Paypal IPN and Express Checkout

After reading up on this, I think I understand but want to make sure.

I can use IPN and Express Checkout together right? Both options can be in place at once?

As far as I can understand, the Express Checkout is for PayPal members to use, and speeds things up a bit for those members.

However non-PayPal members that want to use a Credit Card or eCheck and not sign up for a PayPal account should use the normal checkout process, and for that I need the IPN module installed and configured, right?

If anyone can shed a little light for me I would really appreciate it. I've read up on this before asking and I think I'm pretty solid, but I like reinforcement if I can get it.

So, if you understand my question and have a good answer, I'm all ears!

Mike

I can use IPN and Express Checkout together right? Both options can be in place at once?

No, you do not need both. Express can also be used by non-PayPal members to pay by Credit Card.

Are there any advantages to using one or the other?

If it saves time, it seem slike PayPal Express is the best option.

Am I missing something?

You can use whichever option you prefer.

Many like the Express Checkout option because of its convenience.
Some are used to not having that option and stick with the older IPN option.

Express tends to get orders into your database more reliably, and faster.

Express it is then :)

Just tested this with a test product.

Express DOES NOT give me the cc option, only the login to paypal and a link to creating an account. IPN DOES give the cc option.

Anything I'm missing? Installed according to directions. Using 1.3.7, patched paypal modules, etc...

Look carefully at the PayPal screen ...

Do you see this obscure link?

Don't have a PayPal account?
No problem, continue checkout.

Do not see it....using express, the attached screenshot shows what I get...just a link to sign up.

Try that link on the left that starts with:
Sign up for a PayPal Account

... is there a credit card form hidding in there?

There is....but it forces the creation of an account on Paypal. Some posts mention that you can just pay by cc w/o creating an account with Express. I guess not true for express, but is for IPN....

I am not sure what version you are using of ZC or PP, but that is not what I see

Check out what my customers see, you can easily pay with a CC or login to PP

http://go-cougs.com/images/paypal_screenshot.gif

i'm having the same problem...maybe it's something we have to fix in paypal? I turned on PayPal Account Optional but that didn't seem to work. Any ideas?

Glad to see I am not the only one...

vegascoug, are you getting that screen using the paypal express module, or the paypal IPN module? I do get that for the IPN....express makes the user create an account though.

PayPal Express, I stopped using IPN once I discovered this. It's an awesome feature, made my customer (and her customers) much happier, and it is the best of both worlds if you ask me.

I got that image by clicking on the PayPal Express checkout button this morning while running a test to make sure.

It might be a PayPal setting, have you read all the docs on this in ZC support? I followed the steps by the letter to set up PP Express and ran the June Patch (that fixed some things). You also have to remove both IPN and Express and then re-install them after the patch, as per the instructions.

Remember to write down the settings before you remove them because you will need them when you re-configure it.

Have you applied the patch? I think that did some major changes

Yes, did all the above...will read through again, check the patch, and do the remove and install again and see if anything changes....

Thanks for checking...

If you haven't done the remove/re-install that might be it.

I noticed a some major changes when I did that, got rid of the Return Button Text field, and changed the way my customers checked out, etc.

Mike

I am working with the download from yesterday...It said all the patches where included. I saw some where that it had to do with the paypal image on the check page and where it is hosted...i'm trying to find the thread but can't remember where I saw it.

Got it guys...I think I did not upload one of the patch directories to my server. Looks good and works fine...vegas, thanks for keeping me sane...

tcustomgolf

Can you please tell me which patch it is???

I believe it was the June 16th patch that's the most recent

http://www.zen-cart.com/forum/showthread.php?t=56216&page=2

You should see the link near the bottom, and there's a link for instructions. Make sure you are running 1.3.7 as well