Zip Crafts Partnership With Swappa Used Tech Platform

Buy now, pay later (BNPL) company Zip on Wednesday (Feb. 9) announced it has partnered with used technology marketplace Swappa to become the only company of its kind offered on the platform.

Swappa’s partnership with Zip means more customers can buy secondhand smartphones, laptops, tablets, smartwatches, gaming systems, cameras, and smart home technology and pay for it in installments rather than all at once, according to the announcement.

“As the … BNPL partner for Swappa, Zip is excited to bring a new short-term financing option to consumers interested in peer-to-peer marketplaces,” said Levi Aron, chief growth officer, Zip Co US Inc., in the announcement.

“Secondhand tech is an affordable option for tech lovers, and BNPL can help even more shoppers access and budget for the electronics they need,” he said.

Swappa emphasizes safety, simplicity, low fees and the “human factor” in its sales. The platform has led to sales between millions of buyers and sellers since it was founded in 2010 and follows a “no junk, no jerks” policy that has helped it attain near-perfect feedback on Trustpilot, the announcement says.

“Our customers are increasingly asking for more flexible payment options, so we’re thrilled to partner with Zip to offer BNPL options,” Ben Edwards, founder and CEO of Swappa, said in the announcement.

“With Zip, we are offering our customers a simple and transparent payment option that’s easy to use and convenient,” he said.

Related: BNPL Firm Zip ‘in Discussions’ About Buying Sezzle

In January, Zip announced that it is exploring acquiring installment payment platform Sezzle. Zip “confirm(ed) it is in discussions” about acquiring the other company, noting that the company’s board has been committed to making sure all its transactions deliver value to shareholders.

Sezzle wrote in its media release last month that it was “engaged in preliminary discussions with Zip regarding a possible merger.” The company recently expanded its long-term finance product by partnering with Genesis Credit and Oportun.