Troubles with "Paypal Account Optional"

Hello. I have the latest version of Zencart (1.3.7) installed on dreamhost at http://aromablends.net/shop[/url. No additional modules have been updated or installed. I'm currently having an issue with the checkout process with Paypal express. When checking out, paypal is requiring people to register an account with them to send money. I know it's possible to send money from a credit card to a paypal email address without a paypal account, but something allowing that to happen. The "Paypal Account Optional" option is enabled in the preferences with the paypal account. Which is causing the issue, Zen Cart, or Paypal? Thanks for any and all help..

There are others having trouble with PayPal and your host. A search for dreamhost should take you to it.

Kim is correct that there are some limitations with your host vs receiving payment notifications from PayPal to your store.
Nevertheless, the questions you posted are somewhat separately related.
If you are having problems getting payment notifications from PayPal, you should do as she says.

Aroma Blends:

Hello. I have the latest version of Zencart (1.3.7) installedActually, v1.3.8a is the latest at the present time.
Aroma Blends:

Hello. I have the latest version of Zencart (1.3.7) installed on dreamhost at http://aromablends.net/shop[/url. No additional modules have been updated or installed. I'm currently having an issue with the checkout process with Paypal express. When checking out, paypal is requiring people to register an account with them to send money. I know it's possible to send money from a credit card to a paypal email address without a paypal account, but something allowing that to happen. The "Paypal Account Optional" option is enabled in the preferences with the paypal account. Which is causing the issue, Zen Cart, or Paypal? Thanks for any and all help..

PayPal has become increasingly sticky about how they handle Express Checkout transactions. The ability to pay without a PayPal account via EC is generally not offered. That's an issue with their business rules and has nothing to do with Zen Cart.

And, as an addendum, the "PayPal Account Optional" setting is only for Website Payment Standard (IPN) transactions. Again, its effectiveness is governed by PayPal's business rules. PayPal can help clarify which geographic regions are allowed to use Account Optional vs not.

DrByte:

Kim is correct that there are some limitations with your host vs receiving payment notifications from PayPal to your store.
Nevertheless, the questions you posted are somewhat separately related.
If you are having problems getting payment notifications from PayPal, you should do as she says.

Payment notifications weren't mentioned in my post at all, thank you for bringing up another potential problem with using Dreamhost though.

DrByte:

Actually, v1.3.8a is the latest at the present time.

I was basing 'latest' based on the fact that the 'check for updates' button is telling me that it thinks I'm running the latest version.

DrByte:

And, as an addendum, the "PayPal Account Optional" setting is only for Website Payment Standard (IPN) transactions. Again, its effectiveness is governed by PayPal's business rules. PayPal can help clarify which geographic regions are allowed to use Account Optional vs not.

Thanks for the information on that, paypal should let you know somewhere what the limitations of its services are.

Based on the information provided in this thread, I think I will look into changing hosting providers, one that will give me the tools to use the Paypal IPN payment module instead of the Paypal express module.