After paying with paypal, if user doesnt click "go back to merchant", Order doesnt go

[bcbailey]

Hello,

I have been using zen cart for awhile. The paypal plugin has worked for several transactions.

However, the latest transaction, the user finished the paypal payment, but then didnt click the "go back to merhcant" button.

Paypal sent me an email saying I received new funds, but Zen Cart didnt know the order went through. Now I have no idea what this customer ordered.

Can I force the order to go through before payment is even processed?

Thanks
--Ben

[Ajeh]

What version of Zen Cart are you using?

[bcbailey]

umm... I dont know... It was brand new about 6 months ago.

my site is:
www.chermere.ca

How do I find out?

--Ben

[Ajeh]

Look in the Admin ... Tools ... Server Info ...

[bcbailey]

Hi,

Zen-Cart 1.3.0

Server OS: Linux 2.6.16.27-AMDv8 Database: MySQL 4.1.21-standard
Server Date: 11/28/2006 21:25:28 Database Date: 11/28/2006 21:25:28

Thanks for the quick reply

--Ben

[Ajeh]

Recheck your PayPal settings on PayPal's website ... make sure that you have the return URL, IPN, etc. enabled and configured ...

On occaision these get changed by PayPal ... no telling why ...

But in the v1.3.x we had made PayPal smarter than the average bear and know to return to complete the order regardless of if the customer returned back to the site ...

NOTE: you really need to upgrade to v1.3.6 ... there are a number of bugfixes and security issues that have been addressed since then plus the usually new features we like to add with each release ...

NOTE: with upgrades, it is always a good idea to save settings on all Shipping, Payment and Order Total modules and remove and install then re-configure them again for any new changes ...

[trippy1976]

So if the customer does not come back to the site the order is never logged/completed at all?

I've had several recent instances (out of 2500+ orders) that the customer eventually gripes they never got their order. We ask for PP txn id and sure enough, it's there. Once we process the *refund* the order appears wtih the next order ID.

It would be MUCH better to have the order go into the system before going to PayPal and in a "payment pending" status and then later be updated. Then at least you can see these orders.

Based on what I am seeing - they are invisible until the customer returns from PayPal? Where in the database are they tucked? Order ID in the zen_orders table is an auto increment, which seems to indicate they are not stored there. Nothing else looks very obvious for a temporary table.

Anyone know how to address this problem? If (when) IPN fails, it appears we are left unawares of some orders that are actually paid.

[Ajeh]

I am saying in the v1.3.x series we changed it so whether or not the customer returns to the site we made PayPal smart enough to do so ...

Note: you are using a reall old version of Zen Cart ...

So I am not sure off the top of my head if the issues are in your old version or if there is something not correctly setup ...

Was this a clean install of v1.3.0 or an upgrade?

If an upgrade, what version did you upgrade from and how?

Do you have an URL to your site?

[trippy1976]

Mine is a clean install of 1.3.x

I do need to do updates, but the issue is not consistent. It's only 1 or 2 out of 100 or so orders. The orders were on the same day but hours apart. It's possible IPN was down during that time.

The larger issue is that the orders are completely invisible until some kind of IPN comes in. It's not so widespread to be that large of a problem, but without being able to see the orders at all, we can't check and change status manually. They are just not there.

This is what happens:

- Customer places order
- Click "confirm" and is sent to PayPal
- Makes payment

Beyond that, I don't know, but what puzzles me is why the orders are not created in some kind of pending status when the user hits "confirm" and before they are sent for payment.

[trippy1976]

Ajeh,

Thanks for your help so far. If you can help me sort this out, it's definitely worth a big cup 'o coffee for the zen crew. :)

I know it's late... this post is just a prelude to hitting the sack myself, dreaming that I'll wake up to your magic answer :) Thanks in advance for any help at all.