Checkout by Amazon Zen Cart Plug-in

[DivaVocals]

If it's still throwing a 403, then you'll need to check the server logs.

Didn't see anything in the server logs.. BUT.. I had a hunch based on the Amazon XML logs and took a tiptoe through the code of this blasted module..I have a program called Text Crawler and using it I searched the module files for the following text: "ProcessOrderOnCallbackFailure". I found it in this file: checkout_by_amazon/button_generator.php

On line 74 I found this code:

$xmlBuilder->Element('ProcessOrderOnCallbackFailure', 'false');

I changed it to this:

$xmlBuilder->Element('ProcessOrderOnCallbackFailure', 'true');

And Bob's your uncle!!! I FINALLY got past the daggone Amazon login and landed on the checkout page and whaddaya know, the correct flat rate shipping cost is there..

BUT...

Doesn't look like it works with the freeoptions shipping module though.. **SMH**

Have I mentioned how much I dislike this module ???

Even if I get this all to work, the way this module manages the customer records it creates is puzzling to me.. There is no record created in the customer_info table and I believe that this is why the customers created by this module do not show in the customer manager in the admin. (too tired right now to test this)

This module also doesn't "recognize" for lack of a better term, any existing customer account created by a customer.. And I guess this is fine if the customer doesn't wish to create an account. BUT if a customer already has an account set up and makes a purchase using the same e-mail account with Amazon Payments, the order history for their existing account is not updated. It's late, and I'm too tired and irritated at the moment to ponder this any further tonight.. So I need to have a think on this after I have had some sleep and time to ponder the impact of this..

but

tired or not I'm not sure this is a good thing..

[DivaVocals]

ahhh.. forgot to mention the logic (why) I made the change I noted above..

From Amazon's "The Callback API Guide"

6.7 Why Am I Not Receiving a Callback Request?

A callback request is generated for your basket XML only if it meets the following conditions:

You specified the correct XML namespace
(http://payments.amazon.com/checkout/2009-05-15/.
2. You specified the callback endpoint using https:// in Production. (You can use either http:// or
https://when using the Sandbox.)
3. Your basket XML includes a SKU for every specified Item.
4. You have an OrderCalculationCallbacks section in your basket XML similar to the following
(your OrderCallbackEndpoint will differ).

<OrderCalculationCallbacks>
<CalculatePromotions>true</CalculatePromotions>
<CalculateShippingRates>true</CalculateShippingRates>
<OrderCallbackEndpoint>https://my.endpoint.com/receive.php</OrderCalbackEndpoint>
<ProcessOrderOnCallbackFailure>true</ProcessOrderOnCallbackFailure>
</OrderCalculationCallbacks>

That last part of the XML code caught my eye because in the Amazon logs, the value of "ProcessOrderOnCallbackFailure" was showing as "false".. So based on Amazon's documentation it appears that the wrong value was being passed. **shrugs**

[Whot]

Sorry to add to your dislike even more, but if your customer is making use of attributes on his products, then Amazon will not work for his situation. Amazon will not pass the attribute names. Amazon uses the md5 hash in its sku on the order page so it renders useless. Just thought I pass this along before you go crazy fixing everything.

[DivaVocals]

Sorry to add to your dislike even more, but if your customer is making use of attributes on his products, then Amazon will not work for his situation. Amazon will not pass the attribute names. Amazon uses the md5 hash in its sku on the order page so it renders useless. Just thought I pass this along before you go crazy fixing everything.

I'm aware of this.. he doesn't use attributes.. Not fixing anything.. There are far too many issues with this module I have found since my last post here..

[DivaVocals]

Didn't see anything in the server logs.. BUT.. I had a hunch based on the Amazon XML logs and took a tiptoe through the code of this blasted module..I have a program called Text Crawler and using it I searched the module files for the following text: "ProcessOrderOnCallbackFailure". I found it in this file: checkout_by_amazon/button_generator.php

On line 74 I found this code:

$xmlBuilder->Element('ProcessOrderOnCallbackFailure', 'false');

I changed it to this:

$xmlBuilder->Element('ProcessOrderOnCallbackFailure', 'true');

And Bob's your uncle!!! I FINALLY got past the daggone Amazon login and landed on the checkout page and whaddaya know, the correct flat rate shipping cost is there..

BUT...

Doesn't look like it works with the freeoptions shipping module though.. **SMH**

Have I mentioned how much I dislike this module ???

Even if I get this all to work, the way this module manages the customer records it creates is puzzling to me.. There is no record created in the customer_info table and I believe that this is why the customers created by this module do not show in the customer manager in the admin. (too tired right now to test this)

This module also doesn't "recognize" for lack of a better term, any existing customer account created by a customer.. And I guess this is fine if the customer doesn't wish to create an account. BUT if a customer already has an account set up and makes a purchase using the same e-mail account with Amazon Payments, the order history for their existing account is not updated. It's late, and I'm too tired and irritated at the moment to ponder this any further tonight.. So I need to have a think on this after I have had some sleep and time to ponder the impact of this..

but

tired or not I'm not sure this is a good thing..

Don't make this change.. it doesn't fix things at all.. it instead goes straight to the Amazon shipping/taxes and bypasses Zen Cart..

[DivaVocals]

Well I'm done with this module.. there are MANY issues with this module IMHO which make it pretty unusable.

1. Bugfixes identified and documented in this support thread ARE NOT a part of the most recently submitted version of this mod (some of these bugfixes were acknowledged by the user known as AmazonPayments)
2. The way this module manages customers is just flat out WRONG. Furthermore if you are using modules such as FEC, FEAC, or COWOA, you will find that you will be UNABLE to use this mod as it's customer management will eventually cause conflicts with these mods.
3. The sheer number of issues reported with getting callbacks to work leads me to believe either this mod is flawed or the readme file fails to provide COMPLETE configuration instructions
4. There is a distinct LACK of regular support by the community or even by Amazon for this module.

Bottomline there are other more popular/common/generally used payment methods available for Zen Cart (PayPal and Authorize.net for example) which do not require the amount of effort to configure and install that the Amazon Payments for Zen Cart module takes.. The Amazon Payments for Zen Cart module in it's current state is a module with little ROI IMHO.

IMHO, NO legit shop should be running with Amazon Payments as it's ONLY payment method. Unless and until there is much more widespread adoption and support (technical/community) of Amazon Payments as a payment method for ANY website, it can only serve as a secondary payment method on any website. The two days I spent monkeying around with this messy module and the SPEED in which I got Authorize.net module configured, tested, and launched finally convinced my client that there is NO gain to be had from a module that doesn't work out the box and has little technical/community support.

Don't expect much help from Amazon either.. They seem to like to point you back here as if the Amazon Payments for Zen Cart module doesn't work because of some Zen Cart issue for which they will refer you back to the Zen Cart admins..

I wish anyone luck who dares to try and wrangle this thing into working.. Most of the posts by retched posted here will help, but even with his changes included, the issues I outlined at the beginning of this post still exist, and need to be addressed for this to be a RELIABLE payment module.

[marvin]

What a POS/CF this add-on is turning out to be.. First I need to get this off my chest..

<rant>
Can we talk about the confusing and occasionally INCOHERENT documentation for this add-on??? There are SO MANY places in this readme which refers to things in the Amazon Seller account which DO NOT MATCH the instructions in the readme.. Couple that with the fact that it's not always CRYSTAL clear where configuration should take place in the Zen Cart admin and where it should take place in your Amazon Seller account..


Seems like yet another major "player" developing something for Zen Cart then abandoning their support.. (Google can ya HEAR ME???) When was the last time anyone from Amazon responded HERE on this forum???
</rant>

I suspect I'll be putting up a few posts as I muddle my way through this mess. But wanted to share a solution I found for one issue I was having.. When you get the error

and then click the link to return to your website, I was getting a blank page and the error log reads:

[12-Jan-2013 19:37:52] PHP Warning:  require_once(../checkout_by_amazon_constants.php) [function.require-once]: failed to open stream: No such file or directory in /home/mysite/public_html/checkout_by_amazon/library/AmazonMerchantClient.php on line 30
[12-Jan-2013 19:37:52] PHP Fatal error:  require_once() [function.require]: Failed opening required '../checkout_by_amazon_constants.php' (include_path='.:/usr/lib/php:/usr/local/lib/php') in /home/mysite/public_html/checkout_by_amazon/library/AmazonMerchantClient.php on line 30

Found that if I edited the following file as follows: checkout_by_amazon/checkout_by_amazon_constants.php

Find:

require_once('../checkout_by_amazon_constants.php');

Replace with:

require_once('checkout_by_amazon/checkout_by_amazon_constants.php');

One problem down.. who knows how many to go..

**Have I mentioned how much I am hating this add-on???**

I am having the same problem and the same error message in the log file. Orders are in my seller central account, I receive emails as in both the seller and the buyer.

But get a blank page when I click on "Place Your Order"

The file you say to edit (Found that if I edited the following file as follows: checkout_by_amazon/checkout_by_amazon_constants.php does not have any line beginning with "require_once"

What am I missing?

[DivaVocals]

I am having the same problem and the same error message in the log file. Orders are in my seller central account, I receive emails as in both the seller and the buyer.

But get a blank page when I click on "Place Your Order"

The file you say to edit (Found that if I edited the following file as follows: checkout_by_amazon/checkout_by_amazon_constants.php does not have any line beginning with "require_once"

I uninstalled this messy module and moved on..

What am I missing?

a working module that lacks any kind of regular support from Amazon themselves.

[chadderuski]

Has anyone successfully managed to use this module with zencart 1.5x?

[DivaVocals]

Has anyone successfully managed to use this module with zencart 1.5x?

Ummmm not for nothing sir.. (cause you KNOW I WUV you..) but did you see ALL of my posts about my ordeal with this crappy module????? Grab your favorite libation, go back a page or two and enjoy the entertainment..

(in short HELLS no!)