Paypal Form Query

[Craigj1303]

Hi All,

I have spent an absolute eternity trying to manipulate a paypal order form using javascript to get it to do what I want. I have got it working to a satisfactory degree but there are a couple of things that are bugging me.

1) There are 2 sizes of print available to buy on the site (4x6cm & 11x14cm). I wanted a shipping charge for the first item but additional items should be free of postage. Its only paper after all so people don't expect to get 3 postage charges if they buy 3 prints. I have managed to get the form so if users select more than 1 of the same size print the postage doesn't increase. However, if a user wants to buy one of each size print the postage doubles. Does anyone know what I have to do to make the postage stay the same in spite of what size is ordered?

Here is the link:

http://www.sjohnsonart.co.uk/HTML/CO150STD2LGOPT.html

2) A less important point but bugging nonetheless! If you select your item in IE and "add to basket" when you go back to the site to continue shopping the Print Size field is blank. You have to refresh the page to see the default size again.

Help, particularly with point 1 would be much appreciated.

Thanks,

Craig

[dab42pat]

Hi

I dont know if this will help but in your paypal profile settings under postage calculations you may have to set the cost and price range settings so that the cost column is set to £3 for all price ranges.

[Craigj1303]

Hiya,

No, that's not it. The other day I had to check the box that said:

"Click here to allow transaction-based postage values to override the profile postage settings listed above (if profile settings are enabled)."

This means the form only should be working out the postage charge.

As an example, I want someone in the UK to be able to order a 4x6 print and an 11x14 print and only get charged £3.00 shipping. Currently they would get charged £6.00 postage.

[dab42pat]

try this

HTML: Select all

Ship To: <select name="shp">
  <option>Select Shipping</option>
  <option value="s1=0.00 s2=0.00 ">United Kingdom</option>
  <option value="s1=7.00 s2=0.00">International</option>
</select>
       
      
 <br/>
 <br/>
        <input type="image" src="https://www.paypal.com//en_GB/i/btn/sc-but-03.gif" name="submit" 
onclick="CalculateOrder(this.form)" alt="Make payments with PayPal - it's fast, free and secure!"/>
<input type="image" src="../images/viewcart.gif" alt="cart view" 
  onclick="document.forms.viewcart.target = 'paypal';
           document.forms.viewcart.submit ();
           return false;" />        
<input type="hidden" name="add" value="1"/>
        <input type="hidden" name="cmd" value="_cart"/>
        <input type="hidden" name="business" value="<A href="mailto:sales@sjohnsonart.co.uk"/">sales@sjohnsonart.co.uk"/>
        <input type="hidden" name="item_name" value="Seven Sisters, Sussex"/>
        <input type="hidden" name="item_number" value="CO150STD2. Seven Sisters, Sussex."/>
        <input type="hidden" name="amount" value=""/>
 <input type="hidden" name="handling" value="" />
 <input type="hidden" name="handling_cart" value="" />
 <input type="hidden" name="shipping" value="s1" />
 <input type="hidden" name="shipping2" value="s1" />
 <input type="hidden" name="no_note" value="1"/>
        <input type="hidden" name="currency_code" value="GBP"/>
    </form>

it seems to work when i tested it.

[dab42pat]

forget that had it working then went tits up

[Lchad]

In my experience you can apply shipping and give it a value of $3. If they purchase another one of the same exact item you can give shipping2 a value of 0.00. However once you buy one of one item and then one of another item, you run into problems.

It's almost best to Use the shipping1 and shipping2 only when they are buying really heavy items and you know the standard $5 flat rate will not be enough to cover shipping.
I try to always figure out the flat rate ranges as best as I can.

Really blows that Paypal or someone affiliated has not come up with a shipping calculator yet. I feel this is a serious need that Paypal needs to resolve asap.

I've begun to use free shopping carts that allow the implementation of shipping calculators, then use paypal just for check out or google checkout.

[Craigj1303]

Very annoying that Paypal don't offer better solutions for shipping. People who come to my site and buy more than one print won't expect to pay double the shipping for a different item. Its only a piece of paper after all, no weight involved.

The flat rate option would be fine if I was just selling the goods domestically. I could set my Paypal profile to charge say £3.00 for for an unlimited order value. The problem is that we want to sell international as well and the shipping will be £7.00 so I would lose £4.00 each time an international customer placed an order.

I have spent 2 weeks trying to resolve this shopping cart issue. I have come to the point of despair and would be willing to pay someone to create the solution for us. I just want to get on with getting the site up and running!

[Lchad]

http://www.mals-e.com/home.php

One solution is to use this free cart. Set up the cp. Create new html buttons for each product. Get a shipping calculator and set up the check out.
This would be an easy solution.

[Craigj1303]

Looks like a good option. I tried a demo and there is the exact shipping calculator I need available.

Just one thing....how do I implement that in to my existing site? All I want is the shipping calculator bit on the existing link I posted at the start of the thread, everything else should be the same. This guy has loads of different options for the cart set-up but once you've selected what options you want there is no explanation on how to implement in to your own site?

[Lchad]

You'll need to change all the html buttons so they work with the new cart.
Then the options will come into play at checkout.

[Craigj1303]

Lchad, thanks as always. I have a working 3rd party shopping cart that checks out at Paypal.

[Craigj1303]

I've been working with the 3rd party shopping cart software described in the above discussion for 7 months now. It is a workable solution to the shipping calculator issue I had but now I am reviewing the site and trying to make a few improvements I am not happy with the fact that a potential buyer has to enter their name and address details twice. That is if the customer doesn't have a Paypal account. If you check the link below and go through the motions of an order you will see what I mean.

www.sjohnsonart.co.uk/HTML/CO150STD2LGOPT.html

I recently checked the site of another artist who seems to have a shopping cart that calculates shipping for different world zones and also charges £3.00 for the first print and £1.00 for additional prints thereafter. http://www.peterwagonfinearts.co.uk

This is the sort of thing that I want and it also seems to go straight to Paypal without the need for 3rd party intervention as far as I can see. I tried to check the source of the page so I could see what form he was using but I couldn't see any forms, I think because the page was Frames?

Anyone got any ideas how I can improve the shopping cart procedure for my site?

Thanks & Rgs

Craig

[Craigj1303]

I just checked again and it now seems to carry over the address details from the 3rd party cart software to Paypal. I'm sure it didn't do that initially!! Anyway, as long as it's doing that and saving people having to enter the same info. twice I am much happier!