[dhosek]

When I graduated college, I furnished my apartment with furniture paid for with 0% financing on the Stør¹ credit card. Reading the fine print, if I didn't pay off the card in full by the end of six months, I would be charged some outrageous interest rate (over 20% IIRC—but this was 31 years ago so I could be wrong), backdated over the life of the loan. A lot of 0% financing works on similar bait-and-switch terms. If you look at the fine print on auto financing deals, it often requires a high down payment and short loan term and it's there more to get people into the dealership than anything else. Those few who are able to actually use it are considered an advertising cost.

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1. Stør was similar to IKEA but Danish and a bit more downmarkt

[lotsofpulp]

I have bought at least 3 vehicles with 0% interest loans, and no down payment.

The seller would not give me a lower price if I paid all or a portion in cash at the time of purchase. The only cost to me is the effect on my credit, but that is negligible unless if you are not excessively indebted.