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Official PayPal IPN Support Thread


Mark Evans

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I have installed osc ms2 and paypal IPN v2.3. I also have a website payments Standard business account with paypal.

 

I want to base shipping on weight and location, and I would like to use the shipping calculations feature included in the profile of my paypal account.

 

PROBLEM: I have the calculations set up in the profile but when I'm on the paypal payment page, there are no shipping charges.

 

I spoke to a tech support guy at paypal and he says my osc cart is not passing a weight variable through to paypal.

 

Does anyone know how to fix this problem?

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tedwards

 

Might seem a dumb question, but have you given your products weights?

 

Next I would look at your shipping calcs and modules - by default osC takes the weight or price subtotal, then uses that to calculate the shipping based on how you set your shipping modules to handle it.

 

Alex may be able to shed more light on this, but you'd need to have all items calculate as free shipping on site, then pass just the weight or price subtotal to PayPal, then PayPal would need to apply your in-PayPal shipping calc, write an invoice modification back to osC, then the customer would have to confirm the shipping cost was acceptable and submit the invoice to PayPal for making the payment.

 

Don't know about you, but there's no way on earth I would begin processing a payment without knowing the total cost first, and that's basically what you're asking your customers to do. Forewarning a percentage will be added doesn't cut it I'm afraid - show me the full total and let me decide if I'm going to proceed, otherwise forget it.

 

The in-PayPal shipping calculator is really only for use with the PayPal shopping cart buttons you manually insert into a web 1.0 style website, it's not designed or intended for use with shopping carts like osC, zen etc, nor with the PayPal IPN - - - which is why you have to delete all values from the in-PayPal shipping calculator to get the osC IPN to work correctly. (That's delete all values, not set them to zero - make the box completely empty).

 

 

I'm struggling to understand why you want to use the in-PayPal calculator anyway. The same calculation methods it uses can be set using the table and zone modules that ship with osC, but the osC ones are a lot more flexible (e.g. allowing you to select to ship only to certain states or countries).

 

Hope that assists?

 

Gaz

Wearing a seatbelt prevents head injuries when the computer crashes - - - Yeah Right!!! - not in this office.

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Alex

 

Got an issue I just spotted (must have had the wrong specs on for the last fortnight)

 

using IPN 2.3.2 on RC1

 

In osC (before payment) the small order surcharge shows in checkout, but it's name is not being passed to PayPal, yet it's amount is being passed. The pre-surcharge sub-total and the post surcharge total are correct in PayPal and the osC invoice, but there is an apparent "discrepancy" in the maths because the value and name of the surcharge is not showing on the invoice or in the payment confirmation email - it just appears "out of nowhere" in the final total.

 

I'm sure there's a switch in the ipn file that I've missed, any idea where it is?

 

 

 

Got a second one kicked in - not sure it's directly from the IPN or from the ISP or site host though

- customer emails are being sent, but site owner's emails and "extra" sales email are not being received when changing order status from "processing" to "delivered"

- is this an expected situation? Or is it supposed to send an email confirmation when making that status change manually?

If it's the expected result (that site and sales do not get email) then no problem, I can live with it. But if they are supposed to get emails, I'd like to identify and clear what's causing it.

 

Thanks

Gaz

Wearing a seatbelt prevents head injuries when the computer crashes - - - Yeah Right!!! - not in this office.

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Might seem a dumb question, but have you given your products weights?

 

Gaz

 

Thanks for the reply. My products do have weight and the reason why I wanted to use in-paypal shipping calculations is because I ship both nationally and internationally (based on weight) and I want customers to choose btwn. priority mail and (the more expensive) express mail. So basically, when a customer from Australia is ready to checkout I want him/her to be able to select priority shipping for ex. $15 or express shipping for $22. But if a US customer places the same order, I want him/her to have the same options but with lower rates: ex. priority for $8 and express for $13.

 

This seems be easy to set-up in the paypal profile but I'm not to familiar with osc so if the zone and table rates can do this (give customers the option) I would def. look into it.

 

If this is the case could you please let me know?

 

Thanks again

Tim

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Gaz

 

Thanks for the reply. My products do have weight and the reason why I wanted to use in-paypal shipping calculations is because I ship both nationally and internationally (based on weight) and I want customers to choose btwn. priority mail and (the more expensive) express mail. So basically, when a customer from Australia is ready to checkout I want him/her to be able to select priority shipping for ex. $15 or express shipping for $22. But if a US customer places the same order, I want him/her to have the same options but with lower rates: ex. priority for $8 and express for $13.

 

This seems be easy to set-up in the paypal profile but I'm not to familiar with osc so if the zone and table rates can do this (give customers the option) I would def. look into it.

 

If this is the case could you please let me know?

 

Thanks again

Tim

 

 

Hi Tim

 

Forgive my laziness - - - this is part of a review i wrote on another site regarding a supposed competitor to osCommerce (I've trimmed it a bit to keep it relevant) - - -

 

 

.... Postal rates globally are based around 10-gram, 20-gram, or part-ounce weight increments for base-cost calculation, then the applicable weight is applied to a country + service schedule of prices.

 

As an example

-- most post offices offer 4 basic international services - Sea Mail, Economy Air, Airmail, EMS - the names may vary but they are essentially the same service types with similar delivery lead times.

-- each of those also usually has two price groups - small package (for under 2 Kg) and regular (for over 2Kg) = a minimum of 8 basic services.

-- each service type has different geo-zones - for example Sea Mail from here (Thailand) has 11 zones, Economy has 15, Airmail has 6, and EMS has 13 - the countries in any one zone for any one service are rarely the same group as for the same numbered zone by another service (e.g. there is no Airmail to the Falkland Islands from here, and no Sea Mail to Afghanistan)

 

Having applied the base cost by weight and service to the geo-zones, the optional services need added.

A short list of options that have fixed prices per package regardless of service or destination include -

- Insured Delivery (based on package contents value + postage)

- Registered Delivery

- Expedited Handling

- Addressee Receipt Return (A/R)

- Online Tracking (available as an option in some countries)

- Escorted Transit (e.g. air passenger courier)

and so on.

The problem is, I have never seen any shipping module cover these options (there is an osCommerce one for gift wrapping which can be duplicated and renamed for each of the above options, thus building the options list at shipping selection in checkout, but it gets buggy as your list grows if you hack it that way).

 

All of the above relates only to post office services (before adding in named couriers) and you can imagine the admin configuration gets massive quite quickly. So far, I've only found that osCommerce can handle it effectively by using tax zones as geo-zones for shipping, and tweaking and duplicating the shipping_zones module to make one module for each service, with the php file hacked to set the number of geo-zones for each service. It is stable if you do that.

 

 

I spent 3 weeks solid, liaising with our local post office to get all the rate sheets, duplicating and editing the zones modules, creating the tax zones (plus around 20 corrections and updates to the osC 2.2RC1 countries list that took a full day to identify and correct), inputting the zones lists, then adding the zones and rates to the modules.

 

The upshot is an extremely accurate, fully-global, postal set that offers customers up to 12 postal shipping options (country dependant) and will never offer them a service they cannot have, will always charge accurate postal rates (competitive advantage) and will offer available postal upgrades applicatble to the service and their location. Basically, I rebuilt inside osC, my own version of the ThaiPost Rates site. I know I can ship to any country in the world and at checkout the customer will be offered only the services and upgrades available to them, at a price that doesn't use rounding and weight-fudging, but which also ensures all costs are paid for (including packaging, postage for weight of packaging, handling and admin etc).

 

Oz Post has very similar services to Thailand (though I think you've dropped the outbound SAL Economy Airmail this year?) and if you wanted me to do the same for your site, I could do. It would take me around 2 weeks to complete and I would need admin access to your site's back end. Obviously, I'd need paid for it.

 

As you're in a different country, it's not yet within my skills to simply send you a duplicate of my files because they need tweaked for Oz, and all the tax/geo zones need created from within admin, plus the rates need input directly to the zones' admin panels. (It's a SQL issue - I'm not competent to create the pre-populated SQL files - I admit it ;) )

 

Local postage was done simply on the basis of basic table rates (as opposed to zones) to keep domestic and international separate.

 

I also did a similar thing for PayPal zones based on the level of authorisation PayPal gives to each country.

It takes a bit of effort to get your head around the "Localization/Localisation" and "tax-zones" panels in osC admin, but it's well worth doing.

 

Gaz

Wearing a seatbelt prevents head injuries when the computer crashes - - - Yeah Right!!! - not in this office.

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Forgot to say - one task on the pinboard still to do is remove PayPal from the payment options if the customer chooses sea mail

 

Seamail & associated in-transit handling and customs clearance can give 3-month (90-day) depatch to delivery times. Buyers get twitchy around the 40 day mark and file non-delivery claims with PayPal, which the seller ALWAYS loses because the goods are not delivered and cannot be tracked online.

 

NEVER NEVER NEVER believe a buyer who says they understand about the 90-day possibility and will not file a chargeback before their 45 days of grace expire - they WILL file - EVERY time (to cover their own asses with PayPal, not because they distrust the seller).

 

I want to set the payment end so that only non-refunding services like MoneyBookers or Bank Transfer is available if they choose Sea Mail ..... but that'll have to wait until nearer Christmas as I've got too many jobs on to look at it right now.

 

Gaz

Wearing a seatbelt prevents head injuries when the computer crashes - - - Yeah Right!!! - not in this office.

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snoboreders

 

For the invoice already paid issue, you have two options

 

1 - within the current PayPal IPN install instructions (or in the CCGV(trad) instructions - I've forgotten which) is a hack to add a single unique alpha-character for each of your installations, to the front of the invoice number passed to PayPal. This renders the invoice number unique, and it cannot be confused with invoices from other sites.

 

2 - within your PayPal Profile, web payment settings, turn off the checking for duplicate invoice numbers - that's the easiest to do but does remove the error checking needed if you have multiple sites and will make your PayPal transaction history less search-friendly if you need to locate a specific invoice.

 

(I've done both of the above because I got sick to the back teeth of spurious errors and have so many online sales outlets - not had an issue since I did that)

 

Regarding the other issue - it would help if you'd post IPN module name and version number, osC version, php version etc. Have your web hosts upgraded their Apache, SQL, or php recently? Has that affected how the datacalls are made from your site - lots of possibilities, not enough data.

 

As stated by the robot in that memorable movie "Number 5" - "need more input" :lol:

 

Gaz

Wearing a seatbelt prevents head injuries when the computer crashes - - - Yeah Right!!! - not in this office.

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Thanks for the info Gaz. I will try those suggestions when I get some free time (first year of teaching is really catching up with me).

 

Here is my osCommerce: 2.2 MS2

PHP: 4.3.11

osCommerce_PayPal_IPN_2.2

 

database is hosted through GoDaddy.

 

I originally configured this module at the end of August, and it was working fine. If it's working, don't touch it. When having some problems with an RSS reader and a multiple picture option that I was trying to isntall, I uploaded a saved version of the website from 10/13. I didn't think this should be the problem...but honestly have no idea.

 

Thanks for the help.

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I uploaded a saved version of the website from 10/13. I didn't think this should be the problem...but honestly have no idea.

 

Thanks for the help.

 

 

10/13 ????

 

That might be your problem ....

 

.... there's only 12 months in the year :P

 

 

:lol:

 

 

Did you restore the database as well as the files? Or only do one or the other?

 

You might have some spurious database tables and / or code in the files if you didn't do both.

 

That said - PayPal is broken - see this blog post

 

Gaz

Wearing a seatbelt prevents head injuries when the computer crashes - - - Yeah Right!!! - not in this office.

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lol 10/13 is the American way of saying 13/10. So Oct 13th. The problem is this :wacko: I have never backed up the db before because I was unsure what it was. Last night I backed it up, but that doesn't make sense if something is broken. I believe in the original error (see my first post on pg 154) it points to the table that is broken; however, I have no idea about sql, so I cannot figure out how to fix it.

 

That being said, I did not restore the db, and only the files.

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"The page never offers something where you can type in the numbers for a credit card, it just goes straight to confirmation. Yet no money is transfered. "

 

This has me a little confused - the input of credit card info on site is not part of the IPN. It is something done at PayPal.

You would only have customers inputting that data on your site if you were using a proper credit card gateway, and only if SSL was enabled

 

Did you have SSL working before (you said you disabled it)? That might be the root of the problem.

 

Gaz

Wearing a seatbelt prevents head injuries when the computer crashes - - - Yeah Right!!! - not in this office.

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Well I have SSL working, but not for the module I guess (still having trouble understanding all the required keys). Regardless, I didn't disable or enable anything in the past two months.

 

Well then I guess the problem lies in paypal. There is no option to pay for the item...there is an error that pops up, and no credit card input.

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Hopefully Alex will be back soon and may be able to shed light on something in the code (I'm not a programmer unfortunately)

 

The best place for help with SSL for the module is in the readme used together with the instructions at PayPal for getting the public and private keys. I don't use it myself, but my module is working.

 

Have you set up a sandbox account to test it?

Wearing a seatbelt prevents head injuries when the computer crashes - - - Yeah Right!!! - not in this office.

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Because you restored an old database backup, which reverted the orders_id back a bit, there for you're now sending duplicated 'invoice_id' along with the payments to PayPal. Just turn off the duplicated payment checking in your PayPal profile setting and you'll be fine.

Super Download Shop, PayPal Express Checkout IPN, Selling Downloads, Visual Validation (preventing robotic flood), phpBB2 Integration

 

Yes, I'm willing to help, but please ask in the right place. Think twice before trying to PM me, it might be ignored.

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Thanks for the response guys.

 

Alex, I never restored the old database backup because I did not have one. I just uploaded a one month old saved copy of my website via FTP.

 

However, I did notice in my Instant Payment Notification section of my Paypal profile this:

 

 

 

Instant Payment Notification (IPN) Off

Instant Payment Notification (IPN) URL:

 

Not sure if that is important. If so, would I have to make a new page for the URL?

 

Thanks for the help.

Edited by Snoboreders
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I'm having an issue with osCommerce 2.2-MS2 and osCommerce PayPal IPN Module v2.3.2 For 2.2MS2.

 

When the customer makes the payment and the payment is accepted the order status does not change from "Preparing [PayPal IPN]" to "Processing" as it used to, it just stays the same. I had read that this can take some time however I have orders processed over 24 hours ago that havent changed.

 

I've done a whole lot of googing but can't find a solution to this. Is anyone able to shed some light?

 

Not sure if any of this info helps:

Server Host: ********************** Database Host: localhost (127.0.0.1)

Server OS: Linux 2.6.9-55.ELsmp Database: MySQL 4.1.22-standard

Server Date: 11/15/2007 14:52:41 Datebase Date: 11/15/2007 14:52:41

Server Up Time: 14:52:41 up 49 days, 2:24, 0 users, load average: 1.13, 1.21, 1.14

 

HTTP Server: Apache/1.3.39 (Unix) mod_auth_passthrough/1.8 mod_log_bytes/1.2 mod_bwlimited/1.4 FrontPage/5.0.2.2635.SR1.2 mod_ssl/2.8.30 OpenSSL/0.9.7a PHP-CGI/0.1b

PHP Version: 5.2.3 (Zend: 2.2.0)

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ok just a couple minor problems i am experiencing.

 

1.) I am not seeing inventory being adjusted once i hit the confirmation page and am taken to paypal. For some reason it is not removing the inventory there or am i looking at how this works wrong?

 

2.) If I use Transaction Type: Per Item, and Move Tax To Total Amount: False, I see each individual item correctly but there is an extra line which tries to charge a Shipping Tax. How do i get rid of that Shipping Tax? If I use Aggregate and include the tax in total it calculates properly but then there is just one big line of the store name instead of individual products.

 

Jason

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Adam, have you set everything properly in your oscommerce module admin? Also, was there anything you did recently that may have caused this?

 

OK so here is what has happened recently

 

1) Tried to setup another (Hard coded) store and used the PayPal integrated shipping thing to work out the shipping

2) Noticed that shipping no longer got charged through osCommerce. Did some googling and saw that I cant used the PayPal shipping as this breaks the PP IPN. Cleared the shipping out but didnt fix it. Upgraded to latest version of the PP IPN - That fixed the shipping, but now no status change.

3) 2 Weeks ago the site was moved to a new server, the site doesnt get a lot of orders (1-3 a week) and I have a feeling the status thing may have been happening since then, but havent got a clue where to start looking if its a server config thing.

 

We had some permission issues with the server move, but fixed all the ones it warned me about. Is there perhaps another file somewhere that could have wrong permissions that would accept a response back from the IPN?

Edited by adamjnz
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I believe you can find your answer by using the 'search topic' button below (near bottom of this page).

Super Download Shop, PayPal Express Checkout IPN, Selling Downloads, Visual Validation (preventing robotic flood), phpBB2 Integration

 

Yes, I'm willing to help, but please ask in the right place. Think twice before trying to PM me, it might be ignored.

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I'm having a problem with Paypal adding shipping tax. This only occurs when the customer orders more than one of any item. They can order a hundred different items...no shipping tax, but as soon as they order two the same...shipping tax is added on those two items.

 

Sorry if this has been solved before, but 155 pages of posts to wade through is a little much.

 

Any ideas out there.

 

Many thanks.

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I'm having a problem with Paypal adding shipping tax.

 

I did dig through the posts and it seems this may be unique.

 

My 'Display Prices with Tax' is false in admin under config->My Store

In Payapl IPN, I have transaction type as Per Item and Move Tax to total amount as False

 

All of my products are tangible requiring shipment but there is no shipping tax.

 

To repeat, my problem is...as soon as a customer orders more than one of any product, shipping tax gets passed to paypal even though it does not show on the customer side or admin side of the order.

 

Thanks for any help.

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Alex, knowing that I never restored the db...what do you suppose the problem is? Can you suggest some files for me to look? It seems that the error (posted a few posts back) points to the db, and not the php files. But I am not sure what to do in that product attribute table.

 

Thank you.

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