Authorize.net - frustrated with thier updated methods.

Authorize.net SIM / AIM gateway credit card transaction formats.

[AA Best Comfort Guy]

I use Authorize.net (www.authorize.net) with a very functional shopping cart system ( self designed) for my credit card processing. It supported the 2.5 version of thier gateway connections methods - a.k.a - weblinks.
which was simple form tag codes with method post scripts to their secure gateway -- it worked very nicely for several years.

Now they are requesting merchants to switch over to a choice of two new methods... with little or no sample of working models of either method! The samples they do offer stress over and over "hey we dont work good luck" in lawyer speak.

Two choices are:

SIM - Simple Intergration Method ( which basically breaks down to not getting an SSL certification for your website and relying on their gateway for secure transaction)

AIM - Advanced Intergration Method ( you get an third party SSL layer certification and YOU provide secure CC info from your site to thiers via https links.)

You can no longer do Weblink method...in version 2.5.. now they are implementing Hashmark encryption.. and other stuff... via Active Server Pages that reside on my website..to form a "fingerprint" to confirm that the order originated from my site.

Which I ponder, why do I need them If I can just get an SSL certificate and probably process directly with the credit card companies? right, cant I?

Authorize.net tech support - which to me consisted of the same one guy I called. Suggested going with an out of the box shopping cart system... I looked at a alot of them and they all are either cookie-cutter, incomplete, look generic, or vaguely state they accept Authorize.net. Not to mention some want to nibble on your profits... etc. etc.. terrible.

I am so frustrated with this switch over... How they implemented it is ridiculous -you need to upgrade to thier 3.0 system - of either SIM or AIM: before you can even begin to test out your webpages... because it wont support the former methods of connecting to thier gateway.

btw, this is not like able commerce, its not software, I hope you are not confused thinkin I am talking about a software suite from authorize.net - basically what it boils down to is - authorize.net offers you a gateway for your transactions, but it is up to you to figure out how to connect to it- with limited examples, and support.

so I am almost gauranteed downtime!

If anyone out there was able to get this new version of authorize.net to work.. can you point me to a website so I can check out some of your code?

Or suggest another company to deal with...
Speaking of which I accept Paypal on my website too.. and I am debateing to stick with just paypal and get rid of this authorize.net mess. I get more orders via direct Credit cards purchases then paypal accounts.

Thanks in advance.

[soundcommerce]

Greetings,

We may be able to help you out. Please visit
www.authnetscripts.com for more details.

ASPAUTHNET is compatible to the new authorize.net standards, and very easy to configure.

I hope you find this information useful.

Regards,
AuthnetScripts.com

[AA Best Comfort Guy]

Thanks but I really dont feel like spending more money for a solution.

Can you offer some free insight instead?

[VictorE]

I understand your frustration with the new changes. They were a bit overwhelming to me at first. However, I have been running the new SIM integration since early November without problems (knock on wood). I was able to modify (without much effort) their sample ASP scripts for SIM integration to fit my site.

Have you tried out Authorize.net's sample ASP scripts? If not, that's where I'd start.