As an avid online shopper, I was intrigued by shopping app Klarna and its flexible payment offerings. Klarna lets you split purchases into 4 interest-free payments automatically over 6-8 weeks. With enticing financing convenience, I had to try the Klarna app first-hand – but learned it’s not as magical as advertised.
First Impressions
Downloading and setting up the Klarna mobile app was simple, requiring just basic personal/payment details. Integrations with most major retailers allowed instant access to Klarna’s “Pay in 4” option at checkout. Ease of use is excellent – Klarna reduces payment friction with a quick eligibility check followed by automated payment scheduling.
Using Klarna
Placing orders with Klarna on iOS was seamlessly woven into my normal shopping workflows – at first. The instant financing felt like “free money” with no hitches…until issues arose. First, keeping track of multiple open Klarna payments proved tricky despite in-app reminders. More concerning was Klarna enabling overspending budget creep, lending large sums despite financial reality.
Issues Emerge
After several successful Klarna order deliveries, sudden non-delivery of a financed item initiated a refund process requiring relentless follow-up to fully reconcile owed sums. And small scratches on a dress outside return window rules still required payment in-full despite quality issues. Klarna preaches customer-centric flexibility, but failed responding to legitimate issues.
Bigger Downsides
Beyond customer service gaps, two even larger downsides plagued my Klarna experience:
- Damaged credit score due to high utilization ratios across financed purchases
- Slippery slope spending temptation that encouraged over-purchasing
For those with strict financial discipline, Klarna’s payment offerings shine. But without caution, short-term “smoothing” can mask real budget impact.
Conclusion
Klarna provides the convenience of splitting big purchases into digestible payments over 8 weeks. But the risk of overspending combined with credit score impacts make its financing a double-edged sword. Smooth payments come at the cost of financial accountability and reliance on Klarna’s unreliable service. I rate Klarna just 2.5 out of 5 stars.
