Executive Briefing

Just how evil is Buy Now, Pay Later?

Also: More details about Apple Pay Later.

After Wednesday’s piece on Apple Pay Later, the forthcoming Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) payments service from Apple, several of you replied to ask slightly different versions of some similar questions: Is BNPL inherently good or evil? Isn’t a bottomless pit of credit card debt a lot worse? Why is BNPL getting a bad rap right now while no one’s complaining about Visa and Amex?

It’s worth unpacking.

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Dan Frommer

Hi, I’m Dan Frommer and this is The New Consumer, a publication about how and why people spend their time and money.

I’m a longtime tech and business journalist, and I’m excited to focus my attention on how technology continues to profoundly change how things are created, experienced, bought, and sold. The New Consumer is supported entirely by your membership — join now to receive my reporting, analysis, and commentary directly in your inbox, via my member-exclusive newsletter. Thanks in advance.

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