SageDog - 4:48 pm on Jul 3, 2009 (gmt 0)

Our solution to this was implemented when we lost out connection twice before (once form Authorize.net being down for a short period and once from an upgrade of PHP versions on our server that affectect the curl() command in our shopping cart).

Because a return string is obtained from authorize.net, we built in a feature that triggers if no string is returned. It then stores that transaction data and also notifies us via email. Our first "lost" transaction of the day came around 7am PDT and I was notifed immediately. Our site also notifies customers that their transaction has been "queued", so we don't get angry calls or emails.

We'll have to manually enter sales once authorize.net is back up, but ultimately this was a nice fail-safe, and seamless for our customers.