EBAY No Longer Using My PayPal Balance

[bidwilner]

This started awhile ago and I have tried everything and looked at these forums and can not find my answer. I often buy items on EBAY (either auction or buy it now). When I went to pay it always connected to my PayPal account and made the payment via my PayPal Balance (which is set in PayPal as my preferred method of payment). Lately everytime I buy something - it is going to PayPal and using my credit card associated with PayPal to make the payment although there is plenty of dollars in the PayPal balance to take the money directly. This is getting annoying to the point where I may stop buying anything on EBAY. I do not want things I buy here to be charged on my credit card.  I can not seem to be able to change anything on EBAY (or PayPal) that will make it work like it used to. Any suggestions ?

[wastingtime101]

When using buy it now, you're taken to a checkout screen and will have the option, once logged in to PayPal, to select your preferred payment source through PayPal. It shouldn't automatically charge any of those payment methods unless you set up one click checkout (I forget what it's actually called).

As for auctions, it's probably remembering the preferences you set.

If you have one click checkout enabled, try turning that off so it forces you to choose your payment method through PayPal checkout.

You can also try removing PayPal from your eBay wallet, then re-adding it.

[wpt05]

@bidwilner 

Payments

paypal.com/myaccount/preferences/payments

[synth999]

Same here, I just shop on Amazon now, since Ebay won't address the issue. Amazon has a much better user interface and found a much better Cyber Monday deal on Amazon. The Ebay site makes me feel like I am stuck in the 90's. 

[jefe6679]

I have gone rounds with ebay and paypal customer service on this same topic as well.  Everything I have looked into, Ebay does not give you this using paypal balance payment information anywhere, but below is the understanding I have walked away with on the topic:

Ebay sellers have the right to accept or not to accept paypal payments (this info I believe is mostly known and easily found).  If Ebay sellers do accept paypal payments, they have an additional option where they can refuse to accept paypal balance as a payment.  This is the info that no-one tells you.  Everywhere I have looked, this info is not available to check on in seller info.  The sellers payment options they accept will show up, but nowhere will it tell you if they allow you to use your paypal balance or not.  From there, you will either have to message the seller to see if their paypal payments settings allow for you to use your paypal balance or place the order and hope they are one of the fewer that seem to allow for it.

Last note; this is me attempting to read between the lines, but my opinion is ebay is doing their best to push away from paypal payments.  you will see sellers notes that state this:  

utilizes eBay’s managed payments system

From that, my guess is this system does not have the use paypal balance option authorized.  As purchasing from sellers, that system is charging my back up bank account/CC and not using my paypal balance.

[ebooksdiva]

@jefe6679  You are so wrong on so many levels.

Sellers use Managed payments and have no control over what type of payment source a buyer uses.

Sellers can refuse to sell but they can’t pick and choose where a buyers payment comes from. 

Whomever told you that doesn’t have a clue how eBay works. 
Paypal is an accepted form of payment for buyers.

Paypal is no longer the payment processor for seller payouts.  

If you are making a purchase and want to use your PayPal balance you need to click on PayPal at checkout. There you will be directed to your PayPal wallet where you select what your purchase will be paid with.  

[jefe6679]

I appreciate the seller insight as I didnt have that.  The info I sent along I had received from paypal.  In getting your seller's side update though, it looks like I misinterpreted Paypal's response to me.  In the response I had from PayPal's customer service note to me, I thought they were referencing "seller" as individual sellers on ebay, but now think Paypal means the "seller" as ebay itself.  I have pasted the note below in hope to help clarify.

Paypal's customer service remark was:

I see that the transaction of $ USD was charged to your bank instead of PayPal balance because the billing agreement to "eBay" is not eligible to use PayPal balance first as per the settings or requirement from the seller.

I am confirming that we can and I have been selecting paypal for making purchases on ebay.  I did not intend to cause confusion there.

- My hope for this response post was just to bring info to to those buyers using paypal for payments that when buying on ebay it seem the agreement between the companies of paypal and ebay no longer allow for paypal balances to be used.  My quick final note for buyers using Paypal at check out, your back up payment whether its your bank account or credit card;  is what is most likely going to be used or charged with your purchase.  It will most likely not use your paypal balance unfortunately.

Thank you much for the sending along the knowledge from the seller's side.