Shopping online continues to grow in popularity with more and more retailers offering digital checkout. As e-commerce fever spreads, the option for delayed payment on purchases through “buy now, pay later” (BNPL) services like Afterpay is also rapidly gaining traction.
But what exactly is Afterpay and how does it work? What stores accept Afterpay both online and in physical locations? Is it really a smart way to shop or just bury yourself in debt?
This extensive guide will outline everything you need to know about Afterpay, including a breakdown of popular stores accepting it across categories from fashion and beauty to home goods, tech, and more. We’ll also cover how to use Afterpay online and in-store, eligibility requirements, managing payments, and conclude with an assessment of who Afterpay shopping benefits most.
How Does Afterpay Function as a Buy Now Pay Later Service?
Founded in 2014 in Australia, Afterpay has emerged as a leading choice for buy now, pay later. This payment model allows shoppers to purchase items immediately without having to pay the full cost upfront. Instead, they can pay for their order in four interest-free installments spread out over six weeks.
Specifically, Afterpay lets you make a purchase by putting down 25% of the total cost first. You then pay the remaining balance in three additional payments every two weeks after the order date. For example:
- Purchase item for $100 on January 1st
- Pay $25 on January 1st
- Pay $25 on January 15th
- Pay $25 on January 29th
- Pay $25 on February 12th
Afterpay charges no interest or additional fees. The only exception is if you miss an installment payment, at which point you’ll incur a late fee capped at 25% of the order value.
This makes it an attractive alternative to credit cards and their notoriously high interest rates. It gives shoppers flexibility to buy now even if they don’t have the full funds available yet can responsibly pay the balance off shortly after.
You can use Afterpay purely online initially, but an increasing number of retailers now also allow in-store purchases with Afterpay. It simply requires downloading their app and adding an Afterpay card beforehand to tap and pay at checkout.
Top Stores Accepting Afterpay Payments
The Afterpay craze has exploded exponentially, with over 100,000 retailers embracing the service globally, including 63,000+ in the United States alone. From massive brands to independently owned small businesses, Afterpay has a strong presence across every shopping category imaginable.
While the sheer volume makes listing every single Afterpay store unrealistic, some of the most popular include:
Fashion and Apparel Retailers Taking Afterpay
Give your wardrobe a stylish upgrade by tapping into Afterpay at all these fashionista favorites:
- Adidas
- ASOS
- Calvin Klein
- Carter’s
- Express
- Forever21
- H&M
- J.Crew
- Levi’s
- Lululemon
- Nike
- Nordstrom
- Pacsun
- Tommy Hilfiger
- Urban Outfitters
- Zara
Beauty Brands Accepting Afterpay Installments
Pamper yourself without immediate payment pain at top beauty destinations like:
- Bare Minerals
- Benefit Cosmetics
- Bite Beauty
- Buxom
- Clinique
- Dermalogica
- Drunk Elephant
- First Aid Beauty
- Fresh
- It Cosmetics
- Kiehl’s
- Lancôme
- MAC Cosmetics
- Murad
- Ouai
- Sephora
- Sheisido
- Smashbox
- Tarte
- Too Faced
- Tula Skincare
- Ulta Beauty
Home Decor and Furniture Outlets Taking Afterpay
Deck out your humble abode in style with the help of Afterpay at popular home retailers such as:
- Anthropologie
- Bed Bath & Beyond
- CB2
- Crate & Barrel
- Joybird
- Lightology
- Living Spaces
- Lulu & Georgia
- Pottery Barn
- Raymour & Flanigan
- Room & Board
- Rove Concepts
- Rugs USA
- Scott Living
- Urban Outfitters
- West Elm
- World Market
Tech Brands Offering Afterpay Financing
Upgrade your electronics without immediate financial burden courtesy of Afterpay being offered at top tech retailers like:
- Adorama
- AT&T
- B&H Photo
- Belkin
- Best Buy
- Casetify
- Nintendo
- Inland
- Microsoft
- Nomad Goods
- Otterbox
- Razer
- Samsung
- Sennheiser
- Speck
- Verizon
And many, many more major national and specialty retailers also provide Afterpay at checkout including theaters, streaming services, health stores, travel sites, and beyond.
How to Check If a Store Offers Afterpay?
With new merchants joining daily, how can you check if one of your favorite retailers accepts Afterpay? Here are the easiest ways to find out:
Afterpay App: Download the mobile app and browse or search the store directory listing all participating locations near you and online.
Online Checkout: When shopping a retailer’s website, simply proceed to check out and see if Afterpay appears as one of the payment options.
In-Store: Ask a store employee at checkout or customer service if you can use Afterpay for purchases in that physical location. Policies may vary by location.
You can also check Afterpay’s website which provides an exhaustive list of every online and in-person store accepting it within different shopping categories.
Using Afterpay In-Store at Retail Locations
Initially Afterpay only worked for online transactions but its in-person availability continues expanding rapidly across retailers. Here is how to use Afterpay in physical stores:
Download App & Add Card: First download the Afterpay app for iPhone or Android. Tap “In-store” and follow prompts to add an Afterpay Card to your digital wallet for tap payments.
Check Pre-Approved Amount: The app shows your pre-approved Afterpay spending allowance for in-store purchases. Note this may differ from your general account limit.
Tap to Pay: At checkout, open your phone’s wallet, select your Afterpay card, and tap to pay. It’s as easy as Apple Pay or Google Pay!
Payment Schedule: Review upcoming installment due dates for the order by opening your Afterpay app and going to the order details.
Who’s Eligible to Use Afterpay?
While Afterpay aims to provide flexible spending access to all consumers, there are a few basic eligibility rules to qualify:
Minimum Age: You must be at least 18 years old to use Afterpay.
Valid Payment Method: To apply, Afterpay requires a valid credit or debit card they can securely store for installment payments.
United States Resident: Currently Afterpay is only offered to customers with a U.S. mailing address.
Account Details: You need a working mobile number and email address for order updates.
Upfront & Installment Payments: By using Afterpay you agree to pay 25% of order totals upfront and remaining balance in 3 biweekly installments.
As long as you meet these stipulations, can pass a quick internal approval check, and continue making on-time payments, you should qualify to start shopping tens of thousands of stores with Afterpay.
Managing Your Afterpay Account and Store Purchases
Download the Afterpay app for easy access to monitor your account details including order history, upcoming payments, balance, payment method, and more all in one convenient dashboard.
Payment Schedule: Review due dates for installment payments on orders and set payment reminders accordingly.
Changing Payment Date: If needed, you can adjust individual payment dates by a couple weeks or more if you contact Afterpay support.
Updating Payment Method: Add, update, or remove debit/credit cards on file anytime under your account’s Payment Methods.
View Order Details: See full order breakdowns including item details, retailer information, installment schedule status, payment receipts, and more.
Contact Afterpay Support: Reach out directly to Afterpay’s team through chat or phone if you have any inquiries related to account management, payment changes, late fees, eligibility, or other concerns.
Vigilantly monitoring your Afterpay account makes paying off purchases in a timely manner smooth and stress-free. Being an informed and responsible user is key to avoiding additional charges.
Who Should (and Shouldn’t) Shop with Afterpay
Best Suited For:
Afterpay is ideal for folks who may experience occasional cash flow issues but have steady income or funds coming to easily cover a purchase in full within 6 weeks without accumulating interest fees like a credit card.
It can serve as a supplemental payment option to debit/credit cards and provide greater flexibility if you temporarily can’t afford a pressing expense but know you’ll shortly have money to pay the installments consistently.
If used judiciously, Afterpay enables you totake advantage of sales, convenient financing for essential big-ticket items, and greater purchasing opportunities without paying late fees or interest.
Least Suited For:
On the flip side, Afterpay may enable those struggling severely financially and chronically living paycheck-to-paycheck to overspend on unnecessary items that further perpetuate unmanageable debt cycles.
The illusion you have more money than you do could lead to problematic recursive late payments and growing balances that become unfeasible to ever fully repay off.
While Afterpay doesn’t conduct formal credit checks, accruing missed installments or flags on your account could impact your future approval odds or require paying deposits first before allowing additional purchases.
Ultimately if used irresponsibly beyond your reliable income streams and repayment means, Afterpay could contribute towards adverse financial scenarios rather than offer healthful, convenient flexibility.
The Bottom Lines
In closing, as online shopping booms and alternative flexible payment models gain momentum, Afterpay has emerged as a frontrunner enabling tens of millions of consumers to “buy now, pay later” across over 63,000 merchants.
From fashion and beauty to furniture, tech devices, sporting goods, and everything in between, all your favorite stores probably accept Afterpay at checkout both online and often in-store locations through its app.
Leveraging Afterpay in a financially responsible way can augment convenience and access if you occasionally fall a bit short covering a expense immediately but receive steady income shortly after to reliably pay installments.
But beware that Afterpay only truly benefits shoppers able to fully pay off balances in a timely manner without accumulating destructive debt or negative marks hurting future eligibility.
Hopefully this extensive guide has helped explain exactly how Afterpay works, where you can use it, managing account details, qualifications, and concluded with tips for both prudent and imprudent usage scenarios.
What stores were you surprised to learn take Afterpay? Does a flexible payment option like Afterpay appeal to you? Share any other feedback on this comprehensive overview outlining where you can currently use Afterpay!
