ShopSite Knowledgebase

How does the Associate feature track what the buyer purchases and then properly credit the Associate?

Product: Pro
Version: ALL
Platform: ALL

Explanation of the Associates feature of ShopSite Pro.

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Solution ID: S05389

The Associate URL contains the URL to the ref.cgi (in the SC directory) with the storeid and name of the Associate as parameters. When a shopper clicks on the link and goes to ref.cgi an empty shopping cart file is created, the Associate name is placed in it, a cookie is placed in the shopper's browser to connect him with the basket just created (just like ShopSite normally does in the order process), and then the browser is redirected to the page indicated in the setup for that particular Associate. After that, it's exactly like any other order process. The shopper orders products which are placed in the cart (which already has the Associate name recorded in it). When the order is completed if there is an Associate name for a completed order that info is placed in a separate file named iref.[ordernum].new. Whenever the Associates or Orders menu is accessed in the ShopSite back office those files are pulled into the main Associates database. The Associate name will also display in the View Orders menu for the order, as well as in the merchant email notification for the order.

The Associate name will also be passed along to the OrderAPI if there is a custom cgi set up there, and will be included in the order download information.

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