Customize "Add special instructions to the seller" prompt?

[DCSChargers]

Is it possible to customize the "Add special instructions to the seller" prompt on the checkout page?  I'd like to have the customer provide some specific information to be captured during checkout.

Thanks in advance!

Todd

[snowshoe]

Here's a few tips as to what you can do with the standard PayPal Checkout Screens:

The PayPal Checkout Screens you see are limited to changing the scheme and/or allowing you to display a business logo graphic (Business Accounts only) and/or changing the text for the "cn" variable value and/or changing the text for the "cbt" variable.

The "cn" variable value is a the Label that appears above the note field.   This value is not saved and does not appear in any of your notifications.   If this variable is omitted, the default label above the note field is "Add special instructions to merchant."   The "cn" variable is not valid with Subscribe buttons or if you include no_note="1".   The "cn" variable value is limited to 40 characters.

The "cbt" variable default value is displayed as a link which says "Return to Merchant".   If you are utilizing Payments Standard and have a return page set up, you will find that your non-PayPal members will need to click on the "Return to Merchant" link to be directed back to the return page.   In some instances this may not be the best way to alert customers that they can return to your website by clicking on the link.   The good news you can change the value to what ever you would like.   The "cbt" variable value is limited to 60 characters and only takes effect only if the return variable is set.

For variable coding details, see this user guide:

https://www.paypalobjects.com/webstatic/en_US/developer/docs/pdf/pp_websitepaymentsstandard_integrat...

That's all you can do.   

If you want total control over your checkout screens, you would need to use Payments Pro.   Pro does not redirect customers to the PayPal Checkout Screens.   The customers remain on your web site thru the entire process therefore you can design any checkout experience you have in mind.   (Payments Pro however, is not free, it costs $30 a month.)

Another option for collecting additional information from your customers is to use the "option" variables in your item button code, i.e,, for text input boxes.

[DCSChargers]

The "cn" variable sounds like exactly what I'm looking for...

However, I'm new to this and am not sure where to make this change.  I've looked all through the CUSTOMIZE YOUR BUYERS EXPERIENCE page, but find nothing.

Any suggestions?

[snowshoe]

There's two different approaches you can take however, it depends on what coding method you're using.

If you are your using "hosted" item button coding (the code that you create using the online button creator from within your account, you can do the following:

For "hosted" or "encrypted" item button code you need to modify button code using the "Advanced Variables" in Step 3.   Note the text box near the bottom of the page.  There you can insert extra variables.  

no_note=0

cn=Say what you want  (40 character limit)

There's no HTML extras, just the name of the variable, an equal sign and the value.

If you're  manually coding your item buttons, then you can add the following lines of code:

<input type="hidden" name="no_note" value="0">
<input type="hidden" name="cn" value="Say whatever you want:">

[DCSChargers]

The only place I've seen those options are on the individual item's buttons for the items we're selling (about 20 items and their corresponding buttons).  We are using the "hosted" option, and simply copying the HTML code generated onto our page.

The prompt I'm looking to modify is the ADD SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS TO THE SELLER that appears when you checkout.

Of course, now I can't even see where I saw that prompt before.  I don't think I was dreaming.

I'm pretty sure I saw the option on a screen after you begin the checkout process, so that the information is captured once-per-order, not for each and every item.  

Perhaps something I did made that go away?  Or am I dreaming?  Is there a place during the checkout process where buyers can enter comments to the seller/merchant?

[snowshoe]

The option is available near the end of the Checkout Process.

[DCSChargers]

OK.  I see this now.  Not sure how I missed this!?!?

Back to the original issue.  It appears as if the instructions you provided about using the "cn" variable indicate that the variable is added during the creation of a ADD TO CART button.  What if that specific item isn't added to the cart?  Do I need to add that variable to *every* button I create?  Remember, I only need the prompt to appear during checkout?

Thanks for all of your help...

[snowshoe]

Yes. every item.