Checkout
What happens when a buyer pays for an item and gets access.
Checkout is the moment a buyer completes a purchase. A purchase records one buyer getting one item. The system tracks two things for every purchase: whether the payment went through, and whether the buyer has access.
One item per checkout. Each purchase is for a single item. There's no cart for buying several things at once. To sell items together, group them into a bundle.
The two things a purchase tracks
Payment status moves through:
pending → success → (later, if needed) refunded or cancelled
Access status moves through:
pending → active → (later) expired or revoked
In plain terms: the buyer pays, the payment succeeds, access turns on. If access has a time limit it eventually expires; if you reverse the purchase, access can be removed.
A normal purchase
- The buyer opens an item and chooses a price.
- (Optional) They enter a coupon code — see Coupons & offers.
- They pick a payment method and pay — see Payment methods.
- Once payment succeeds, access turns on and they can start.
Free purchases skip payment
If the item is free, or a coupon or scholarship brings the total to zero, there's nothing to pay. The buyer skips the payment step and gets access immediately.
Eligibility checks at checkout
Before a purchase goes through, a few things are checked automatically:
| Check | What it means |
|---|---|
| Enrollment window | The item must be open for enrollment right now. |
| Seat availability | If there's a seat limit, there must be room. |
| No duplicate purchase | For items that are one-per-buyer (like a course), the buyer can't buy it twice. |
If a buyer isn't eligible, they won't be able to complete the purchase.
What the buyer sees
- The item, the price, and a place to enter a coupon code.
- A choice of payment methods.
- After paying (or instantly, for free items), confirmation and access to the item.
- Their own transaction history so they can look back at what they bought.
Related pages
- Pricing — the prices a buyer chooses from.
- Payment methods — how the buyer pays.
- Enrollment & Access — what access turns on after payment.