Partial Payment Plans, Fair deal?

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Technological advancement coupled with digitalization of business platform have seen introduction in transactions which make goods and services more accessible and affordable. A good example is where a customer pays a deposit or makes a downpayment, then continues paying for the device or service in daily, weekly or monthly instalments while as they start using the device. Home solar units are a good example. They are regulated in such a way that they automatically go off if the user fails to make an agreed daily payment. Many smartphones are also being sold in a similar way. Such terms have enabled many people and households in Kenya enjoy products that they could otherwise been unable to have on cash-and-carry basis. My research however left me puzzled when I discovered that people acquiring items on the partial payment plans end up paying up to 5 times the actual market price by the time they have finished paying! A certain solar unit for instance has a market price of Ksh. 5,750 (Approx USD50) but one who pays on partial basis ends up paying Ksh. 22,750 (Approx USD190)! This left me with a question, is partial payment a fair deal. Are such terms common where you live?