Two Stores - One Paypal Express Setup?

[ksoup]

Will this work? Can two different zen cart stores use the same paypal express setup? Or will we need to open another paypal account?

[ksoup]

The reason I ask is... as soon as the second store was set up and running the paypal express payment mod, we had 2 errors come through on the first store on orders using paypal express

ALERT: PayPal Express Checkout Error (81117)
81117 Missing Parameter - Token : Required parameter missing


ALERT: PayPal Express Checkout Error (10736)
10736 Shipping Address Invalid City State Postal Code - A match of the Shipping Address City, State, and Postal Code failed.

Will this work? Can two different zen cart stores use the same paypal express setup? Or will we need to open another paypal account?

[DrByte]

You can use the same PayPal account on multiple stores. There are no limitations to it. Express Checkout and IPN both can be used on multiple stores if the security identifiers are identical on all of them.

[brodybro1]

Dr. Byte -

Are you saying that once I have my PayPal API Security settings -

Specifically: API Signature -- Username
API Signature -- Password
API Signature -- Signature Code

- that these can be used for multiple Zen Cart stores/shopping carts, and I can still personalize the carts for the different stores they represent?

BUT - We have to specify a URL at PayPal in the IPN Preferences - and we can only specify one URL. That's one store. What happens when payments come from other URLs - from the other stores? Not sure how that works but you are usually good at making these things sensible.

Thanks again, in advance!

[DrByte]

Dr. Byte -

Are you saying that once I have my PayPal API Security settings -

Specifically: API Signature -- Username
API Signature -- Password
API Signature -- Signature Code

- that these can be used for multiple Zen Cart stores/shopping carts, and I can still personalize the carts for the different stores they represent?

yes

BUT - We have to specify a URL at PayPal in the IPN Preferences - and we can only specify one URL. That's one store. What happens when payments come from other URLs - from the other stores?

As long as you have 'something valid' in there, PayPal will have the feature enabled. Zen Cart sends an override for the "real" URL for each transaction, which PayPal honors when processing the details.

[brodybro1]

Looks like I'll be buying coffee and donuts for the support crew soon - Thanks again for making things clearer.

[brodybro1]

Followup: I appear to have PayPal functional for both sites - but only one business name appears on their forms for my businesses.

In other words, whether my customer is coming from Biz A or Biz B, the form header and text shows Biz A. This will be confusing for my customers. Especially when I eventually get to Biz X, Y and Z.

Only thing I know to do is customize the form headers with logos for both businesses (go to Profile/Custom Payment Page Styles in your PayPal Business account for a tutorial).

This does not allow me to change the biz name in the text within the form(s) my customers will encounter at PayPal and I see no way to change or modify my business name through my PayPal account preferences. I can't even insert a statement that one biz is a subsidiary/affiliate of the other.

Are there options I am missing?

Thanks - BB

[DrByte]

but only one business name appears on their forms for my businesses.

In other words, whether my customer is coming from Biz A or Biz B, the form header and text shows Biz A. This will be confusing for my customers. Especially when I eventually get to Biz X, Y and Z.

Only thing I know to do is customize the form headers with logos for both businesses (go to Profile/Custom Payment Page Styles in your PayPal Business account for a tutorial).

This does not allow me to change the biz name in the text within the form(s) my customers will encounter at PayPal and I see no way to change or modify my business name through my PayPal account preferences. I can't even insert a statement that one biz is a subsidiary/affiliate of the other.

That's correct. Your PayPal Account Name will always show the same information regardless which store you come from.

You have three options:
a) create separate PayPal Business Accounts for each business.
b) rebrand with visuals and hope that the customer doesn't get confused by the business name
c) ask PayPal to rename your account's business name to something more generic (You'll meet with some resistance there unless you have a compelling argument).

Option (a) is really the most appropriate if these stores are separate businesses.

[brodybro1]

Thanks, I will get with PayPal and find out what they allow. I know they say they only allow one business account per member - but maybe if each biz has a dedicated bank account they would consider the Business a "member" and I can have a separate PayPal account for each biz. I can't imagine there aren't thousands of people with multiple businesses who all use PayPal.

[seany]

brodybro1, I am in a similar situation to yourself. My business model determines that i must have eStore A B C etc etc. With an integrated PayPal backend servicing all stores. My plan is to have a registerd limited company (PayPal and Nochex and SSL represents my Ltd co name). From the individual url / store-names perspective i have merely integrated my Ltd Co logo into the banners and where appropriate i am declaring that "eStore A is a trading name of XYX Ltd.) Abit confusing but was the most efficient way i could manage my business plan yet avoid multiple accounts.