the instructions says:

and you specify your IPN url in the format:
http://yoursiteroot/Services/PayPalIPNHandler.aspx

What is the ipn?

Its also needed if the payment is not immediately available like if there is a delay in clearing an e-check. So it possible that the pdt response will indicate pending status of payment. In that case when the payment finally clears the IPN will tell us.

Ok, what about when you're using the sandbox, to test out the Paypal Website Payments Standard?  What do you use for the return URL, when you setup Auto Return in the sandbox seller profile?  I'm guessing you have to setup SOMETHING in order to get the "PDTID" for the sandbox setting in web.config?  Do you just use the REAL return URL?  And in the spot for "Site1-PayPalStandardSandboxEmail" -- do you use the seller email as defined by Paypal in the sandbox, even though it's not a "real" email?

I've tried using the sandbox before, and never could get it to work properly, because in every other venue, CMS, or what-have-you, I never could get anyone to actually give me pertinent clues or instructions or even speak english in some cases.  I'm hoping, based on the splendid responses I've had here on other topics, that this place will be different, and might actually lead me in the right direction to figure this thing out, AT LAST!

Thx much!!

Andria

Well, I already read that page about configuring e-commerce, which was very helpful, but didn't answer the questions I have:

1. What do you use for the return URL, when you setup Auto Return in the sandbox seller profile?
2. In the spot for "Site1-PayPalStandardSandboxEmail" -- do you use the seller email as defined by Paypal in the sandbox, even though it's not a "real" email?

As for your suggestion that I make small purchases in order to test it, no can do -- we're down to selling off some of our old books to a used book store, to try and keep body and soul together around here, and I sold an old piece of dental gold for a much-needed $33 -- I might even sell my wedding ring, but it's small, only worth $16 for its gold. Our son has been looking for a job for 4 months now, with no luck at all, and feeding a 22 yr old is about equal to feeding a 40-something and a 50-something, COMBINED. We're planning a yard sale as soon as the heat index comes out of the 110-degree range, maybe around Labor Day weekend. To make a long story short, we don't have zero money, we have NEGATIVE money; there is no money for many of the purchases we actually NEED to make (like groceries!), nevermind blowing anything on testing out paypal -- hence coming up with some special-purpose skins that I might be able to sell.

I'm not trying to use their "Pro" or "express" thingie; I don't have an SSL and can't afford one, so if I sell anything, it has to be via Paypal's website payments standard; frankly I can't really see the sense in paying extra for an SSL, when Paypal can handle the payment right on their site, obviating any need for me to have an SSL.  But, that means that Paypal standard is the only means of payment I can use.

I guess I will just set it up and hope it works, and if it doesn't, well they can fuss at me about it then.  I hope it works at least enough for me to receive payment?  In the past year I sold a custom Joomla template, and all I did was direct the lady to send the funds to me at my email address at Paypal, since I had no payment method setup -- it worked, but it's not very elegant, and it's certainly not suitable for the commerce of downloadable products.

And I totally agree with your rant about Paypal.  I tried and tried and tried to get support via their forum; most of 'em don't even speak english, and the ones that do apparently have a serious case of either aphasia, illiteracy, or just plain stupidity; when you ask them anything at all, their only response is usually to tell you to get some other product.  ARGHHH!!!

I think that's the sort of problem you run into when the originator of a thing sells it to someone else who really doesn't give a rip about supporting it properly.

Thx,

Andria

Hi Andria,

1. Yes, you would use the test merchant email and the test account PDT Id

2. I'm not sure it needs to be configured because I think we pass the return url to paypal, but you could enter it as http://yoursiteroot/Services/PayPalReturnHandler.ashx

3. Shared SSL typically uses a different host name than the main site and will therefore probably will not work with mojoPortal's google checkout integration, however, for PayPal Standard SSL isn't needed.

If you test with PayPal production and use your own account and process the smallest possible order ($1 I think), the only cost to you is the paypal transaction fees for the test transactions, the rest of the money goes into your own account so the cost of testing is like 35 cents per transaction. I realize these are hard times, but if you factor the time and frustration saved into the equation it may be worth it for most people. Just saying if you have no luck with the sandbox, my experience is that production works as expected and the sandbox is a royal pain. Ultimately I think one should at least run one real transaction through the production side to make sure it works before having a real customer come along and have it not work.

Hope it helps,

Joe