Making sure everything is set up and running properly

I have just set up my store and actually am still working on it, however I have had customers coming to my store to purchase. The problem that I am seeing is that some people are having trouble with ordering. Everything seems to be set up right, but is there a way to test or make sure everything is functioning?

I am using Paypal Express checkout and I have a business account set up with paypal.

Also, should I have debug mode turned on or off? I have it on currently and I get a bunch of emails that quite frankly I do not know what to do with.

Your help is appreciated!

I Placed my Express Checkout to "Sandbox" and ran a transaction. This is the notification that I received at final confirmation.

" We are sorry for the inconvenience. The PayPal account authentication settings are not yet set up, or the API security information is incorrect. We are unable to complete your transaction. Please notify the store owner so they can correct this problem. (10002) 10002 Security error - Security header is not valid"

AirsoftOutfitter:

I Placed my Express Checkout to "Sandbox" and ran a transaction.
The reason you're getting that error message is because you're trying to use "live" API credentials on the sandbox server, and the sandbox server doesn't know anything about your "live" account, and thus it's accurately telling you you've submitted invalid security information.

If you're going to switch to sandbox, you'll need to login to your PayPal Sandbox Developers Account and obtain brand new API credentials from the sandbox and replace the "live" credentials in your Zen Cart settings with the sandbox credentials.
Then do your "testing".
Then you have to go and put it all back to "live" with the "live" API credentials when you're done.

Or you can just do "live" testing (since you really do need to do "live" transactions before you launch your site, anyway), and just refund them once you're satisfied that it works.

AirsoftOutfitter:

Also, should I have debug mode turned on or off? I have it on currently and I get a bunch of emails that quite frankly I do not know what to do with.
Debug mode is for debugging.
If you're not debugging, just set it to Alerts Only.
If you are debugging, set it to Log To File, instead of Email, if you don't like the emails cluttering your inbox. They'll be stored on your server for easier retrieval. Besides, the files are way more logical to read than the emails are.
http://www.zen-cart.com/forum/showthread.php?t=61199

DrByte:

The reason you're getting that error message is because you're trying to use "live" API credentials on the sandbox server, and the sandbox server doesn't know anything about your "live" account, and thus it's accurately telling you you've submitted invalid security information.

If you're going to switch to sandbox, you'll need to login to your PayPal Sandbox Developers Account and obtain brand new API credentials from the sandbox and replace the "live" credentials in your Zen Cart settings with the sandbox credentials.
Then do your "testing".
Then you have to go and put it all back to "live" with the "live" API credentials when you're done.

Or you can just do "live" testing (since you really do need to do "live" transactions before you launch your site, anyway), and just refund them once you're satisfied that it works.

Do I need to create both a sandbox merchant account and Buyer account?

Also, the error that I posted above was actually when I was using live mode, not sandbox mode.

I have set up both a merchant account via sandbox but when I put in the credentials and tried a test transaction it brings me back to Paypal Sandbox and asks me to log in to use the features. Something is not right.

If you're going to use the sandbox, you will need to login to your PayPal Developer Sandbox account.
Frankly, if you're just testing in preparation for taking your store live, you really don't need to be messing about in the sandbox. The sandbox is intended for developers who are writing code to interact with PayPal. Zen Cart has already done that.
However, if you insist, there is lots of documentation on PayPal's website to teach you how to use their sandbox. And they have a support forum for asking sandbox usage questions over there too.

I set up sandbox and tested a transaction, here is the error I received:

"Sorry — your last action could not be completed

If you were making a purchase or sending money, we recommend that you check both your PayPal account and your email for a transaction confirmation after 30 minutes.

If you came to this page from another website, please return to that site (don't use your browser's Back button) and restart your activity.

If you came from PayPal's website, click the PayPal logo in the upper-left corner to return to our home page and restart your activity. You might have to log in again.
Dispatch Error, please check logfile for more information"

ANY IDEAS?

I have no problem going back to live and trying to figure things out, but I got the other error there as well. i just want to get this situated so customers stop having problems.

Well, first, I have zero interest in trying to teach someone how to use the PayPal sandbox. That's up to Paypal.

Second, you've not indicated what actual error your customers are allegedly encountering.

Third, you've not shared anything from the debug details of a live transaction, so it's impossible to give you specific help.

If you care to switch back to live mode and put in your live API credentials, enable debug log-to-file, and do a test transaction, it might be possible to help you. If it fails, post the error message, and then grab the several log files from that transaction, download them, zip them, and upload the zip to someplace on your server where I can download it and PM me with that download link. Then I can try to offer some input.

• I am not asking you how to use sandbox. I have that figured out.

• Here is the error which is displayed in a bright red box when you try to check out. This is when the Paypal Express is utilizing my live account: " We are sorry for the inconvenience. The PayPal account authentication settings are not yet set up, or the API security information is incorrect. We are unable to complete your transaction. Please notify the store owner so they can correct this problem. (10002) 10002 Security error - Security header is not valid"

• I have the debug details in my email, but not sure what you are wanting to see. If you can tell me I will gladly provide them to you for help.

AirsoftOutfitter:

• Here is the error which is displayed in a bright red box when you try to check out. This is when the Paypal Express is utilizing my live account: " We are sorry for the inconvenience. The PayPal account authentication settings are not yet set up, or the API security information is incorrect. We are unable to complete your transaction. Please notify the store owner so they can correct this problem. (10002) 10002 Security error - Security header is not valid"It means exactly what it says. Stated another way: your API credentials (user/password/signature) are incorrect.
  As I said earlier, if you're using "Live" mode, then you need the API details from your live paypal account.
  If you're still fudging with the sandbox mode, then you need to grab new API credentials from your sandbox paypal business account and replace the existing API credentials in your Zen Cart admin settings for your Paypal module.

AirsoftOutfitter:

• I have the debug details in my email, but not sure what you are wanting to see. If you can tell me I will gladly provide them to you for help.
  After you sort out your login credentials problem and actually do a transaction, we'll deal with looking at debug log files (not emails) at that point.

This time I ran a transaction using IE and it went through successfully. Maybe it was the browser giving me issues?

Also, i did a Paypal order, and Paypal Using ECheck. Should I check using a CC or should everything be fine...