Doordash’s new partnership has seen social media people do double take.
On March 20, the Food Delivery Platform announced a collaboration with Klarna, an online payments company powered by AI, offering its customers a variety of flexible payment options. Doordash says customers can use Klarna’s range of payment options right away when purchasing groceries, restaurant dishes and retail items.
Once a customer checks out, they can choose Klarna as their payment option. This has three options: “Four Payments” where the customer pays for the purchase in four equal interest-free installments. “I’ll pay later.” This allows users to postpone payments to another time.
News of the partnership hit social media like a Poke Bowl forced to chuck at the wall. Many comments joke about their partnership with Doordash’s Trixie Mattel’s favorite Swedish company, while others raise concerns about what food planning for customers and society as a whole means.
In response, Klarna posted more context in a blog post entitled “Conveniences costless,” making it clear that customers can and cannot do what they can do with their services.
“This partnership will provide Doordash customers with an easy way to pay upfront to increase the cost of Klarna’s full payment and bulk purchases over $35 with Klarna’s interest-free credit options. Doordash will expand its offerings to electronics, big box retail and gifts,” a Klarna spokesman said.
Again, a minimum of $35 of $35 cannot fund one burrito at home using this tool.
“Are you telling me there are free wings there?”
Remember I missed Popeyes’ fundraising my Klarna Lone Shark: https://t.co/enffox6y3j pic.twitter.com/1gg6qpje6p
– Isaac (@galaxypeabrain) March 20, 2025
Doordash also points out that you can use the service to purchase anything other than food.
“Currently, over 25% of customers shop across restaurants in categories such as retail and grocery. Whether it’s a gaming console or laptop for kids, a new barbecue ahead of the summer grill season, or a running shoe you’ll need for tomorrow’s 5K, the partnership offers even more flexibility, control and options.
However, this partnership has led many financial-focused people to yell at what it means.
On March 20th, influencer and entrepreneur Humphreyan dedicated the video to the theme, captioning a clip of him.
“What’s going on in the world? You tell me you’re going to buy your pizza now, do you pay later?” says Yang. “I don’t know what I’m thinking about this. Is our economy doing that bad thing when we need interest-free installments on food? That means it actually presents a very slippery slope.
This story first appeared on Today.com. More from today:
