Why does PayPal suck so bad? I tried to set up a Venmo for donations and I failed. PayPal’s UI is awful.
ChatGPT Speaks:
You’re definitely not alone in finding PayPal frustrating—many users vent similar frustrations online. Here’s a breakdown of the most common pain points, especially relating to UI (user interface) and the headaches with setting up Venmo for donations:
Why PayPal Can Feel Clunky
1. Terrible Navigation & Overly Nested Menus
Users frequently report that the PayPal UI buries features deep within nested menus, making it hard to find what you need:
“I agree with you that this interface is terrible. It has a form of design that is obviously intended to hide your information… finding a sub category … you will have to dig back and forth until you find the button.” [PayPal Community
2. Poor Readability & Excessive White Space
The redesign with larger fonts and spacing makes scrolling a chore and reduces visibility:
“The new Transaction page uses big font … You can see a whole 8 transactions and then I have to hit the more button and scroll…” PayPal Community
3. Inconsistent Layouts & Confusing Checkout
The checkout process is overly complex, full of fields and confusing flows, even for experienced users:
“So why is the checkout SO COMPLICATED??? … I literally couldn’t understand what’s going on. So many instructions. So many fields to fill.” Reddit
4. Clumsy Authentication & Timeouts
Frequent logouts and multi-click login processes erode usability:
“PayPal times out… logging back in requires three clicks … click the log in prompt… log in button… ignore the promotional message… and click ‘go to my account.’ … design is annoying as all get?out.” PayPal Community
5. Dark UX Patterns & Hidden Defaults
Some design choices seem intentionally deceptive—like defaulting to paid options even after selecting free ones:
“It had defaulted to the ‘transfer now’ choice, so it cost me $6. … What a horrible thing to do.” Reddit
6. Glitches When Adding Bank Accounts
Many users struggle to link bank accounts due to awkward UI behavior:
“Try to add Fidelity as a bank account… No path forward… Workaround: type a bunch of garbage, and it will show you a button that will let you manually enter account details.” Reddit
7. Slow Performance & Looping Login Screens
Frequent re-authentication and laggy pages make the experience feel sluggish:
“Every step needs so much loading time. Every 1?minute I need to re?login. The dashboard and the activity feed is so confusing.” Reddit
Setup Nightmares with Venmo Charity Profiles
If you’re trying to set up donations through Venmo via PayPal (especially for nonprofits), that introduces an extra layer of complexity.
Common Issues From the Trenches:
Loops and endless redirects between platforms:
“It takes me to Venmo Charity Profiles… then says ‘already verified’ and takes me back to PayPal. I’m getting so frustrated!” PayPal Community
Renowned for being flaky and unresponsive support:
“I’ve been struggling for two months… get the same error message… Venmo’s support folks are stumped… they open a tech ticket and nothing happens.” Reddit
Account freezing or merging with personal profiles:
“It was a nightmare… The account was frozen upon creation… multiple chats… have led to nothing.” Reddit
Discomfort with linking a personal account to the charity:
“They require it to be linked to a personal Venmo account… I don’t want my personal account linked to the charity I volunteer for part?time.” Reddit
Official Requirements That Make It Tough:
You must verify charity status via PayPal.
The same person must own both the PayPal and Venmo accounts—ownership is non-transferable. Venmo Help Center
Venmo will reject setups if info doesn’t match or there’s a mismatch in phone number, ownership, or account status. Venmo Help Center+1
Additional errors like “we can’t confirm your info,” “this link isn’t shareable,” or “timeout” are common blockers. Venmo Help Center
Summary Table
Issue Area
Why It Sucks
Navigation & Layout
Buried menus, oversized layout, poor readability
Checkout & Flow
Confusing steps, redundant forms — even returning users get tripped up
Authentication & Timeouts
Frequent logouts, multi-step login, slow loading
UX Design Choices
Hidden defaults magnified to extract fees or clicks
Technical Glitches
Bank linking weirdness, looping screens, unresponsive mobile buttons
Venmo Charity Integration
Ownership constraints, approval loops, flawed error handling, limited support
What You Can Do Next
For UI frustration: Consider providing feedback directly via the PayPal Community, or exploring third-party integrations (like DonorBox or Stripe) for smoother UX.
For Venmo setup:
Make sure the charity owner matches across accounts.
Use unique phone numbers and avoid account overlap.
Address any “good standing” issues with IRS or regulatory bodies first.
Be prepared to navigate redirects and reach out persistently to support.
August 15, 2025 10:00 am | by Craig Webb | Posted in
Art
1st print image on the stone
Today is the last day of the summer session at The Art Students League. I am finishing up my work in the lithography studio.
Midway through the July monthly session I was hired as a monitor for the two printing studios, etching and lithography. The Art Students League has a system of classroom monitors to open and close studios, and to watch over the artists who are working there. The monitor job is a minor position of responsibility and trust. I received credit towards tuition as compensation, which allowed me to work in August.
I found the artists and culture at The Art Students League to be engaged and friendly. The Art Students League has been a gateway and window into the New York City artist community.
The Battle of Hong Kong – Tear gas fight
I recommend The Art Students League to anyone who wants to connect and make art in New York City. Their system is that artists sign up for monthly sessions. Rather than paying semester-long fees, participation costs are thus minimized. Artists can ask to have sessions count toward a certificate program if they so choose.
In July I created a lithograph entitled “The Battle of Hong Kong – Tear gas fight”. I made a small edition of 20 prints. In August I embarked on a two-color print which is untitled. That project ended with a series of artist proofs. I did not make an edition of the print.
Friends lithograph
Yesterday and today I knocked out a final print, a touche-wash print entitled “Friends”. I made a small edition of eleven prints.
I look forward to working again at The Art Students League as well as other art opportunities.
The Litho Shop at The Art Students LeagueThe Art Students League
Last week I made a jump into a new (old) direction. I signed up to make lithographs at The Art Students League in New York City.
I looked at the summer schedule in May. Lithography is offered for June 2025.
I had to decide quickly. The listing cryptically said “June 2025” and June began on a Sunday. The lithography class has a requirement to talk to the professor before signing up. He was holding interviews on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. That meant a danger of missing a week’s time.
I went to The Art Students League on Monday and invaded the facility to get a first look. The lithography shop was empty. The litho shop is rather small compared to university press shops. The presses have leather-strapped stretcher bars. The black ink rollers were wrapped in plastic. I did not see any color rollers. I did not see any color ink.
Litho Stones on Shelf
The Art Students League Litho Shop has a good many stones including some large ones. There is a small hand-crank lift to move stones from the shelf to tables and the press.
The layout was strange. I went home with doubts about enrolling.
Tuesday morning I woke and faced my fears and doubts. I went back to see the professor and took a second look.
The class professor is Michael Pellettieri. Michael turned out to be a very wise, kind man. He asked about my history and I showed a few prints from my website.
Micheal knew a professor at Cornell from when I was there. When I was at Cornell the professor was a professor emeritus.
Micheal suggested that I sign up for Wednesday/Thursday instead of Monday/Tuesday. I went home and tore up my storage area searching for my box of litho supplies and tools.
Stretcher bars and rollers
On Wednesday the shop assistant, Diego, gave me two stones. He offered a large stone but I could not move it from the shelf. The shelf rollers are plastic piping on rods and are hard to roll. I chose two medium-sized stones instead, a grey stone and a yellow stone. I spent Wednesday graining both stones. Diego made fresh paper covers for my stones to keep them clean.
On Thursday I had time to talk to Michael Pellettieri. He also teaches etching and is often in the etching room. I made trips to The Art Students League Art Supply Store and back. I talked to other students and monitors. I did not get more done than to gum out borders on my stones.
A huge limitation at The Art Students League is that people are not allowed to be in the shop except during the assigned “class time”. They keep things locked up. This is especially toxic for lithography as it is not practical to drag the stones home to work. I am used to a schedule of working from 8 am to 11 pm, seven days per week.
Litho Presses
It is possible to pay to come on Fridays for four hours. The extra fee is $20. I paid at the bursars office. I came back on Friday afternoon to knock out a couple of touche images. I added texture with Korn’s crayons to provide for a comprehensive first test.
On Wednesday I will etch and then print. Thursday I will grain the stones and start a next set of images. I am excited to be working with lithography again.
June 2, 2025 2:20 pm | by Craig Webb | Posted in
Art
Recently I gathered small paintings that I mostly painted this year and brought them outside to give a first coat of spray varnish.
Egg tempera paintings on my art table
These are egg tempera paintings, mostly on canvas but some are on paper. It is a good idea to apply a coat of varnish to egg tempera paintings after they have had time to fully dry and polymerize.
After applying the spray varnish I brought them back inside and set them on my office desk and art table for a few days. It gave me a chance to see them together and appreciate them together.
Egg tempera paintings on my desk
What I like most about egg tempera painting is the vibrancy of color that can be achieved. My work is still developing. It feels good to see all the paintings together to see and assess my development.
May 25, 2025 2:20 pm | by Craig Webb | Posted in
Art
The smile of my African Spirit
I brought my African Spirit sculpture outside to give it a coat of teak oil.
My African Spirit
I found this spirit in someone’s trash about 20 years ago and brought it home. I found that it had an infestation of termites at the base and on one ear. I sprayed it with bug-spray and the problem never returned.
My African Spirit stood by my front door at my old house. It lives in my office / art studio now.
Periodically I give it a coat of oil, usually lemon oil. The teak oil has made it darker than before. I brought it to the garden to take its portrait.
I like my African Spirit.
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