Payment confirmed is not the same as page loaded
The common digital-product mistake is unlocking material when the customer returns to the success page. That breaks in simple scenarios: the browser closes, the network fails, redirect never happens, async methods settle later, or someone tries to forge a URL.
The healthier path is server-side: Stripe confirms the event, the server verifies the signature, the system generates a personal link, and the customer receives a transactional e-mail.
What must exist before selling
- Hosted Checkout, with no card data touching RET servers.
- Webhook verification over the raw request body.
- Idempotency for retries and concurrent delivery attempts.
- Temporary signed link without plaintext e-mail in the token.
- ZIP with manifest, hash, complete files, and portable names.
- E-mail with clear text, simple fallback, and support path.
Where delivery usually breaks
- Webhook accepts JSON without verifying the signature.
- Test events reach production.
- Download link becomes public or permanent.
- ZIP misses newly added product files.
- E-mail promises an attachment but sends a broken link.
- Checkout remains enabled when delivery is not configured.
Good digital delivery does not depend on redirect luck. It depends on signed events, traceable access, and a package checked before production.
