osCommerce Contribution - Tracking buyers (Group Purchase)

This contribution will add functionality to oscommerce New Product form and track the data entered from within the database. The objective of this contribution is to add group buy functionality to oscommerce store enabling buyers to team together and receive discount pricing. Add Functionality to Catalog> Categories/Products > New Product: On the New Product entry form we must add the following fields needed to create the group buy: 1. Number of required buyers (numeric field) 2. Group Buy Price ($) 3. Date Group Buy Expires (offer valid certain number of days 00/00/0000 Add above fields/functionality to database Group Buy Checkout Explained: 1. Buyer joins group buy 2. Buyer prompted to login/register > if register, follow same process > if login, follow checkout process but charge customers credit card 10% of purchase price 3. After buyer credit card charged 10%, system performs following actions: - System database updates group buy number of required buyers Meaning, system updates number of buyers by subtracting the number of required buyers and then displaying it on the group buy product page. Example: 3 Buyers Required 1 Buyer joins Update Database> 1 out of 3 Buyers Joined [2] buyers required 4. Buyer redirected to [[login to view URL]] application to help promote group buy her or she just joined 5. At end of group buy; >If the required number of buyers equals 'true', system displays "Paid Group Buy" under admin control panel >If the required number of buyers equals 'false', system displays "Unpaid Group Buy" under admin control panel The administrator will manually send PayPal invoices to Paid Group Buy customers and refund 10% deposit to Unpaid Group Buy customers. I'd like to make this an automated system using PayPal if possible but I fear the cost to develop. Notes: - Review automatic emails sent to buyers after a purchase and discuss creating a customer email for buyers that join a group buy. It would be ideal to notify buyers of a group buy each time someone new joins. *This contribution will be used on my store, If contribution success, I will work with winning bidder to offer solution on oscommerce. ## Deliverables * * *This broadcast message was sent to all bidders on Thursday May 27, 2010 2:01:20 PM: I would like to keep this script under $100 and begin with basic functionality. 1. Add entry fields to New Product form then display the information entered on the product catalog page(s) 2. Track group buy true or false and record to admin under Customers > Purchases > Group Buys In an effort to reduce costs, remove 10% deposit at checkout, just require buyers to register/login and include credit card details (card #, expiration date) and save to their My Account profile ** ONLY if this is a group buy purchase **