Virtual Money? Credits?

Hi guys.
I'd like to create an e-shop where custumers can pay with virtual money. When someone subscribes the e-shop, he buys points (ex. pays 100€ for 1000points). After this, every time he buys somethign he pays with point and not with real money. Every custumer can see in every time how many points he gets, and can charge points paing with credit card, paypal etc...
Is It clear?

Daoes anybody experienced something like this?
Thank you so much.

It's clear, but why would a customer pay you in advance to get credits that them can't be used anywhere else and which may be wasted, rather than just going to the next shop along and only paying for what what he or she actually wants? Unless you're in a country with hyperinflation (in which case effectively creating your own currency may be illegal anyway), this doesn't sound like a viable business proposition and I don't recall seeing anybody do it with a Zen Cart.

I agree with Kuroi... This is a questionable business model.

These days it's possible to buy just about anything over the internet, using real money in a single, quick transaction.

Your method DOUBLES the process, and RESTRICTS the purchaser to your store.

In my opinion, it just won't work.

mhmhmhmh.... i dont' think you are right!!! There are many sites in the web using this business model (ex. photograph e-commerce etc..). The reason is that things i'd like to sell are very cheap and i'd like to group many purchease in only one payment. If a customer wants to buy a photo today and it costs 0.2€, i don't want he pays 0.2€ with credit card. I think it's better if he pays for example 20€ one time and he earns 1000points and then, every time he buys photo, he pays with points. I'm not so good with english but i hope it's clear now.
At this point, can anyone help me??

Thank you for you attention :smile:

ligrex:

mhmhmhmh.... i dont' think you are right!!! There are many sites in the web using this business model (ex. photograph e-commerce etc..). The reason is that things i'd like to sell are very cheap and i'd like to group many purchease in only one payment. If a customer wants to buy a photo today and it costs 0.2€, i don't want he pays 0.2€ with credit card. I think it's better if he pays for example 20€ one time and he earns 1000points and then, every time he buys photo, he pays with points. I'm not so good with english but i hope it's clear now.
At this point, can anyone help me??

Thank you for you attention :smile:

Yes, you are correct here. I subscribe to dreamstime (a Royalty Free photo and image archive) and they do indeed use a system of credits.

While there is no inherent "virtual money" component in zencart, there is the gift certificate system, which is fundamentally the same thing.

"Gift Certificates" in the eCommerce world are not "products", but a system of online "credit".

This is why Gift Certificates in zencart are actually part of the Payment Module - when you buy a GC, you are actually purchasing credit.

This "credit" is transferable - either in whole or in part - to other users of your shop. That's what makes it possible to purchase credit and then (in the form of a GC) send it on to someone else.

I don't think it would be too difficult then, to create a "virtual money" system that you propose. In fact, some small tweaks to the GC module could achieve the effect you are after.