Kindle Fire HDX 8.9

Well, that's one way to promote your tablet to price-conscious customers. Amazon has unveiled a new installment plan option for those looking to purchase one of the company's newest Kindle Fire tablets.

If the up-front cost of the Kindle Fire HDX is a bit much for you this holiday season, then you can split your payments to Amazon across a grand total of 270 days from the initial purchase date.

Sounds good? Here's how it works. First up, you take a look at the initial $229 price of the 7-inch Kindle Fire HDX tablet, or the $379 price of the 8.9-inch tablet, mentally rank that against all of the other holiday shopping you have to do, and have a mild heart attack. You then sign up for Amazon's installment service, which seems to offer a no-interest, no-extra-charges option for paying off the device.

Amazon starts by billing you one-fourth the device's cost at checkout, which drops your payment to right around $57 for the most basic iteration of the smaller tablet, or $95 for the larger tablet. Yes, you have to pay the full tax and shipping charges in your first payment as well. Following that, Amazon automatically bills your credit card for an additional one-fourth of the device's total price at increments of 90 days, 180 days, and 270 days. Ta-da!

So, what happens if Amazon can't process the payment and/or you skip out of town, Kindle HDX in tow? Let's take to the fine print.


Also, you might want to make up your mind quickly about your potential purchase. According to Amazon, those looking to benefit from the installment plan option must do so prior the end of the day (Pacific Time) on Dec. 24 — while supplies last, of course.

For more, check out PCMag's review of the 7-inch and 8.9-inch Kindle Fire HDX.