebert | 1 comments | | HN request time: 0.331s | 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?
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Tadpole9181 ◴[] No.44362248[source]
BNPL is 0% interest over N months. A credit card is 20% APY over the total balance over minimum payment. And it's offered by my CC providers.

For some larger purchases on a 12 month plan, leaving the money in savings loses me 1.5% cash back but gains me around 3% interest (after accounting for the depleting principle).

It would be stupid not to do it sometimes. I don't really get the financer's benefit. Though maybe it's because I do pay it, and if I didn't there would be 200% APY or something.

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1. jabroni_salad ◴[] No.44368056[source]
The merchant pays a fee for it, and they do it to get a sale that they otherwise would have missed.

If you decide to save $25/mo for a $100 product, that is 4 months for you to change your mind, have an emergency suck up that money, or score a lower price by waiting for a sale. But for some segment of the population, they will close on a pay-in-4 right now instead of waiting, and that is guaranteed money.