Selling mp3s: the "middle step"

May 2, 2006 1:21 PM

I know how to encode mp3 files and how to store them on an ftp server. The shopping cart app (oscommerce) claims to be able to deliver virtual merchandise. My question is: once the customer pays for the mp3, what has to be done to deliver the link to him for download? Is there a plugin for oscommerce to make this happen?

At this point, not interested in discussion of copyright or DRM issues, or anyway let's say that's outside the scope of this particular question.

posted by La Cieca to Computers & Internet (3 answers total)

Have you asked at the oscommerce forums? I use oscommerce for my website and I've had great luck getting help there. http://forums.oscommerce.com
posted by moosedogtoo at 3:28 PM on May 2, 2006

I would assume that the software would send the buyer a link via email, or as part of the checkout process. Depending on the setup, this link might be dynamically generated, so as to only allow downloads within a certain timeframe, or only by a certain ip address. Not entirely sure of how the specifics would work out, but moose's suggestion to visit the oscommerce forums sounds great. Metafilter is great, but these specific questions are a little out of most of our knowledge.
posted by fvox13 at 4:18 PM on May 2, 2006

Response by poster: I will try the oscommerce forums... surely someone there can point me to an answer. Thanks for the idea!
posted by La Cieca at 7:57 PM on May 2, 2006