While the rising popularity of buy now pay later (BNPL) services has long been attributed to big ticket purchases, new research suggests that the spending preferences of consumers in the Philippines are going against the grain.
The findings of the Filipino financial app UnaCash reveal that users in its home market prefer to use the service for purchases up to the cost of PHP5,000 ($86).
The service is most commonly used in the purchase of electronics and household appliances at 39 per cent, followed by household and interior items at 21 per cent and food orders at 15 per cent.
As the data suggests, BNPL is less popular in other areas, notably in the purchase of medical services at seven per cent, cosmetics at six per cent and travel vouchers at five per cent.
Interestingly, only four per cent of BNPL purchases in the Philippines are for goods relating to hobbies and entertainment; although mention of specific items is sparse.
The average BNPL purchase for 26 per cent of respondents to the company’s study ranges from PHP5,001 to PHP10,000 ($172), whilst 19 per cent answered PHP10,001 to PHP20,000 ($344).
Almost half (48 per cent) use BNPL at least once a month. The service is being accessed almost exclusively through the use of smartphones, with only four per cent of payments being made by other means.
Convenience remains the determining factor, with integrated BNPL services in online stores seeing the most demand as a payment option with instalments.
Sixty-one per cent of consumers choose to use it in need of extra money. Another 20 per cent borrow from friends/relatives, whilst 14 per cent pay with a credit card.
