(Substack)—With credit cards maxed out and Americans desperate to get the supplies they need for day-to-day living, another personal debt-building trap is being rolled out.
Costco has introduced a buy now, pay later option for U.S. customers making large online purchases through a new partnership with Affirm, announced on Wednesday.
Approved Costco members can use Affirm’s service to “pay over time” for eligible online purchases ranging from $500 to $17,500, according to Affirm. Costco noted on its website that “many” online items are eligible for these installment plans.
During checkout, members undergo a “quick, real-time eligibility check” to view available installment plans, Affirm stated. The company emphasized that the plans offer “transparent pricing and credit offers.”
Installment plans range from three to 36 months with APR rates of 10%-36%, depending on the purchase, per Costco’s website. This payment option is exclusive to Costco’s online platform and not available at its physical warehouses.
As of early May, Costco operated 624 warehouses in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, plus 281 in 13 other countries. While physical locations typically carry fewer than 4,000 product types, the e-commerce site offers 9,000 to 10,000 on average.
At Last, a Company With Integrity in the Gold IRA Industry
For several years, I’ve been vetting out precious metals companies in search of the best. I believe in gold and silver but it’s hard to find integrity in the Gold IRA industry. The vast majority operate with shady tactics and gigantic spreads that take advantage of Americans who simply want to protect their life’s savings.
I’ve found a handful that I like and I’ve worked with some of them. By no means would I “unrecommend” them because, again, I vetted them out and found them to be above the fold. Unfortunately, it isn’t hard to be better than the rest when the rest are so darn awful.
After years of searching, I finally found a company that truly operates with integrity. Augusta Precious Metals has three important attributes that set them far above the competition:
- Non-Commissioned Sales Team: I cannot stress how important and unique this is. With just about every other company in the Gold IRA industry, the sales teams make commission from every account they open. This means they steer their clients toward the gold and silver products with the highest commission. With Augusta Precious Metals, the team is solely focused on putting the best gold and silver for their clients into their IRA. They get paid to serve the best interests of the Gold IRA client, NOT their own commission pay.
- Incredibly Low Fees: Most Americans would be shocked if they knew the spread other Gold IRA companies charge. Augusta charges just 5% versus up to 45% elsewhere.
- No Pressure, No Gimmicks: There’s an understanding among most in the Gold IRA industry that fear and pressure is the way to go. Augusta Precious Metals takes a sober approach when working with clients because they hold integrity in the highest possible regard. This is why they don’t offer gimmicks like “free” or “bonus” silver. It’s also why they do not apply pressure tactics to get quick sales. Their educational and transparent approach to doing business is exceedingly rare in the Gold IRA industry.