Testing my web sites PayPal payment process

jnnielsen
Contributor
Contributor

Hello all,

 

1. I have installed an ecommerce plugin for my WordPress web site at http://www.tea-and-scones-vermont.com.

 

2. I have created test accounts in PayPal Sandbox thinking I would test whether the plugin is properly using PayPal as my payment processor.

 

What is not clear to me is how I use my website to access the Sandbox to see if payments are being processed properly. If I try to run through a payment from the site, when I enter my Sandbox customer on the PayPal login page I get an error that the email or password (or both) are wrong.

 

Should I change the URL in my plugin to send me to the Sandbox login page instead of the actual PayPal login page? I guess I thought that the regular login page would recognize my Sandbox login as a test login and send me to the sandbox instead of the actual  PayPal processor.

 

As you can see, I am thoroughly confused. Any help with getting past this testing phase would be greatly appreciated.

 

Jerry Nielsen - Proprietor of Rose Arbour Tea Room, Gift Shop and Bed and Breakfast

 

PS

 

Yes, I have read the Sandbox documentation, and I am still confused.

 

JNN

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skier
Advisor
Advisor

As mentioned you did read the documentation here are some Basic Sandbox Tips:

* The Sandbox is a virtual world, it's not associated with your live PayPal Account in any way.
* You are not required to have a live PayPal Account to test code in the Sandbox.
* You will need a valid email address to setup your Sandbox Developer Account, suggest using an email not associated with your live PayPal Account. Get a FREE email address, Gmail, Hotmail, etc.
* In order to minimize confusion logging into your different Sandbox Accounts, simply use the same "password" for all of your Sandbox Accounts. This will also save some time as you toggle between accounts.
* Use the "Create a preconfigured buyer and or seller account" option. It's just easier as both bank accounts and credit cards are setup automatically.
* The Sandbox will automatically create an email address for both your Sandbox Business or Seller Account and your Sandbox Personal or Buyer Account. The email address created will be a variation of the address used for your Developer Account.
* All Sandbox "Notification Emails" sent stay in the Sandbox.
* "Hosted" item button code created in the Sandbox will only work in the Sandbox.
* "Hosted" item button created with your live PayPal Account will only work with your live PayPal Account.
* You must first be logged into your Sandbox Developer Account and remain logged in to test your item button code.
* Ensure you are using the same web browser for logging into your Sandbox Developer Account and testing your item button code. For example, if you login to your Sandbox Developer Account using IE, then attempt to test your item button code using Firefox, you will get unexpected results.

Other Notes -
* Sandbox URL: "https://www.sandbox.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr"
* Live Site URL "https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr"
* If you create non-hosted or non-encrypted item button code in the Sandbox, you can use the same code in your live site by changing the URL of the action line to point to the live PayPal site and the business variable value that's associated with your live PayPal Account.

 

 

Regards,

 

skier

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1 REPLY 1
Solved

skier
Advisor
Advisor

As mentioned you did read the documentation here are some Basic Sandbox Tips:

* The Sandbox is a virtual world, it's not associated with your live PayPal Account in any way.
* You are not required to have a live PayPal Account to test code in the Sandbox.
* You will need a valid email address to setup your Sandbox Developer Account, suggest using an email not associated with your live PayPal Account. Get a FREE email address, Gmail, Hotmail, etc.
* In order to minimize confusion logging into your different Sandbox Accounts, simply use the same "password" for all of your Sandbox Accounts. This will also save some time as you toggle between accounts.
* Use the "Create a preconfigured buyer and or seller account" option. It's just easier as both bank accounts and credit cards are setup automatically.
* The Sandbox will automatically create an email address for both your Sandbox Business or Seller Account and your Sandbox Personal or Buyer Account. The email address created will be a variation of the address used for your Developer Account.
* All Sandbox "Notification Emails" sent stay in the Sandbox.
* "Hosted" item button code created in the Sandbox will only work in the Sandbox.
* "Hosted" item button created with your live PayPal Account will only work with your live PayPal Account.
* You must first be logged into your Sandbox Developer Account and remain logged in to test your item button code.
* Ensure you are using the same web browser for logging into your Sandbox Developer Account and testing your item button code. For example, if you login to your Sandbox Developer Account using IE, then attempt to test your item button code using Firefox, you will get unexpected results.

Other Notes -
* Sandbox URL: "https://www.sandbox.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr"
* Live Site URL "https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr"
* If you create non-hosted or non-encrypted item button code in the Sandbox, you can use the same code in your live site by changing the URL of the action line to point to the live PayPal site and the business variable value that's associated with your live PayPal Account.

 

 

Regards,

 

skier

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