In 2010, a programmer who was mining bitcoin famously made the comically expensive mistake of spending 10,000 bitcoin on two pizzas. As of this writing, those coins would be worth $850 million dollars.
While there are few comparisons to that kind of miscalculation, the prospect of adding interest payments to fast-food orders is raising concerns nonetheless. Stemming from a partnership announced earlier this week between DoorDash and Klarna, customers can now buy a burrito or McDonalds order and pay for it later across four interest-free payments.
The deal provides diners — who spend at least $35 — more flexibility, say both companies. But customers who defer payment on a fast-food delivery are at significantly higher risk of missing one of those interest-free installment payments.
Indeed, to some, the new partnership is yet another troubling economic sign of the times. Says Chuck Bell of Consumer Reports to the New York Times: “If you don’t pay the bill on time and you start getting multiple late fees, it could end up being a very expensive chile relleno or pad Thai.”
