PayPal Ordering Instructions

by Mary Jo Megginson
Link your PayPal account to a credit card or your bank account to streamline your online shopping experience.

Link your PayPal account to a credit card or your bank account to streamline your online shopping experience.

Jupiterimages/Brand X Pictures/Getty Images

PayPal has become a standard method for paying for purchases made on the Internet. It allows for the electronic transfer of money for both business and personal transactions without having to share personal information such as credit card numbers with the other party. PayPal can be set up to link to a credit card or to a bank account as a source of funds for your purchases, or you can maintain a balance in your PayPal account. More and more stores are starting to offer PayPal as a payment option, and it appeals to many consumers for the enhanced security features as well as the increased speed of completing a transaction without having to enter shipping details and payment information.

Step 1

Visit the e-commerce site of your choice, select the items you wish to purchase and click "Add to Cart."

Step 2

Click "Checkout" when you are ready to pay for your purchase. On some e-commerce sites, there is a special "Checkout with PayPal" button that will bring you directly to the PayPal sign-in page.

Step 3

Select "PayPal" under "Payment Methods" in the Checkout page of the store from which you are making your purchase, then click "Checkout" to open the PayPal login page.

Step 4

Enter your email address and password into the provided boxes, then click "Log in."

Step 5

Review the payment and shipping information to confirm that they are correct, then click "Continue."

Step 6

Click "Place Order" to complete the transaction.

Tip

  • Some online merchants will require you to also create an account on their website before purchasing items. When you enter the email address and password linked to you PayPal account, you simply have to click "Pay Now" to complete the transaction. Step 6 will not be necessary.
  • PayPal offers a debit card for its users that will enable you to use PayPal to pay for items in places that do not normally accept PayPal.

Warning

  • Never share your PayPal password with anyone, and be aware of phishing scams that request your password through unsolicited emails.

About the Author

Mary Jo Megginson has been writing since 1992 in academic and professional settings. Her experience ranges from writing policy documents and text panels for museums to technical writing for a major software company. She holds a Master of Arts in anthropology from McMaster University and a Master of Museum Studies from the University of Toronto.

Photo Credits

  • Jupiterimages/Brand X Pictures/Getty Images