For many years PayPal has deposited users on its shopping portal when they log out of their PayPal account. This afternoon I saw something different at logout for the first time in recent memory, a pitch for the PayPal Plus MasterCard (screenshot below).

Although the company has marketed this card to me dozens of times immediately after logging in, it’s the first time I remember seeing it after logging out. The hook is the card’s new personalized photo option.

But a funny thing happened when I clicked on the Get Started button: I was dropped on to PayPal’s homepage where an error message explained:

You must log in before you can access this page.

A very odd requirement for an offer made after logging out. I followed the instructions and logged in, but there was no mention of the credit card. I just ended up at the regular account management page.

I guess it was PayPal’s turn for a programming glitch (see yesterday’s post on Rudder). Luckily, this problem doesn’t impact anything but PayPal’s online marketing results (see note 1). When I logged out this time, I was shown the usual PayPal shopping portal (see third screenshot). 

PayPal pitched its PayPal Plus MasterCard at logout
(21 May 2009, 3:30 PM Pacific)

 Error message after clicking “Get Started” on offer page
(21 May 2009)

 PayPal logout offer a few minutes later (21 May 2009)

Note:
1. For more info, see our most recent Online Banking Report: Selling Behind the Password