paypal express questions and comments

I have just upgraded several zencarts to the newest release (1.3.9h) and am switching them all from PP Standard to PP Express.

IF I understand all of this correctly, if a person wants to purchase something without logging in (and the correct button is activated in the Express Module) they go straight to Paypal. Ok good, except for the shipping does not calculate until after they log into paypal or fill in their address info at PP (and from some posts around here, it sounds like sometimes the shipping doesnt even get added in).

So to fix that, you disable the button that allows them to skip express checkout (and oddly enough, text shows up telling them to click the button below that is not longer there, what's up with that?). But now they have to log in to your store in order to check out.

So my question is: What good is this Express checkout when it does not allow for having the shipping added before a person goes to paypal?

I know it is possible, because I often purchase from places using express checkout and I get to see the shipping charges before I check out. And you know what? If I cannot see those shipping charges before that, I am out of there and shopping somewhere else. So I know others would do the same.

I really wanted to take advantage of the Express functions, but it seems that I am not able to do so. So I am not sure what the point of using it is (besides the fact that PP Standard seems to be quite buggy these days)

(I have fixed the problem with the text above the missing button, but I had to edit a template to do so. it seems like that text should automatically go away after the button does though)

Check this thead for a better explanation than I can provide:

http://www.zen-cart.com/forum/showthread.php?t=181008

I alreay read all of that even before I posted. And while it explain how it works, it still does not fix the issue.

I have to repeat what I said above, there are carts out there that do both, let a person do express checkout via paypal but still have the shipping charge calculated ahead of time.

And per DrByte's statement that if I want it to work differently then do the coding myself (sorry, that was a paraphrase and probably badly, but you get my drift), I certainly would do the coding myself if I knew how.

And then there is this statement:
"You can offer Express Checkout ... all you need to do is set the "Express Checkout Shortcut Button" status to off in your ZC Express Checkout settings. Simple."

While that may be true, its still sort of inaccurate. Once I turn off that Button, I am no longer offering express checkout. I am still using Paypal Express but I have turned off the functionality of using Express Checkout.

I'm just trying to figure out some sort of work around, that's all. It seems that if you could get a person to a shipping page where they could input their zipcode before they see the express checkout button, then the shipping charges would be seen before they proceed to paypal to check out.

I just want my customers to know what their shipping charges will be, before they got to checkout, regardless of which way they choose to check out.

My only other option is to offer free shipping. And in my particular case where I sell one of a kind items with all sorts of varying weights, that is an extremely difficult thing to do.

Just my thoughts on the matter... not trying to start any arguments. I do understand that that is the way zencart works, I just wish I knew how to work around it like some of the other carts do.

katco:

It seems that if you could get a person to a shipping page where they could input their zipcode before they see the express checkout button, then the shipping charges would be seen before they proceed to paypal to check out.Yes, that's true. And, that's exactly what happens if they login to their store account before commencing checkout. Or create an account, which of course also logs them in. That gives Zen Cart the shipping information required to calculate shipping costs before taking them to the PayPal page with shipping details included.

As you say, that's how Zen Cart presently works.

But logging in defeats the true purpose of Express Checkout.

Your perspective is noted. And, as you said, that's how ZC presently works.
Once the customer has logged in on the PayPal side, their address is brought back to Zen Cart and the shipping information is calculated and presented ... long before they actually finalize the order.

But using the EC engine for payment processing is far more reliable than using the WPS/IPN engine, so is still worth the change.

DrByte:

But using the EC engine for payment processing is far more reliable than using the WPS/IPN engine, so is still worth the change.

I do agree with you there. A few of the stores were having problems with Standard Payments going through correctly. (I never could figure out why two identical stores where one would process them correctly and the other would not... but it was easier to upgrade to Express instead of beating my head against that)

I do feel badly that I promised some people they would now have Express payments on their website but we've had to opt for turning it off.