VM3 and Digital Sales

[Hawker]

I'm fairly new to VM (starting with v.3) but seem to be progressing OK. 

One thing I've noticed are references to VM's 'inability' to handle digital download sales because:

(i) it can't send a locked link and
(ii) it can't turn off shipping for certain instances.

...Is this the case? If I want to sell digital files too, have I picked the wrong eCommerce software?

I have seen paid-for extensions that bring in digital download functionality, but I can't believe VM can't be configured to handle digital sales on its own. 

[jenkinhill]

To provide a secure product download ability you need a plugin such as https://extensions.virtuemart.net/checkout/shipments/shipment-for-virtual-products-detail

Relatively few people use VirtueMart for virtual products so a decision was made several years ago that it should be managed by plugin. There was previously a basic free third party plugin but for whatever reason it is now a paid for plugin - https://www.openglobal.co.uk/shop/joomla/virtuemart/virtuemart-downloadable-products-detail.html

[Hawker]

Thank you Kelvyn. This makes sense now. 

Hoi Coi Masti seem to offer a free VM extension to do this:

https://www.hoicoimasti.com/products/19-virtuemart-digital-product-sell-custom-plugin.html

[Studio 42]

Thank you Kelvyn. This makes sense now. 

Hoi Coi Masti seem to offer a free VM extension to do this:

https://www.hoicoimasti.com/products/19-virtuemart-digital-product-sell-custom-plugin.html

Free but with many missing : not translatable, no download reports, no streaming, ...  and the link to media can be know(i dont explain how, to prevent shops to be hacked) and downloaded without paying for it..
So it's simple to do a plugin, but remember that free (and sometime paid) plugins are not using same code quality.

[Hawker]

Fair points Studio 42. I also read online that someone found a trojan virus in HoiCoi's plugin.

Still gobsmacked that VM3 does not support digital download sales. 

VM was fun to work with, but am going to have to find another solution (in the proper meaning of the term) to get the job done. Is there really no way that VM3 in and of itself can not be persuaded to handle music, software and PDF sales etc?

[Studio 42]

jenkinhill posted 2 link, what is 50$ for a shop?
How much you pay for the server, paiment plugins, shipment plugins ...
You can try to do it yourself, considare that such a plugin need minimum 3 days to do and certainly more then 1 week and you have support.

[Hawker]

Good point Studio 42.