DoorDash offering payment plans for food delivery sparks backlash

DoorDash is teaming up with Klarna to introduce a “buy now, pay later” option for food delivery, allowing customers to split their purchases into four interest-free payments. The partnership, announced Thursday, aims to provide consumers with greater flexibility in managing their food expenses.

Klarna’s installment payment service will be integrated directly into DoorDash’s checkout process, making it available to users across the United States. The move comes as Klarna, the Swedish “buy now, pay later” giant, prepares for an anticipated initial public offering (IPO) later this year.

In response to the partnership, some consumers have taken to social media to criticize the move, arguing that if someone can’t afford to pay for food up front, they shouldn’t be using DoorDash, and warning that the “buy now, pay later” option could lead to financial hardship.

Why It Matters

The “buy now, pay later” model has surged in popularity, particularly among younger consumers and those looking to manage short-term cash flow constraints. The collaboration between DoorDash and Klarna reflects an increasing trend of integrating flexible payment options beyond traditional retail, extending into everyday spending categories like food delivery.

DoorDash executives highlighted the partnership as a step toward enhancing user experience and affordability. “We’re excited to partner with Klarna to enhance the convenience we offer, including flexible payment options for our DashPass Annual Plan, the most affordable way to order on DoorDash with added streaming and ride benefits at no extra cost,” Anand Subbarayan, DoorDash’s head of Money Products, said in a news release.

What To Know

Reactions to the partnership have been mixed, with some praising the added flexibility while others warn that making it easier to finance takeout could encourage unnecessary spending and debt accumulation.

On X, formerly Twitter, a user with the handle @HistoryBoomer posted, “If you’re financing your DoorDash deliveries, you aren’t living paycheck to paycheck, you’re just a moron.”

Other users went on to express their opinions on the new feature, specifically calling out those who might use it.

“Not to be on my dave ramsey, but no one should ever pay installments for doordash,” posted X user Whitney Medworth.

“If you need to finance a doordash order, you should not be ordering doordash. Can’t believe this even needs to be said,” posted X user @inhuman.

“The problem with the guy who takes a payday loan to pay for his doordash isn’t that he’s poor, or oppressed, or whatever. It’s that he’s not competent to have and use money in the 21st century. Seems like a problem!” posted @CharlesFLehman.

Others took to social media to express their disappointment in the decision to offer the “buy now, pay later” feature to begin with.

“People can’t afford food, but instead of addressing that, the ‘free market’ solution is to let them finance their DoorDash orders. This isn’t innovation—it’s a dystopian indictment of late-stage capitalism. Companies are constantly finding new ways to monetize desperation,” posted X user Hashim Mteuzi.

“If you need a loan to buy a damn burger, you’re not the customer—you’re the product. @DoorDash and @Klarna aren’t helping people; they’re vultures picking at the bones of a broken economy. They know wages are stagnant. They know people are drowning in bills. Instead of fixing the problem, they found a new way to profit off desperation. ‘Eat now, pay later’ isn’t convenience—it’s a trap. And like all traps, the people who set it aren’t the ones who get caught,” posted X user @FrankC164.

“if you’re tempted to finance your doordash order please cook instead. also unless financing in these minimal ways helps people’s credit score, i can’t see it as anything other than predatory,” posted X user @danishacarterr.

What People Are Saying

David Sykes, chief commercial officer of Klarna, said in a news release: “Our partnership with DoorDash marks an important milestone in Klarna’s expansion into everyday spending categories. By offering smarter, more flexible payment solutions for groceries, takeout, and retail essentials, we’re making convenience even more accessible for millions of Americans.”

What’s Next

The Klarna-DoorDash partnership is expected to roll out nationwide in the coming weeks. Analysts anticipate that Klarna’s buy now, pay later integration into DoorDash could serve as a test case for further adoption in the on-demand economy.