Gecko browsers and PayPal 'Buy Now'

[annc]

On one of my sites (http://www.dressageit.com/classifieds/), I sell classifieds using Almond Classifieds (a PHP script). Payment for the ads is via a PayPal Buy Now button, which works well for IE and Oracle on the PC, and Safari on the Mac. But with Firefox, Mozilla and Netscape, clicking on the Buy Now button bypasses the entire PayPal experience, and the advertiser is taken to the Receipt page and invited to create the ad.

This is costing me money. I've put a request in to PayPal for some assistance, but last time I did that, I received no e-mail reply - just the follow-up asking me how well they'd satisfied my request.

Here is the code for the button. Does anyone have any suggestions as to why it isn't working in Gecko browsers only?

<p><a href=pmgtw.php>
<form action='https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr' method='post'>
<input type='hidden' name='cmd' value='_xclick'>
<input type='hidden' name='business' value='ann.clarkson@wintercourt.com.au'>
<input type='hidden' name='item_name' value='Classified ads'>
<input type='hidden' name='amount' value='22.00'>
<input type='hidden' name='return' value='http://www.dressageit.com/classifieds/pmgtw.php'>
<input type='hidden' name='no_note' value='1'>
<input type='hidden' name='currency_code' value='AUD'>
<input type='image' src='https://www.paypal.com/en_US/i/btn/x-click-butcc.gif' border='0' name='submit' alt='Make payments with PayPal - it's fast, free and secure!'>
</form></a></p>


I've been an evangelist for Firefox in the forums on this site, so many of the potential advertisers are now staunch Firefox users.http://desktoppublishingforum.com/bb/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif

[Kelvyn]

Your code is not dissimilar from the code I use for Paypal buttons. I copied your code onto a web page here and it worked absolutely perfectly in IE and Firefox......

Could this be a cache/cookie problem?

[annc]

Your code is not dissimilar from the code I use for Paypal buttons. I copied your code onto a web page here and it worked absolutely perfectly in IE and Firefox......

Could this be a cache/cookie problem?The only cookies my site sets are the vBulletin forum ones. But that is a common factor.

I'll clear the cache and restart to get rid of the cookies and see what happens.

[annc]

Your code is not dissimilar from the code I use for Paypal buttons. I copied your code onto a web page here and it worked absolutely perfectly in IE and Firefox......

Could this be a cache/cookie problem?I've deleted the history, cache, all dressageit cookies and restarted the PC. Still have the problem.

Can I ask you to go to the Classifieds page (http://www.dressageit.com/classifieds/) and try to place an ad? You need to select the category first.

[Kelvyn]

I think I have found the problem. Your page script takes me straight to the confirmation of payment page because the paypal image (and form) is inside a link for pmtw.php

Remove the <a href=pmgtw.php> and the closing tag and all should be well. I only tested the form script itself earlier....

[annc]

Remove the <a href=pmgtw.php> and the closing tag and all should be well. I only tested the form script itself earlier....Brilliant, Kelvyn, thanks.

It's months since I set up that form, and don't remember why I had that there.

[dthomsen8]

Good work, Kelvyn, but tell us why it was different for some browser. :)


I think I have found the problem. Your page script takes me straight to the confirmation of payment page because the paypal image (and form) is inside a link for pmtw.php

Remove the <a href=pmgtw.php> and the closing tag and all should be well. I only tested the form script itself earlier....

[Kelvyn]

but tell us why it was different for some browser. :)

Because Gecko browsers are the only ones that correctly interpreted the nested tags.

[jrabold]

Ann, I didn't look at your PayPal form on line, but what you posted included an email address free and clear. PayPal now (at least here in the USA) allows most of the form content to be encrypted so spammers and scammers can't harvest anything. Here's how my own PayPal form appears. I've replaced most of the encryption with an ellipsis.

<form action="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr" method="post">
<input type="hidden" name="cmd" value="_s-xclick" />
<input type="image" src="https://www.paypal.com/en_US/i/btn/x-click-but04.gif" name="submit" alt="Make payments with PayPal - it's fast, free and secure!" title="Make payments with PayPal - it's fast, free and secure!" />
<input type="hidden" name="encrypted" value="-----BEGIN PKCS7-----MIIHqQYJKoZIhv .... Mvreww33bDK-----END PKCS7-----
" />
</form>

[annc]

what you posted included an email address free and clear. PayPal now (at least here in the USA) allows most of the form content to be encrypted so spammers and scammers can't harvest anything. Here's how my own PayPal form appears. I've replaced most of the encryption with an ellipsis. Thanks, John. That's a good idea.