Pay With Two Credit Cards

Today I ordered an accessory from the Apple Computer website and noticed something I had not seen before. During the checkout process a “pay with two credit cards” button appeared. Curious, I clicked the button and discovered an option that allows customers to split the cost of their purchases across two credit cards with the flexibility to decide how much of the total to put on each one.

The splitting of online purchases may be more common than I am aware, but this is the first I had seen this option. Of course, Apple sells items that can cost several thousand dollars and, as a result, will often be out of reach for someone with a modest credit limit. Young college students purchasing a computer might not have enough juice in their accounts to handle the bill. But I suspect this payment option is also an indication of the kind of debt-juggling many consumers undertake on a daily basis. By offering the card-splitting option, Apple makes it possible for the buyer who is near the limit on several credit cards to cobble together enough credit to float the purchase of a new iPod or laptop. People who are living this close to their credit limits may represent a relatively small segment of the potential sales market, but from Apple’s point of view, allowing card-splitting is a very simple way to increase sales. Unfortunately, for the consumer who struggling to managing temptation and debt, this system removes one more natural barrier to indulgence.

PS Curiosity has its costs. After clicking the “pay with two cards“ button it took me several minutes to escape from that detour and pay for my item with a single card. Caveat emptor.