Microsoft Buy Now, Pay Later integration in Edge is highly controversial
Microsoft announced a new addition to the company’s Microsoft Edge web browser in mid-November. Available only in Insider Builds of Edge at the time, the feature was recently rolled out to Edge 96 Stable.
Microsoft decided to add support for a Buy Now, Pay Later service, provided by ZIP, in Edge. Services such as Zip or Afterpay offer so-called Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) services. Buyers can use them to get items they buy immediately and pay for these items in installments over time.
Microsoft partnered with Zip and Edge users can use the Zip service when making purchases between $ 35 and $ 1000 in the browser, even if the shopping site doesn’t support it.
Edge’s built-in BNPL is limited to repaying money owed in 4 installments over 6 weeks.
Microsoft notes that the integration improves the application process.
BNPL app can take time, you have to zip each time. With BNPL on Edge, you can simply link your Microsoft account with your zip account with one click and then skip the login from the Zip side. It can speed up the application process.
What Microsoft doesn’t reveal in the announcement is that Zip is only available in certain regions. According to the main page, Zip is available in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and Mexico.
How the Buy Now, Pay Later services work
The Buy Now Pay Later services seem useful services at first. You can use them to get an item or service right away, but you don’t have to pay the full amount right away. If you are low on cash right now, but need something right away, it may be the only option to do so without selling your soul to a lender.
There are certain disadvantages to using these services. Some may charge fees every time you are able to make payments, and others may charge a monthly accounting fee. Late payment fees come into play when customers miss payments, and these can be reported and can affect the line of credit.
The reception has been bad
Microsoft’s own blog post on the Insider blog received over 110 comments at the time of writing. Most of the comments are negative towards the function. Some see it as unnecessary bloat added to the browser, others mention that Microsoft didn’t mention the $ 4 processing fee or how it benefits from the integration.
Here are some examples:
At best, it should be an extension. It is not a feature you are looking for in any browser. Microsoft is a multibillion dollar company. I doubt that whatever Zip is paying you is worth the negative press this will generate. (user bdpatton)
I also made an account just to reply. I love the new Edge and have been using it since it came out. Seriously, don’t support this. Nobody needs this. BNPL is just an enabler for people who have a problem. No one should finance such small online purchases. This type of functionality should definitely not, 100%, be in any browser. Please don’t add to the debt problems that people already have. (user amsprich)
Seems like you forgot to mention the $ 4 flat fee in the article?
On a $ 35 purchase, that’s 11% of the purchase cost spread over a month. Annualized, that’s a staggering 250% APY. Even the most predatory credit cards max out at around 40% APY.
All you have done is enter predatory loans into your browser. Honestly, you should be embarrassed. (user JemmaScout)
Articles, like Microsoft Edge’s new ‘Buy now, pay later’ feature is the definition of bloatware in XDA Developers, or Paul Thurott Microsoft continues to bog down the edge with unnecessary bloat, criticizes feature integration.
The XDA developers note that Zip is now available as a Chrome browser app and extension, and that the Buy Now, Pay Later schemes are designed to get people to make more purchases than they would otherwise.
Closing words
What functions should browsers provide? Most browser manufacturers add features to their browsers that could have been provided as extensions, many do so to distinguish the browser itself from others. Some Edge users will find the new functionality helpful, others will see it as bulky or even a reason to switch to another browser.
Now you: What is your opinion on integration?
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