Remember this post: Paying for eBay shipping labels with a credit card instead of PayPal balance: Is it a myth? Legend?
Well, I was getting traffic to that page from the eBay forums and God bless eBay User pilgrimelectronics because s/he had the solution.
So here’s how to change the method of payment for eBay shipping labels.
- Log into your PayPal account.
- On the top navbar, click Profile.
- Once in Profile, go to My Money.
- Click the “Update” link next to “My preapproved payments.”
- Click on “eBay Inc Shipping” and then cancel.
Now, the next time you go to print a shipping label there will be a check box under the “Pay and Print” button.
- If you want to automatically pay using your PayPal balance, check this box off before you hit Pay and Print.
- If you DO NOT want to automatically pay using your PayPal balance and would rather use a credit card or similar, hit the Pay and Print button without checking off the box. Then, before you print your label, you will get the option to choose your method of payment.
You have no idea how happy I am to have a solution to this.



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Hello,
As of 11/02/2011 I tried what you mentioned, but it does not work. eBay and paypal will not let you pay for labels with a credit card so long as you have a balance. Both sites will just lead you into a endless loop that will never allow you to use a credit card. The solution is that every time you are paid immediately transfer all of your balance to your bank to bring your balance to zero. Only then will you be able to use your credit card. To make this faster use multiple browser tabs. This is worth it to me because it will add up to a lot of points on my credit card with I can then convert to $.
Just FYI, this does still work, I’m doing it myself. If you are having trouble setting it up, feel free to ask questions, I’d be happy to walk you through it.
Thank you so much!!!!!!
this is great. now even if you empty your balance, you must go through the process of choosing the credit card, they will make you use your checking. I hate that they changed this.. and with no notice. Thanks for the info so I could “unauthorize” my bank account as my first preference.
Just use your credit card to pay for shipping labels, that’s what I do. Then I earn bonus points on it through my card to boot. 😉
Doesn’t work anymore. As of today 3/11/2012, when I click
“Pay and Print” button, the only option is PayPal.
Can you post a screenshot? Because I still have it on mine. What browse are you using? I’m curious if they are getting rid of it only for some users or something…
Theory: are you referring to the check box? Because the checkbox only says PayPal, you have to NOT click it to be able to use credit card or another funding source.
It just occurred to me that might be what you meant because the option is still very much there.
Hi Hillary, i would love it so much if what you’re saying is true. I tried it and as another user said, it only takes me to paypal. I can either log in or create a new account. can you give me any details on what you do? We spend hundreds of dollars everyday and that would be some nice cash back!
It is still working 100% for me in both my accounts. I can’t troubleshoot what might be wrong or where you might have missed a step, though, without knowing what you are doing. Can you give me a screenshot of the shipping label page *after* you’ve reset it but *before* you print the label?
Remember, you aren’t clicking the checkbox… you are intentionally leaving it unchecked to use a credit card. If it takes you to PayPal, this would be because you accidentally checked off the box or didn’t clear the settings properly.
Thank YOU!
Hello,
I did all the steps and cancelled all my pre-approved payments in PayPal (and even some I forgot were there!). I now have the check box under the Pay and Print button. I was excited when I saw that! I left it unchecked however when I clicked Pay and Print, it took me directly to the PayPal sign in page. Any ideas?
Thanks!
You should get the option to skip that and proceed to enter your credit card. Can you give us a screenshot? (blur out any personal details before you post)
Hi Hillary,
Thanks for taking the time to reply to me!
The first image is the eBay label page and the second image is where it takes me when I click on Pay and print (with box unchecked).
Thanks again!
Jamie
I did this for myself a while ago now so I’m working off memory. I believe you need to log into PayPal and then select a credit card as a funding source from in there (it would need to be one of the ones you’ve already associated with your account).
If you can’t see the option for that once you log in, you may need to turn to PayPal help as they may have changed things around recently.
Hi Hillary,When I navigate to Profile>My Money>My preapproved payment, Update>Set Available Funding Sources, I’m able to choose which funding sources should be used for authorized/recurring payments to merchants. However it also states that PayPal will always use the PayPal balance in my account first.
Can you verify if you have the same message in your Manage Funding Source page too?
Do you think it’s possible to set it up so I use my other PayPal account that doesn’t have a daily balance?
Thanks again!
Jamie
I have that same section but mine is set to default to my credit card. If you haven’t set a credit card up with PayPal yet, that’d be why it isn’t giving you that option.
Hi Hillary,
Did you see the screen shot? I do have a credit card set up. And also in the screen shot it says it will use my PayPal balance first, before it uses any credit card. So according to that, I cannot use my credit card unless my PayPal balance is 0. Do you have that statement in your PayPal? Do you read it differently then me?
Thanks,
Jamie
I realize my reply was confusing. I meant that you need to, elsewhere in your Paypal account, I don’t remember the exact page, change your preferences so that it will NOT use your PayPal balance first, it will use your credit card. That’s sort of the crux of this whole change.
To answer your question, yes, you can still have a credit card as your preferred funding method as of today, you’ll just need to set it up.At this point, if you need more help I’d really recommend going to Paypal help.
Hi Hillary,
No matter how I set my PP acct. to use cc only it will not allow me to make shipping labels using my cc if there is $ balance in my pp acct.
I am trying to use cc only & PP won’t allow it. It only works if my balance is 0. I can’t empty my account for every small sale I make on Ebay since the bookkeeping becomes impossible to deal with.
Do you have a suggestion that I missed?
Thanks!!!
Judi
Hi, I have the opposite problem. It automatically debits my credit card/bank account while I would prefer to pay with my PayPal. I’ve tried what you suggested and there’s no option to change it. Please advise.
Awesome thank you so much 🙂
Do you still get the Bowes discount?
Yes, you do! 🙂
Awesome! I am going to try this at the beginning of the year and I’ll get some cash back on my business card 🙂
Thanks!
Hello I am trying to set this up and do not get an option to enter credit card info. Is there something I am doing wrong? See attached screen shot of the screen it gives me only option to pay with paypal balance. Is still working?
Thanks!
Attached here
Here is screen shot of my approved payments on paypal backend as well.
I think I figured it out! You have to change the SET AVAILABLE FUNDING SOURCES after it shows the eBay data. Then uncheck bank account and only leave CC available. Note: Funds to have to be withdrawn to bank account in order for backup payment method to be charged to CC.
hi, how to set up Pre-approved payments ebay inc shipping
i cant print the label from ebay , it always asks me to login the paypal , after i login the paypal, it still does not work
could you help me this, thanks
I was under the impression that this article would show me how to pay for ebay shipping label without using PayPal at all – maybe others thought the same thing? From what I have found, the only way to pay for shipping labels with eBay, is to use PayPal, whether you use a credit, debit, or your PP balance, except purchasing at the post office. Do you know of any way to buy shipping label without using Paypal?