How to create a trial subscription button...

[Rob]

Hey there,

In PayPal, one of the options you can give a Subscribe button is a trial period (PayPal actually gives another option for a 2nd trial period as well) for a reduced monthly price that then escalates to the full price if the subscription isn't cancelled after a set period of time.

Is there any way to do this in s2Member?

[Jason Caldwell]

Hi Rob. Great question.

s2Member will support a "paid" initial period, instead of just a free trial period. However, you'll need to use the full Button Code, instead of the Shortcode format. You can just change the a1,p1,t1 variables.

** Update. This is now possible with the Shortcode attribute ( ta="x.xx" ). See:
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=737&p=3631&hilit=full+button+code#p3631

[ cont... ]
In the Full Button Code ... what you do is set the a1,p1,t1 variables in the Button Code. These are, (A)mount for Period1, (P)eriod for Period 1, and (T)erm for Period 1.

Period #1 will last for (1) (M)onth, and cost $129 initially:

Code: Select all

<input type="hidden" name="a1" value="129.00" />
<input type="hidden" name="p1" value="1" />
<input type="hidden" name="t1" value="M" />

Period #2 is recurring, and will be 24.95 every (1) (M)onth

Code: Select all

<input type="hidden" name="a3" value="24.95" />
<input type="hidden" name="p3" value="1" />
<input type="hidden" name="t3" value="M" />

Here is the full Button Code example, just to be thorough:

Code: Select all

<form action="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr" method="post">
<input type="hidden" name="business" value="example@example.com" />
<input type="hidden" name="cmd" value="_xclick-subscriptions" />
<!-- Instant Payment Notification & Return Page Details -->
<input type="hidden" name="notify_url" value="http://www.example.com/?s2member_paypal_notify=1" />
<input type="hidden" name="cancel_return" value="http://www.example.com" />
<input type="hidden" name="return" value="http://www.example.com/?s2member_paypal_return=1" />
<input type="hidden" name="rm" value="2" />
<!-- Configures All Of The Checkout Fields -->
<input type="hidden" name="no_shipping" value="1" />
<input type="hidden" name="no_note" value="1" />
<input type="hidden" name="custom" value="www.example.com" />
<input type="hidden" name="currency_code" value="USD" />
<input type="hidden" name="page_style" value="paypal" />
<input type="hidden" name="item_name" value="Subscription description." />
<input type="hidden" name="item_number" value="1" />
<!-- Customizes Prices, Payments & Billing Cycle -->
<input type="hidden" name="src" value="1" />
<input type="hidden" name="sra" value="1" />
<input type="hidden" name="a1" value="129.00" />
<input type="hidden" name="p1" value="1" />
<input type="hidden" name="t1" value="M" />
<input type="hidden" name="a3" value="24.95" />
<input type="hidden" name="p3" value="1" />
<input type="hidden" name="t3" value="M" />
<!-- Displays The PayPal® Image Button -->
<input type="image" alt="PayPal®" style="border:0;" src="https://www.paypal.com/en_US/i/btn/btn_xpressCheckout.gif" />
</form>

Now, to answer your question more specifically, NO. s2Member does NOT support that intermingled period that PayPal® allows you to create. Actually, PayPal® does not really support this across all of it's integration methods.

The reason s2Member does NOT support this, is because PayPal® "Pro" integration does not support it, and the implementation of this feature would be very confusing and much more prone to error. That a2,p2,t2 period often becomes confusing to a Customer as well; because there are multiple charge amounts, as opposed to one fee to start your subscriptions, and a regular recurring fee.

All of that being said, if you "really" need this, feel free to use it with s2Member, just realize that s2Member's reporting will NOT acknowledge the amounts reflected in the a2,p2,t2 variables.

[behnt]

I 'Really' need this with paypal pro. but I cannot find the full code for the form. Help?

[cheezcake]

Damnit.. I need this for PayPal Pro too! My project hinges upon it!

[Elizabeth]

Sorry, at this time this works only for the PayPal Buttons; this uses ta (Trial amount).
Jason is still working on a work-around for the PayPal Pro forms.

[behnt]

Is there any ETA on this? This is a BIG thing for me and some others. Other than that I LOVE the system and am recommending it to people I know but in a few cases that I have recommended to people this is a deal breaker for them. They need to have this functionality

Ben

[Jason Caldwell]

Thanks for your input guys.
~ Coming soon. @TODO

Look for this in the very next release of s2Member Pro v1.2.8+.

[behnt]

Great! Let me know if you need a beta tester. I have a small site and it would have little to no impact to my business to test..