Zikula Community

• dunx
  
  

  • Rank: Softmore
  • Registered: May 25, 2004
  • Last visit: Oct 21, 2009
  • Posts: 192

  Posted: Jun 08, 2004 - 08:49 PM

  There's a couple of useful threads floating around on paid membership, but to my knowledge the greatest progress has been made on more general IPN/PayPal modules, rather than any specific paid membership module.
  
  http://forums.postnuke.com/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&t=10636&highlight=paid+membership
  
  http://forums.postnuke.com/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&t=19708&highlight=paid+membership
  
  http://forums.postnuke.com/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&t=19708&highlight=paid+membership
  
  I really might have to make this my first module. I need this functionality for a site that will be launching in October. I'm still a PN newbie and although I've done plenty of PHP, I'm no expert.
  
  Firstly, this will be WorldPay (with FuturePay) only as that's who I will be using. I'll let others integrate other payment providers later, should those be required.
  
  Here are some thoughts:
  
  1. The functionality will allow users to pay to be moved to a particular group for a configurable period. The DB would need to hold a user's expiry date and also whether they have elected to use FuturePay (WorldPay's periodic processing). I haven't used FuturePay yet, so I need to see whether a user is able to cancel a FuturePay directly with WorldPay as that would mean some checks to ensure that they hadn't cancelled that before we renew a membership automatically.
  
  2. It would use cron (webcron.org in my case as my host offers no cron access) to send out an email to paid members a month, week and day (configurable) before their membership was due to expire, so they can decide whether to renew (or cancel a FuturePay). Likewise an email to admin to say who is due for renewal would also be useful.
  
  3. There would be an admin page to maintain members details manually. I may be using some sort of points system (pncUserPoints?) to build up credits for free membership. Some people would also get free membership anyway... me for one. Other payment options would also be available - cheque (or "check" for those of you Stateside) or credit card payments over the phone or via post.
  
  4. My membership scheme requires a membership card for in-store discounts. Whilst I don't want to generate those on line due to concerns over forgery, I could create the PDF/text necessary to generate the card automatically, plus any welcome letter that is sent out with it, for admin to deal with manually.
  
  5. Member details could be provided via RSS to affiliates to validate membership on line. Perhaps the user id and membership number. I guess much of that would depend on how savvy affiliate partners are and how secure I can make the RSS availability. Perhaps I may have to resort to another PN group so affiliates can validate discount applications using a query on membership details provided.
  
  6. It would be good to retain any applications for membership that failed to complete. The user may have had problems or second thoughts. If admin were to get in touch personally with such people, it often provides the necessary impetus for them to sign up. Again, cron processing could email admin on a daily basis of any applications incomplete for more than a day and then delete the record from the database or flag it as "admin notified".
  
  7. I don't see the problem with anonymous users wishing to become paid members from the outset. This would save people going through two registrations to make it a one stop shop. It might be worth combining the sign up and membership processes in one. That's possible from what I've read - the first admin is added automatically during the installation of PN.75 for instance. I definately want email addresses to be validated, so I may need to tie the request for payment processing to the link from the validation email... making it a two step approach anyway. I'll see.
  
  8. Existing registered users also need to be catered for obviously.
  
  Some of the above are must have's and some would be nice. If there's any other features that you think might be useful, please add them here and I'll think about it whilst I consider the design.

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• dunx
  
  

  • Rank: Softmore
  • Registered: May 25, 2004
  • Last visit: Oct 21, 2009
  • Posts: 192

  Posted: Jun 10, 2004 - 12:22 AM

  Great idea dunx. I tell you what, I'll get the ball rolling...
  
  9. A feature to allow Admin to generate a number of coded free/discounted memberships. If the user enters the correct (and unused) code on the "order" page, they skip the WorldPay pages or get a discounted rate. Let Admin select a number of codes to create in a batch, plus the applicable discount and associate text , e.g. "Freebies for June comp". Add a new table to hold this data and include a column to record the user who eventually signs up.
  
  Next!

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• **unknown user**
  
  

  • Rank: Registered User
  • Registered: Mar 16, 2002
  • Last visit: Oct 21, 2009
  • Posts: 6

  Posted: Jun 23, 2004 - 10:14 AM

  If you build it, I will come...
  
  This is exactly what I need for my site. You may save me the cost of buying DreamAccount if you proceed. I will only add one requirement, and you may have even thought of this already:
  
  10. Allow members to upgrade their memberships before the expiration date. For example, if I am offering 3 levels of accounts for picture hosting, I may offer 100MB, 300MB and 500MB accounts. If a user subscribes to the 100MB account for a year, but then needs to upgrade to 300MB after 6 months, the system should make it easy to handle such a scenario.
  
  I'm looking forward to it!
  
  -Joe

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• dunx
  
  

  • Rank: Softmore
  • Registered: May 25, 2004
  • Last visit: Oct 21, 2009
  • Posts: 192

  Posted: Jun 24, 2004 - 01:36 AM

  My requirements are only for a single level of membership - you're either a member or you're not. I had thought about the renewing before the m'ship expires, but not upgrading. Not heard of DreamAccount...

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• **unknown user**
  
  

  • Rank: Softmore
  • Registered: Mar 16, 2002
  • Last visit: Jun 26, 2009
  • Posts: 112

  Posted: Jun 29, 2004 - 12:36 PM

  check out http://postnukemodules.com
  I am in no way related to their company, just a very happy customer, and I'll tell ya, Leitha is the greatest when it comes to custom code and support.
  I've used her membership system for a very long time now and it has many of the features you have asked for. The ones it doesn't, well you may be able to talk her into custom coding it for you.
  I was able to create multiple membership tiers, and her module automatically switches the group not only in PN but also vb for me. It keeps track of expiration dates allready, and building in an email client would not be that difficult. There is allready an admin showing me exactly who is in what group and when their plan expires etc...
  Bottom line, it's the cheapest membership module out there, and does the job nicelly.

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• dunx
  
  

  • Rank: Softmore
  • Registered: May 25, 2004
  • Last visit: Oct 21, 2009
  • Posts: 192

  Posted: Jun 30, 2004 - 12:23 AM

  I'm glad there's something similar out there. It's not quite what I need, but it's useful to look at for design ideas. Thanks for the link.
  
  I don't want to force people to sign up to PayPal to become members. Perhaps it's a UK thing, but not everybody has a PayPal account over here. I'll be using WorldPay elsewhere on the site (when somebody ports osCommerce) and WorldPay won't let you use another payment provider, so again no PayPal.
  
  WorldPay doesn't run a script when people cancel schedules transactions, so that needs to be handled manually.
  
  The payment is also for membership to a club of which the website is but a part. People could be members before they even visit the site, so I need to cater for that.
  
  I also need the idea of discount codes.
  
  Although my requirements are pretty specific, I'll try to code it such that other payment providers can be plugged into the code quite easily.
  
  I hadn't considered multiple levels. Perhaps I should.
  
  Again, thanks for the reference.

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• dunx
  
  

  • Rank: Softmore
  • Registered: May 25, 2004
  • Last visit: Oct 21, 2009
  • Posts: 192

  Posted: Jul 11, 2004 - 08:56 PM

  Design is complete and coding is underway (I even have one form working :? ).
  
  The discount codes idea has been expanded to have a value to the user and also a value to an affiliate meaning the codes can be used for affiliate payments.
  
  Multiple levels are being handled through the use of numerous membership types. Each type has a cost and group associated with it. I require Senior and Junior memberships. What I won't be doing initially is coding in upgrading from one type to another type, although that shouldn't be too difficult as Permissions can be used to only display the relevant upgrade options to users with specific existing members.

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• **unknown user**
  
  

  • Rank: Registered User
  • Registered: Mar 16, 2002
  • Last visit: Sep 26, 2004
  • Posts: 17

  Posted: Jul 24, 2004 - 09:51 PM

  I would love to have something like this for paid content subscriptions. I look forward to your progress. I am leary of all the other payment/comercial products out there, after reading other posts.

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• **unknown user**
  
  

  • Rank: Freshman
  • Registered: Mar 16, 2002
  • Last visit: Oct 21, 2009
  • Posts: 68

  Posted: Jul 24, 2004 - 10:33 PM

  Hi you guys,
  
  This is all very much like re-inventing the wheel, we have been there, bought the t-shirt, seen the movie then decided to buy the cinema :D
  
  While there are a few posts from people on the forums here from a handful of individuals that in particular had a pop at us, I would like to point out three things...
  
  1) Those persons have never used our solution (cmsMerchant).
  
  2) cmsMerchant is unique and has excellent support, we do go that extra mile for our clients.
  
  3) cmsMerchant is rapidly becoming the most widely used e-Commerce solution for Postnuke websites and will continue to do so.
  
  We invested over a year of programming into making and fine tuning cmsMerchant, it has more payment plugins (WorldPay, PayPal, 2CheckOut, StormPay, iPayment, Authorize.net, Checks/Money Orders and more on the way) and features than any other e-Commerce type Postnuke module.
  
  The reason it was originally created was because there were no low cost Subscription + modules available for Postnuke, they all cost an arm and a leg and are somewhat inferior, don't take our word for it, buy them like we did and see for yourself
  
  A free subscription module is fine in theory but what you as a developer have to realise is that people intend to *profit* financially from your module, it's not in the same boat as other modules where no financial gain is not being made by the site owner using them, they will profit from your hard work and so should you therefore.
  
  Barry
  
  cmsMerchant
  Postnuke e-Commerce Solution/Membership Module
  http://www.cmsmerchant.com

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• **unknown user**
  
  

  • Rank: Registered User
  • Registered: Mar 16, 2002
  • Last visit: Dec 02, 2005
  • Posts: 11

  Posted: Jul 25, 2004 - 09:48 AM

  I'd recommend that you seach for comments on this company before you deal with them. Not everyone is happy with them.

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• **unknown user**
  
  

  • Rank: Freshman
  • Registered: Mar 16, 2002
  • Last visit: Oct 21, 2009
  • Posts: 68

  Posted: Jul 25, 2004 - 09:44 PM

  Well there's a funny thing... do you know any company that everyone is happy with? LOL, tell you what though it comes to something when the ones that aren't don't even use the product and aren't clients either doesn't it, infact says everything about such persons barring their motivations...
  
  Sincerely,
  
  Barry & Serg
  
  cmsMerchant
  Postnuke e-Commerce Solution/Membership Module
  http://www.cmsmerchant.com
  
  
  

  mithrandir069

  I'd recommend that you seach for comments on this company before you deal with them. Not everyone is happy with them.

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• dunx
  
  

  • Rank: Softmore
  • Registered: May 25, 2004
  • Last visit: Oct 21, 2009
  • Posts: 192

  Posted: Jul 26, 2004 - 02:49 AM

  cmsm

  
  A free subscription module is fine in theory but what you as a developer have to realise is that people intend to *profit* financially from your module, it's not in the same boat as other modules where no financial gain is not being made by the site owner using them, they will profit from your hard work and so should you therefore.
  

  
  You can benefit financially from all modules whether they have a commercial component or not. If your site sells something and a module makes people visit more often, they are more likely to buy something.
  
  However, if people can make money directly from a module, they're certainly more likely to be willing to pay for it. It would certainly become more widely used if it were free of course and the prime example there is osCommerce.
  
  I have no experience of cmsMerchant, but what the module offered didn't match my needs from what I could tell. I intend to code up what I need (fully API/pnRender compliant) and then release that in its raw form for others to roll with. That's the point of GPL in my opinion. You give a little, you take a little. I have no problem with saying you've invested time in producing cmsMerchant and you want to charge for it. I'm producing my code because I have a functional requirement (and I like coding). Your comments are fine by me. I hope mine are okay by you :)
  
  So... how many sides has your wheel got?

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• **unknown user**
  
  

  • Rank: Registered User
  • Registered: Mar 16, 2002
  • Last visit: Dec 02, 2005
  • Posts: 11

  Posted: Jul 26, 2004 - 12:28 PM

  cmsm

  LOL, tell you what though it comes to something when the ones that aren't don't even use the product and aren't clients either doesn't it, infact says everything about such persons barring their motivations...

  Assumptions are a funny thing, people can be sooooo wrong. I didn't say anything negative, just recommended a search. I was a customer but this isn't the forum for rehashing old wounds. Do a search, make up your own minds, simple advice.
  
  "Caveat emptor"

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• **unknown user**
  
  

  • Rank: Registered User
  • Registered: Mar 16, 2002
  • Last visit: Sep 26, 2004
  • Posts: 17

  Posted: Jul 26, 2004 - 09:14 PM

  I am not sure about the numbers but I would guess that a lot of the people that use PN are solely in it for commercial interests. I am a small business owner trying to make it on my own and I have little capitol to be spending $100 here and there on a dozen programs, add ons, and content feeds.
  
  It has taken me 8 months just to realise that I do not have to learn MySQL, PHP and that PN can create a database (a learning experience). PN itself would be worthy of commercial sale, just look at the other CMS solutions out there.
  
  So I must say that I for one as a small business owner attempting to struggle to get my "idea" out there appreciates the PN Community. But I do understand that people that sell modules, hacks, and blocks are trying to make it as well and I wish you all well in your individual endeavors.
  
  Without PN I would be digging myself into greater debt with third party database "solutions" and other costs, that PN has helped me alleviate.

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• **unknown user**
  
  

  • Rank: Freshman
  • Registered: Mar 16, 2002
  • Last visit: Oct 21, 2009
  • Posts: 68

  Posted: Jul 26, 2004 - 09:29 PM

  Shopping carts, Membership Subscription software and basically all website e-Commerce software are used by site owners purely to make a profit *directly* and as the developer so should you, this is my honest opinion. If it's for your own use that you develop it great, if it's to sell also great, but to give away what is essentially profit making software is naive, worse infact...
  
  osCommerce is not a Postnuke module and is just a fixed template shopping cart the only thing that makes it extremely popular is because it's free, despite that we get many clients choosing to use cmsMerchant rather than osCommerce because they realise our offers greater functionality amongst other things.
  
  If you want to give a little and take a little, that's fine and highly noble, but why not do so with a module not used to make a profit.
  
  You asked "So... how many sides has your wheel got?" - If you are asking about the features cmsMerchant includes currently then they are listed on our website, if you are meaning something else please be more specific?
  
  Barry
  
  cmsMerchant
  Postnuke e-Commerce Solution/Membership Module
  (Now PostNuke Phoenix 0.750-RC3 compatiable too.)
  http://www.cmsmerchant.com
  
  

  dunx

  
  You can benefit financially from all modules whether they have a commercial component or not. If your site sells something and a module makes people visit more often, they are more likely to buy something.
  
  However, if people can make money directly from a module, they're certainly more likely to be willing to pay for it. It would certainly become more widely used if it were free of course and the prime example there is osCommerce.
  
  I have no experience of cmsMerchant, but what the module offered didn't match my needs from what I could tell. I intend to code up what I need (fully API/pnRender compliant) and then release that in its raw form for others to roll with. That's the point of GPL in my opinion. You give a little, you take a little. I have no problem with saying you've invested time in producing cmsMerchant and you want to charge for it. I'm producing my code because I have a functional requirement (and I like coding). Your comments are fine by me. I hope mine are okay by you :)
  
  So... how many sides has your wheel got?

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