Paypal IPN and Express Checkout

[vegascoug]

After reading up on this, I think I understand but want to make sure.

I can use IPN and Express Checkout together right? Both options can be in place at once?

As far as I can understand, the Express Checkout is for PayPal members to use, and speeds things up a bit for those members.

However non-PayPal members that want to use a Credit Card or eCheck and not sign up for a PayPal account should use the normal checkout process, and for that I need the IPN module installed and configured, right?

If anyone can shed a little light for me I would really appreciate it. I've read up on this before asking and I think I'm pretty solid, but I like reinforcement if I can get it.

So, if you understand my question and have a good answer, I'm all ears!

Mike

[Kim]

I can use IPN and Express Checkout together right? Both options can be in place at once?

No, you do not need both. Express can also be used by non-PayPal members to pay by Credit Card.

[vegascoug]

Are there any advantages to using one or the other?

If it saves time, it seem slike PayPal Express is the best option.

Am I missing something?

[DrByte]

You can use whichever option you prefer.

Many like the Express Checkout option because of its convenience.
Some are used to not having that option and stick with the older IPN option.

Express tends to get orders into your database more reliably, and faster.

[vegascoug]

Express it is then :)

[tcustomgolf]

Just tested this with a test product.

Express DOES NOT give me the cc option, only the login to paypal and a link to creating an account. IPN DOES give the cc option.

Anything I'm missing? Installed according to directions. Using 1.3.7, patched paypal modules, etc...

[justjoshenu]

Are there any advantages to using one or the other?

If it saves time, it seem slike PayPal Express is the best option.

Am I missing something?

It seems to me that I would need both....
The reason being:

If i am using PayPal Express only, and someone creates their account to check out the regular way, once their order is confirmed on my site and passed to paypal, the only fields paypal fills in are the email field where -as PayPal IPN fills in all of the fields.

If i was a customer, i would not want to enter my information twice, once on the site, then once for paypal.

If they choose the express method, then all is fine and dandy. But if they dont....

am i missing something? should my cart be passing the zen cart account information to paypal with paypal express (paypal ipn does)

[justjoshenu]

do i make any sense:...
simpified:

paypal ipn passes zen cart account information so the customer does not have to fill it in, where-as payapl express does not (besides the email address field.)

[vegascoug]

With PayPal express they don't enter any information on your site, once you click the button you just enter in the PP username and password, or fill in your info and CC information, then it takes you back to the Confirm order page.

Takes less pages, less time, and makes all my customers MUCH happier.