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PayPal IPN delays - Question

by Josh Anderson
9 replies
For those of you who have actually done enough volume to understand what I am talking about how have you dealt with PayPal's failure to address its occasional IPN delays over the years?
#advanced #ipn #paypal #question #unreliable #users
  • Profile picture of the author globalpro
    Josh,

    The problem with PayPal is when there is a problem, they will first state that there isn't a problem, then possibly say there is but technical is working on it or it will start working again and you lose interest in following up (who really has time).

    I have used PayPal for years and it has never really been a big problem, but when it happens, it's very annoying. Still, most people I know are happy using them.

    What gets really annoying is when I test something using SandBox, and it works fine, but do a live sale and it acts up. Kind of like why use SB, if you can be sure a live sale will work fine.

    All in all, I am happy with them.

    Thanks,

    John

    PS The script I use, Rapid Action Profits, does handle the IPN delay, so I have compensated for it if it does by providing info to hang on, your download is coming.
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  • Profile picture of the author Nick Brighton
    Josh,

    This is happening to me all the time now, after years of smooth service. Almost EVERY transaction has to be emailed manually.

    I'm currently contacting PP to find out what the heck is going on, but it seems the IPN notifications have completely stopped for no reason.
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    • Profile picture of the author Sid Hale
      Hi Nick,

      What IPN script are you using?

      While I've had this happen, as well...
      It hasn't occurred more than a couple of times per year.

      It hasn't been a problem at all for a couple of months, and when it has happened, the delays occurred in a very concentrated time frame and lasted no more than a few hours.

      I make multiple sales every day that are delivered via IPN processing, and have only had to complete transactions manually (i.e. email download links) three or four times in the past few years.

      If you are having consistent problems with IPN, over a long period of time, you should check your own Paypal settings, and check your IPN script to make sure that all exception conditions are handled.
      Originally Posted by Nick Brighton View Post

      Josh,

      This is happening to me all the time now, after years of smooth service. Almost EVERY transaction has to be emailed manually.

      I'm currently contacting PP to find out what the heck is going on, but it seems the IPN notifications have completely stopped for no reason.
      Signature

      Sid Hale
      Coming Soon... Rapid Action Profits (Pro)

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    • Profile picture of the author Myles Sinclair
      Originally Posted by Nick Brighton View Post

      Josh,

      I'm currently contacting PP to find out what the heck is going on, but it seems the IPN notifications have completely stopped for no reason.
      Nick,

      Paypal made some changes at the beginning of February that has impacted many people using IPN. Take a look at this thread - https://www.paypal-community.com/t5/...ing/td-p/28716

      There is a lot of reference to this problem on Google if you search "PayPal Instant Payment Notification Warning" (without quotes). It seems to be affecting people across a wide range of shopping carts.

      I hope this is of help.

      Myles
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  • Profile picture of the author Andy Fletcher
    I voted for "wait for PayPal then automate" but obviously if someone complains I fulfil manually. To be honest though this doesn't happen often enough to warrant much thought on my part really.
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  • Profile picture of the author Sid Hale
    Hi Josh,

    Originally Posted by Josh Anderson View Post

    For those of you who have actually done enough volume to understand what I am talking about how have you dealt with PayPal's failure to address its occasional IPN delays over the years?
    I assume the Poll above is yours...

    Your fourth choice
    Transaction is pending in my software but I can switch it to subscribed for fulfillment.
    has nothing to do with IPN delays.

    In fact, your software is aware of the "Pending" status of the payment specifically because the Paypal IPN processing has notified your IPN script of that status.

    There was no delay. The payment has NOT cleared through Paypal, and they recommend that you NOT deliver until subsequent processing notifies you that the payment has cleared.
    Signature

    Sid Hale
    Coming Soon... Rapid Action Profits (Pro)

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    • Profile picture of the author Josh Anderson
      Originally Posted by Sid Hale View Post

      There was no delay. The payment has NOT cleared through Paypal, and they recommend that you NOT deliver until subsequent processing notifies you that the payment has cleared.
      That is an interesting theory but I am not referring to pending payments in PayPal at all...

      What I am referring to is the long well known issue that PayPal has had over the years where sometimes IPN is not sent for hours and in extreme circumstances even one or two days for completed payments where funds have been cleared and deposited... even withdrawn.

      Originally Posted by Andy Fletcher View Post

      I voted for "wait for PayPal then automate" but obviously if someone complains I fulfil manually. To be honest though this doesn't happen often enough to warrant much thought on my part really.
      That has been the most effective way to deal with it. I bring this up every couple of years or so because PayPal has never resolved it and the answer always appears to be the same... just wishing there was another magical answer that would appear... better yet PayPal making their IPN reliably "Instant."

      The best way to avoid the IPN delay that I know of is to not use PayPal standard and use Website Payments pro or PayFlow Pro or a Merchant account... verification is immediate
      Signature
      Nanacast Review
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  • Profile picture of the author seasoned
    There should be three types of "delays" from paypal...

    1. Latency. That can be ANY length of time but HOPEFULLY is usually seconds. It is a given.
    2. Retry waits. In case there is a paypal, site, or latency problem. Because it could basically CRASH paypal, the time between retries increases and, eventually, it will give up. That is a necessary evil. Suppose your site were down, paypal doesn't want to crash because of it.
    3. Change of status. I would hope paypal does this with echecks as well. Of course, this could take DAYS!

    Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author dsmpublishing
    Hi guys

    i have solved it very easily ditch paypal!!!!

    kind regards


    sam
    X
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