# Subscriptions with paypal...how?

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/subscriptions-with-paypal-how/127706>\
**Category:** Rails\
**Created:** [January 31, 2008, 4:28pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/subscriptions-with-paypal-how/127706 "2008-01-31T16:28:22Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![mix](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@mix](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/mix)\
**Post date:** [January 31, 2008, 4:28pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/subscriptions-with-paypal-how/127706/1 "2008-01-31T16:28:22Z")

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Hi, i’ve to do a little site which need the paypal’s subscription  
feature. How can implement it with rails? is there any plugin to do  
this? I need that every month the payment has been taken, tell the  
system that has been successfully done and then do something else  
depending on the payment.  
I’ve seen active merchant which permit paypal payments, but what about  
subscriptions?  
Any idea?  
thanks

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**Author:** ![mix](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@mix](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/mix)\
**Post date:** [January 31, 2008, 5:54pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/subscriptions-with-paypal-how/127706/2 "2008-01-31T17:54:59Z")

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Mix M.,

My name is Ron Coleman, a business development manager at EC Suite. We  
specialize in on-line transaction processing and provide an all  
inclusive e-commerce toolset designed to reduce the cost of processing  
and marketing while you focus on managing your business. Our  
subscription billing service allows for flexible pricing options and  
multiple payment types. You can create, cancel, and modify  
subscriptions as needed. This offers you a more predictable cash flow  
for your business, with the added convenience to your customers, and  
the cost savings for your business. You can call me on my direct line  
at (480) 682-3270 or email at removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid.

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**Author:** ![mix](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@mix](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/mix)\
**Post date:** [January 31, 2008, 6:26pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/subscriptions-with-paypal-how/127706/3 "2008-01-31T18:26:21Z")

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On Jan 31, 8:28 am, Mix M. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote:

> Hi, i’ve to do a little site which need the paypal’s subscription  
> feature. How can implement it with rails? is there any plugin to do  
> this? I need that every month the payment has been taken, tell the  
> system that has been successfully done and then do something else  
> depending on the payment.  
> I’ve seen active merchant which permit paypal payments, but what about  
> subscriptions?  
> Any idea?  
> thanks

You can implement paypals subscriptions with activemerchant by using  
Instant Payment Notification, which is part of paypal.

Once a user has subscribed to your subscriptions your rails  
application will net a notification of the subscription, and then at  
each billing period another notice and so forth. You application will  
implement a controller that will handle the notices doing the  
necessary book work for the notification. Do a search for  
“activemerchant IPN” and you find examples how to do this.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![mix](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@mix](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/mix)\
**Post date:** [January 31, 2008, 6:56pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/subscriptions-with-paypal-how/127706/4 "2008-01-31T18:56:44Z")

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Jim C. wrote:

> Somewhat OT: You should also consider Amazon Flexible Payments. I  
> don’t flat-out advocate one over the other; it depends on your app’s  
> specific needs. Still, it’s worth a look.
> 
> Jim C.

I’ll take a look to it 🙂  
An option more would be nice for the customer, if it has some kind of  
subscriptions 🙂  
thanks

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![mix](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@mix](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/mix)\
**Post date:** [January 31, 2008, 6:48pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/subscriptions-with-paypal-how/127706/5 "2008-01-31T18:48:45Z")

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Somewhat OT: You should also consider Amazon Flexible Payments. I  
don’t flat-out advocate one over the other; it depends on your app’s  
specific needs. Still, it’s worth a look.

Jim C.