In its most basic form, retail finance is consumer credit provided at the point of sale without the use of a credit card or an external lender. It’s when a credit system is integrated into the client’s journey. This can be accomplished by integrating with a POS financing specialist.
Interest-free credit, interest-bearing loans, and ‘buy now, pay later’ agreements are all available in the retail finance market. Most clients prefer interest-free credit to interest-bearing credit since they only ever pay the entire purchase price.
There is evidence that POS finance may deliver considerable revenue uplift both in-store and over the phone, even when clients are unable or unwilling to purchase online.
Retail finance companies allow you to shop online and pay for your purchases later or in installments rather than all at once.
These retail finance providers, which are an alternative to using your credit card, often provide zero interest rates up to a certain amount and can be handy when your funds are low or you are making an expensive purchase.
In this article, we will examine the top five online retail finance providers and where you can shop with them since these choices are becoming increasingly available across e-commerce sites offering anything from clothes and beauty to household products.
Using Online Retail Finance Providers
According to recent news reports, online retail finance is on the rise, and businesses are using it to persuade customers to order more frequently and spend more.
This new generation of financing providers differs from traditional forms of borrowing in that it often passes charges onto retailers rather than customers, avoiding any interest or fees for borrowers.
5 Top Online Retail Finance Providers
Data is also used in retail finance. According to CNN Business, financial company Klarna asks customers for little personal information before completing a soft credit check when making a lending decision. The consumer’s risk score is then calculated in real-time using machine learning and analytics.
At check out, you’ll see the option to ‘purchase now, pay later,’ along with the alternatives to pay by card or PayPal, and it’s only a few clicks away. Payment options usually include paying in whole within 30 days or paying in installments over a longer period of time.
While this is undoubtedly convenient, it should be reminded that, as with other sorts of borrowing, failure to make timely repayments might harm your credit score.
V12 Retail Finance
V12 Retail Finance is a UK company based in Cardiff that is part of the Secure Trust Bank family. It allows shops to offer a variety of flexible payment alternatives, such as interest-free payments, with interest up to 19.9% for large purchases, interest-free five-month payment plans, and buy now pay later.
Where you can shop using V12 Retail Finance
- Clifton Cameras
- Yamaha Music
- Wiggle Bikes
- Appliances Direct
- The Celtic Football Club
- Discount Diamond Store
- Halfords
- Cycle Republic
- Laptops Direct
- Tottenham Hotspur
Related: How To Get Approved For Credit Limit Increase (6 Ultimate Tips)
PayPal Credit
PayPal Credit claims to be similar to a credit card but without a physical card. It offers 0% interest for four months on all purchases of £99 or more, allowing customers to spread the expense of larger purchases over a longer period of time.
It will soon offer a credit program for lower amounts, which will be available to PayPal Credit clients who have already been validated and approved by the business without having to fill out any further applications.
Where you can shop using PayPal’s 3-month option
- Blacks
- Chain Reaction Cycles
- Dyson
- Millets
- Samsung
- Simply Games
- Ultimate Outdoors
- Goldsmiths
- eBay
- Box.co.uk
Klarna
Every day, one million people use Klarna, one of the most popular providers. It is a Swedish tech start-up that is fast gaining popularity, claiming to have 60 million customers globally, including 26 million in 2018.
Where you can shop using Klarna
- Burtons
- Lenovo
- Dorothy Perkins
- Microsoft
- Miss Selfridge
- AX Paris
- com
- Top Shop
- Top Man
- Wallis
Deko
Deko, a London-based modern finance provider, provides credit decisions in under five seconds after a four-minute credit application. It focuses on utilizing digital technology to make transactions for both businesses and consumers as frictionless as possible.
Where you can shop using Deko
- 4Gadgets
- Cornell Jewellers
- Stove Saver
- New Victoria Hospital
- Night Master
- Rotary revs
- The Fireplace Warehouse
- Think! Flooring
- Diamond Rocks
- Artfinder
Related: Credit Card Hacks to Make Money
Duologi
Duologi, established in Basingstoke, is another rapidly expanding online retail finance company. According to recent reports, the young company intends to grow its portfolio to £1 billion in five years. It, like Klarna, allows clients to pay in ways that are convenient for them.
Where you can shop using Duologi
- Litchfield Motors
- Brompton Bikes
- Batribike
- The Cotswold Bed Company
- Middletons Mobility
- Virgin Pure
- Cherry Lane Garden Centres
- Bedrooms In Style
- Just Paint Ball
- Furniture Box