Express Checkout Flow

To fully implement Express Checkout, you must allow your customers two entry points into the Express Checkout payment process. Figure 2-3 outlines the complete checkout flow for Express Checkout. In short, customers can enter into the Express Checkout flow at either the Shopping Cart Checkout entry point (dotted arrow) or the Payment Methods entry point (solid arrow). Although it might seem a bit curious that there are two entry points to initiate the Express Checkout flow, the basic premise is that the Shopping Cart Checkout entry point gives customers familiar with PayPal an immediate opportunity to perform the quickest checkout possible, while the Checkout entry point essentially provides PayPal as an option alongside other possible payment options. Depending on your perspective, the existence of two entry points could be seen as a little extra nudge for customers to use PayPal for checkout, although from a functional standpoint, having the two entry points does make sense: one provides the speediest checkout possible, and the other presents PayPal in the same context as any other payment method. At any rate, including both methods in your checkout routines is recommended and easy to implement.

Complete Express Checkout flow

Figure 2-3. Complete Express Checkout flow

Figure 2-4 outlines the Checkout Entry Point, which requires the following steps:

  1. Customer clicks the “Check out with PayPal” button.

  2. Customer logs into PayPal.

  3. Customer confirms shipping and billing information on PayPal’s site.

  4. Customer is returned to your application for final review and clicks the Purchase button.

  5. Customer is returned to a confirmation screen related to the purchase.

Checkout Entry Point

Figure 2-4. Checkout Entry Point

Figure 2-5 outlines the Payment Method Entry Point, which requires the following steps:

  1. Customer clicks the Checkout button on your application.

  2. Customer inputs shipping information into your application.

  3. Customer chooses PayPal from the list of payment methods.

  4. Customer logs into PayPal.

  5. Customer reviews payment information on PayPal’s site.

  6. Customer is returned to your application for final review and clicks the Purchase button.

  7. Customer is returned to a confirmation screen related to the purchase.

Payment Method Entry Point

Figure 2-5. Payment Method Entry Point

With a conceptual understanding of Express Checkout and its two entry points now in place, let’s take a look at the implementation details involved in an integration.