Authorize.net: authorize first, charge later?

Hello,

My client would like to be able to authorize (hold) the initial order amount when the order first enters processing, and charge the card once the order has shipped. However, he would like to be able to charge a different amount if necessary, since his customers often call to make changes to their order later. How would I go about making this possible within Zen Cart, using Authorize.net or some other recommended service?

Thank you,
Alin

Within your Zen Cart authorize.net module settings, you can choose whether to "Authorize Only" or to "Authorize+Capture". If you set it to "Authorize Only", then you will be able to handle settlement of charges at a future date, using your Authorize.net merchant console.

You should contact your Authorize.net Merchant Services department to discuss the parameters around changing amounts and how long you have to settle the authorization,as those details are often configurable based on the industry or services you're providing. They can give you the official information, and can help you understand exactly "how" to do it using their transaction-management console.

Thank you for your quick reply, Dr Byte. Is there perhaps a way to perform the final charge with a tool that's a bit less manual than Authorize.net's merchant terminal? The client is a mom-and-pop fishing store, and doesn't have very technical hands on deck.

All they have to do in the Authorize.net terminal is click search, enter the transaction number, and then choose to capture the transaction. It's not that complicated.

The next version of Zen Cart does have some controls for handling captures directly from the admin, but only if auth-only mode is active in the store and only if they're using the AIM module (not SIM).

Well, thank you very much. I'll break the bad news to the client, and wait [im]patiently for a Zen Cartish method of charging cards soon.

You might try this tip, but take note that it was experimental and unsupported code, hence the renaming:
http://www.zen-cart.com/forum/showthread.php?t=111898

I will test that with the client tomorrow. Thank you very much. :)