How do I replace the add-to-cart button with a PayPal *Donate* button?

[DrByte]

will your method allow the store to collect the customers details?

No. Your paypal button is completely bypassing the store's checkout.

I wonder if it's possible to place the donate button in checkout_success or the view account/orders pages to be displayed solely on the (free) product ID number instead?

But, what if your customer put other things in their cart too? How would they know that you expect them to go through checkout twice: once for their purchase, and once for the donation you're soliciting?

Sounds like you should just use normal checkout instead. Why the need for a separate "Donate" button at all? Sounds to me like you're just confusing your customers, and that will decrease revenue all round.

[picandnix]

Sounds to me like you're just confusing your customers, and that will decrease revenue all round.

I'm thinking the same thing after playing around with this idea

[Absolute]

Firstly, you want Zen to handle everything.

Running two or more different payment systems for orders and donations is just a pain in the ****!

So the solution is easy. All your FREE products you are giving away - make them products, and ensure that they are set to FREE with FREE shipping. This ensures that everyone creates an account in order to get something for nothing.

Secondly, set up an upselling script on checkout, which asks the customer if they wish to donate to you. If they do, they simply enter the value they want to donate. If you want someone to donate to you as an actual "product", then you can set up a "donation product" and then set a "value attribute" where the customer enters the value of the donation they wish to make. We have a module which is used in the same way for Gift Voucher values, where the customer selects the value of the voucher they wish to purchase.

It's as easy as that.

Now your clients can purchase/send a $15.99 donation, as well as sign up for free stuff, and you can track everything you want to to your heart's content!

Absolute

[picandnix]

You had me nodding right up to this

Secondly, set up an upselling script on checkout

any clues for the script please Absolute, for a fellow Westcountry inhabitant

[Absolute]

Try this contribution: https://www.zen-cart.com/downloads.php?do=file&id=1215

It puts the upsell on your Shopping Cart page. I built one for a client which used this script in it's original format, but inserted an additional page at checkout which was shown once, and offered all the upsell products within a grid layout.

This should get you started though.....

Absolute