Will,
I know you've been working on integration between AS and AP. Without trying to elicit promises that you won't give, and couldn't be expected to keep, can you give any kind of estimate of time frame on availability?
Thanks,
Steven

Steven,
The best I can do is give you our development priorities. Our top priority now is to stabilize AF 4.2. This means we have one more patch to release in the next day or so. At the same time we need to release Active Social 1.6, which we are testing now. After that is Active Purchase, which is doesn't have much left before release. We need to clean-up a few more things and then install it on our site. I should be able to start blogging about the features for Active Purchase late this week.

Thanks for the update Will. I am very interested in an interaction with AP to allow the use of POINTS for rewards, or a coupon possibly, which users can have their points subtracted from their balance. I want to set up a store to offer T-shirts, Hats, etc.. My thought is to have them work together, I just dont know if AP will be able to support what I am after.

Active Purchase will support a complete rewards redemption and tracking system.

Thanks, Will. That's great news!
Steven

Great will.. Thank you for the update..

I know AP works for billing and things of that sort, but what about on online store similar to CATALOOK from www.dnnsoft.com ?

They offer a store that I was planning to use and set up. I just wonder if there is a way to interface a coupon possibly that can be used to purchase goods, or if there is something your planning on implementing in the future..

Adam,
I have implemented a Catalook store before. While it's really flexible it's anything but easy to understand and customize. One of the things that was particularly frustrating what their lack of some basic coupon (discount) functionality. They have complex coupon functionality - but not basic.

Despite buying source and working for months on a project for my client (well into the red btw) we eventually gave up and the client went with OSCommerce. (DNN was not really that important to this client since they mainly just wanted a store).

I don't think I could recommend it to my clients again.

I do believe that it's the only DNN module that let's you have your users sell their products/files and have them operate as a vendor (Please, correct me if I am wrong).

Thanks swebster for the feedback.

I dont mind customizing it.

I wont have many products.  Possibly less than 20 right now.. I will be the only one at this time adding things to it.

I really just want to offer our companies items, like hats, t-shirts, mugs, etc..

But with the points structure I am after a way to offer those that reach certain levels to be able to receive the products for free.. Not sure if it will be from a custom email that is generated once they receive a certain level.

I thought about the email way, which would allow me to use any method out there for the store front. One that offers coupons, so basically once a user reaches a level in points the drafted email is sent to the user and notifies them, CONGRATULATIONS FOR REACHING X point level, you are now entitled to visiting our store to receive your free T-shirt from JapanBases.com etc...

I dont know if there is a way to set up a custom method from SQL so it basically checks for users POINT VALUE, and once a member reaches that point value for the SQL script to run, and trigger automatic emails.. It would have to also generate the coupon code, because I wouldnt want the coupon code to be used more than once, and if its a SET DRAFTED email, I would have to manually update it.

Not sure, just trying to shoot ideas out there. I think this entire method structure can work for any type/size community.

If AS has a method along with AP, I would see fit to use it...  But if not, I have to figure out a new method..

Yes. But it has some limitations. For example, it does not split orders and email notifications by vendor.



I'm planning something similar for a new site I'm working on. Rewards/Points will be a part of encouraging people to contribute. I've thought about using Property Agent for the catalog and then something custom for the "Cart". I wish there were more options for eCommerce in the DNN world.

I'm anxious to see AP and how it works....I suspect it will fit into this type of implementation nicely.

Active Purchase wasn't originally developed, nor will future development, based on feature sets of current products in our market. Quite frankly, it was originally developed to fill a specific need. Active Purchase is tailored for those that have felt all other e-commerce products are overkill for their needs. Looking at the big picture, we are positioning Active Purchase as a transaction manager. There are hundreds of use cases for handling transactions in a community setting. A transaction doesn't necessarily need to involve money either.

I also need to provide further clarification about the rewards system I mentioned. Active Purchase will have the option to handle point redemption. I haven't decided yet if the rewards system will be part of the default Active Purchase or if it will be an add-on.

Hi Will

Just checking in to see what is on the horizon with Active Purchase and Active Social. Curious about timing!

Carl