Comments on: Google Analytics E-Commerce Tracking Using Paypal PDT

By: Brent Crouch

Brent Crouch — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:18:35 +0000

Great Tommy. Thanks for the feedback.

By: Brent Crouch

Brent Crouch — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:17:43 +0000

No I haven’t. There are instances that you point out in which the script will not work. Using the IPN would be the fail safe method, I just don’t know of anyway to make that work due to the issue you mentioned.

By: Tommy

Tommy — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 11:44:16 +0000

Hi Brent.
I’ve been using your method for a few days now but there are a couple of problems which prevent the tracking from taking place.
1st off, since I’m not a cgi programmer (I’m a php man) I didn’t know how to fully implement the script correctly. Luckily I found this article which put some order into things for me – http://www.ezscripting.com/pathtoperl/#Why%20do%20I%20need%20CGI%20scripts%20anyway?
I’m sure other readers could benefit from it, and maybe you’ll put this information in your ebook (which I think is really great btw).
2nd problem this entire method doesn’t cover is that with PDT, after the purchase the buyer will get a screen – still within PayPal – that says the transaction is complete and please wait 5 seconds to be transferred to the site. If they don’t wait 5 seconds and either close the window, or simply click away to another site then the cgi script is never called, and GA will not get the information on the purchase.
PayPal’s IPN notifies the site of a purchase, but doesn’t trigger javascript, so it still doesn’t notify GA of the purchase.
Did you manage to come up with a solution for this one?

By: Tommy

Tommy — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 16:21:49 +0000

Many thanks Brent.
You probably saved me quite a few hours.

By: Brent Crouch

Brent Crouch — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 02:48:11 +0000

@Dale – I’m not sure. I’ve never messed around with the add to cart buttons. If you can use the PDT with a cart button, I suspect it would work fine.

By: Dale

Dale — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 22:39:09 +0000

Hi Brent, does this work for PayPal’s add to cart buttons as well or just the buy now buttons? Thanks Dale

By: Brent Crouch

Brent Crouch — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 15:48:10 +0000

Glad it worked for you Tampa SEO.

By: Tampa SEO

Tampa SEO — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 14:18:55 +0000

Great e-book. Saved me hours of testing myself. Thanks for sharing!

By: Janni

Janni — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 09:46:05 +0000

thanks Brend for the exellent step by step analysis of your pdf.

By: Poster Maniac

Poster Maniac — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 11:55:10 +0000

This is indeed a helpful e-book as it is indeed hard for me to track google analytics before but your share of information is indeed great. I am planning of sharing this information with some friends and they would surely be glad about it.