Introducing the Kogan Tax.

...a war on IE 7

[gmb21]

Haha... I like it!

The Australian online retailer Kogan.com has introduced the world's first "tax" on Microsoft's Internet Explorer 7 (IE7) browser.

Customers who use IE7 will have to pay an extra surcharge on online purchases made through the firm's site.

[bbc.co.uk...]

[edited by: engine at 2:48 pm (utc) on Jun 14, 2012]
[edit reason] added quote [/edit]

[Leosghost]

:)))...and for IE6 ?

[gmb21]

and for IE6 ?

I don't know. Maybe they're just banned... :)

[rocknbil]

My first reaction is that this is freaking AWESOME and why hasn't anyone done this before.

My second reaction is that I have never had to do anything "special" for screwed up browsers. If there was something that didn't render easily in IE7 (or 6, or 5, or even IE 5 on a Mac) I would nip it in the bud EARLY and rework the design so that it DID work well with broken browsers, without hacks.

How dare you dictate to your paying customers what environment they need to use to buy your products when the fault really lies with your ego. THERE IS ALWAYS A WAY and it's never the mountain people think it is. Usually this becomes a mountain because a design gets sold, approved, and pushed to production, and "oh, crap, it's live and in marketing, we HAVE to make it work for IE 7 now." At that point, yeah it's a problem - one that should have been addressed 6 months ago at the design phase.

But of course no one will admit that, that would mean <gasp> someone is wrong and out come the million and one justifications for being a pompous egomaniac and blaming it on the customer.

Mr Kogan told the BBC his customers were very happy and he had received a lot of praise for his efforts.

Typical example of selective testimonials. I'm sure the IE customers just left the site, which says enough.

Ugh. It's awesome . . . but it's deplorable because of what it says.

[engine]

I don't get it, why would anyone want to remain on an old version of a browser, unless they had to!

It's good linkbait for the firm.

[jinxed]

As engine says, great example of linkbait... Good idea

[rocknbil]

unless they had to!

That's pretty much the gist. There are so many users out there that have a specific use for a computer and have no motivation to change. They'd rather spend their money on things like the products sold through your web site. Or not, if they're charged a "browser tax" . . .

Or can't afford to upgrade, or some service (like their bank) requires a particular browser (same thing as what's up here, except they can make the rules!)

[incrediBILL]

There are so many users out there that have a specific use for a computer and have no motivation to change.

There are also major commercial customers with insane IT depts that are either too stupid, cheap or lazy to upgrade major businesses for many years. Sometimes the problem is integration issues with mission critical 3rd party software which the upgrade breaks so they are stuck because of some other business software.

Assuming Kogan doesn't care if these people can no longer order from the office, GOOD FOR THEM!

However, after a quick look at their site, I didn't see anything so special that required anyone to go to such extremes to support any old browser whatsoever. I mean big squat if you didn't get a rounded corner or something in one browser.

Simply telling the customer once or twice per visit "this site may suck in your ancient browser so upgrade if you have issues" is good enough for me. I'd err on the side of let the site suck a little and capture the sales vs. paying extra to support it or being a jackass to my customers.

FWIW, had they used a cross-platform cross-browser framework to start with that already supported IE 7 instead of rolling their own from scratch they probably wouldn't be having such problems but who needs reusable frameworks anyway, such a waste of time and money having the work already done for you.

[J_RaD]

this is stupid.

insane IT depts that are either too stupid, cheap or lazy

most of the time this is also incorrect.

[incrediBILL]

most of the time this is also incorrect.

Really? I've worked in major companies with IT depts. that refused to upgrade to a new version of Windows although the bugs were causing them major issues, let alone upgrade the browser. Until you've been at ground zero you have no clue of some of the insanity going on out there.

[J_RaD]

I've worked in major companies with IT depts

so you worked in major companies.. with... IT depts... cool, what major company doesn't have that....zZZzzzzzz

im sorry you've been at a ground zero.



but



most of the time its cause computers are a tool, and if the tools work, don't replace or even mess with it. if ie6 works with the company xyz app and all is smooth, stick with xyz. most are behind a heavy firewall anyway.

other times IT shows up to work with a rubber ball, paper clip, and sling shot to do their job....why? because the manger is a MANGER and doesn't understand ANYTHING about anything else, but thats cool cause corp really digs MANAGERS... end of story.

other times IT really is a bunch or idiots, but they only got there because someone hired them................... no explaining needed.

I don't see a browser upgrade or even an OS upgrade and something to get angry about, I'd wager to say you'll see windows XP and IE.old for as long as you are in this line of work..... instead of getting them in a wad, just deal.

IT guys aren't net nerds updating their blog everyday, they keep the lights on so everyone else can do their job.

[lucy24]

why would anyone want to remain on an old version of a browser, unless they had to!

"You can't afford to buy a newer computer that will let you run a newer browser, so we'll stick you with this small surcharge instead."

Well, the list of ways that poverty is more expensive than affluence is already as long as your arm. What's one more?

[enigma1]

I don't see what's so exciting about it. With the use of firewalls and other tools or registry the UA header or browser mode can be set to whatever the client end wants. You cannot tell if someone uses IE7 or not.

Besides it isn't too helpful as some people may browse sites from public places like libraries so that works against the retailer. It's too easy to go to another site and get the same item.

[incrediBILL]

so you worked in major companies.. with... IT depts... cool, what major company doesn't have that....zZZzzzzzz

Ah, the end run of running out of intelligent arguments.

I could tell you why the big companies don't always upgrade and why the IT depts didn't want to roll out new browsers, I know because I asked, but I wouldn't want to interrupt your zZZzzzzzz's with anything useful that might give insights into online behavior that could prove useful in the future.