During the PLMA trade show prep call, Diana Henry raised the status of a pending PayPal integration for the Didion website. What was initially scoped as a straightforward plugin swap has since been identified as a more complex, site-wide undertaking. A revised timeline has not yet been established.
The integration was originally estimated as a simple "plug and play" switch. Both Mark and Eshock initially assessed it as an easy change. However, once the team began digging into the site's architecture, it became clear that the way the Didion site is built — particularly around its forms (e.g., Gravity Forms) — means the PayPal change touches more than a single plugin or payment gateway setting. It requires a site-wide review to understand all the places the integration affects.
"We thought it was as simple as just a plug and play. And then all of a sudden it's every form. It's how the site is built. It's not as easy."
— Melissa Cusumano
Diana expressed frustration that the complexity wasn't surfaced earlier, noting that an earlier conversation had set an expectation of completion by early November.
This is a recurring pattern: payment gateway or third-party integration work that appears simple on the surface often has hidden dependencies in how a site's forms, checkout flows, or plugins are wired together. Initial assessments should include a brief technical spike before committing to a timeline.
See also: [1] | [2]