I am working on a series of travel directories that only accept paid link submissions. They also need to be a flat annual fee as the paid links are included in hosting packages we offer web clients and association members. There were problems setting up paid membership and I don't want them to be able to submit any type of free listing the have the extra step of upgrading.
I have it working in a round about way. Any suggestions are appreciated. You can test it out at http://bedsbreakfastsandinns.com. Of course it would cost you .05 to a basic listing. Anyway, after much hair pulling this is what I've come up with.
1.Go to desired page 2. click "submit new link" 3. goes to suggest.php page 4. client fills out form and selects desired listing type (basic, deluxe, sponsor) 5. the redirect sends them to "link.php?action=sponsor&id={LINKID}" 6. click button for link type chosen (basic, deluxe, sponsor)> taken to paypal to submit payment. the link ID follows through to paypal> redirected back to page to see their link
* The suggest.php expires field is set to 365 * When link expires listing does not appear in the directory; an e-mail is sent to let them know it has expired with directions on how to renew. (I have not gotten to this stage yet but assume it is possible. Hopefully notice can be sent out prior to expiration.) * Links are not automatically approved. Once payment is received through paypal they will be added if appropriate. If not $ will be refunded (or is it possible for them to not be charged if disapproved?)
This works out pretty well but making members choose the link type on the submit form and then choosing the matching paypal link when they are redirected is just asking for problems with link types not matching the payments made. Can anyone help me with a simple script that would have the "link.php?action=sponsor&id={LINKID}" page draw the link type and redirect automatically, or through a submit button, directly to paypal with the appropriate link type $$ amount entered?
It is probably very simple but my brain is fried at this point....
Currently I have 3 submit choices. A sample of one of the paypal codes is below.
I don't see why you would be using both sponsorship and the expriation field at once. Isn't it confusing to have two different ways that people's links can expire (365 days or when sponsor funds run out)?
Once payment is received through paypal they will be added if appropriate.
I believe it should auto-validate them on payment.
This works out pretty well but making members choose the link type on the submit form and then choosing the matching paypal link when they are redirected is just asking for problems with link types not matching the payments made.
Well, perhaps the link type can be passed. Does adding a &type={TYPE} onto the redirect url carry it? I think it should work for GET variables but I'm not so sure about POST. And then you could use conditionals on the landing page to handle <IF {TYPE} is basic> etc.
Edit: Actually, it may be a lot simpler than that. Since it's the sponsorship page for the link, does {LINKTYPE} itself work on that sponsorship page? It would for a validated link, the only question is if it does for an unvalidated one, but I think it ought to in the sponsorship case.
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Comments on Paid link directory
Member
Usergroup: Customer
Joined: Mar 19, 2005
Total Topics: 7
Total Comments: 13
I am working on a series of travel directories that only accept paid link submissions. They also need to be a flat annual fee as the paid links are included in hosting packages we offer web clients and association members. There were problems setting up paid membership and I don't want them to be able to submit any type of free listing the have the extra step of upgrading.
I have it working in a round about way. Any suggestions are appreciated. You can test it out at http://bedsbreakfastsandinns.com. Of course it would cost you .05 to a basic listing. Anyway, after much hair pulling this is what I've come up with.
1.Go to desired page 2. click "submit new link" 3. goes to suggest.php page 4. client fills out form and selects desired listing type (basic, deluxe, sponsor) 5. the redirect sends them to "link.php?action=sponsor&id={LINKID}" 6. click button for link type chosen (basic, deluxe, sponsor)> taken to paypal to submit payment. the link ID follows through to paypal> redirected back to page to see their link
* The suggest.php expires field is set to 365
* When link expires listing does not appear in the directory; an e-mail is sent to let them know it has expired with directions on how to renew. (I have not gotten to this stage yet but assume it is possible. Hopefully notice can be sent out prior to expiration.)
* Links are not automatically approved. Once payment is received through paypal they will be added if appropriate. If not $ will be refunded (or is it possible for them to not be charged if disapproved?)
This works out pretty well but making members choose the link type on the submit form and then choosing the matching paypal link when they are redirected is just asking for problems with link types not matching the payments made. Can anyone help me with a simple script that would have the "link.php?action=sponsor&id={LINKID}" page draw the link type and redirect automatically, or through a submit button, directly to paypal with the appropriate link type $$ amount entered?
It is probably very simple but my brain is fried at this point....
Currently I have 3 submit choices. A sample of one of the paypal codes is below.
<IF {PAYPALEMAIL}>
<form method="POST" action="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr">
<input type="hidden" name="cmd" value="_xclick">
<input type="hidden" name="business" value="{PAYPALEMAIL}">
<input type="hidden" name="item_name" value="Sponsorship">
<input type="hidden" name="item_number" value="{SPONSORITEM1}">
<input type="hidden" name="amount" value="{SPONSORCHARGE1}">
<input type="hidden" name="no_shipping" value="1">
<input type="hidden" name="return" value="{DIRURL}">
<input type="hidden" name="cancel_return" value="{DIRURL}">
<input type="hidden" name="no_note" value="1">
<input type="hidden" name="currency_code" value="USD">
<table><input type="hidden" name="on0" value="linkid"><input type="hidden" name="os0" value="{LINKID}" maxlength="200"></table>
<input type="submit" class="submitLink" value="Join Now!" style="color: #AE5320; border: 1px solid #AE5320">
</IF>
</td></form>
Again, any help or input is appreciated.
Thanks,
M. Kendall
developer
Usergroup: Administrator
Joined: Dec 20, 2001
Location: Diamond Springs, California
Total Topics: 61
Total Comments: 7868
The suggest.php expires field is set to 365
I don't see why you would be using both sponsorship and the expriation field at once. Isn't it confusing to have two different ways that people's links can expire (365 days or when sponsor funds run out)?
Once payment is received through paypal they will be added if appropriate.
I believe it should auto-validate them on payment.
This works out pretty well but making members choose the link type on the submit form and then choosing the matching paypal link when they are redirected is just asking for problems with link types not matching the payments made.
Well, perhaps the link type can be passed. Does adding a &type={TYPE} onto the redirect url carry it? I think it should work for GET variables but I'm not so sure about POST. And then you could use conditionals on the landing page to handle <IF {TYPE} is basic> etc.Edit: Actually, it may be a lot simpler than that. Since it's the sponsorship page for the link, does {LINKTYPE} itself work on that sponsorship page? It would for a validated link, the only question is if it does for an unvalidated one, but I think it ought to in the sponsorship case.