Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 12

Thread: Online Retailer charging tax for using IE7

  1. #1
    I've got the madcow, what's your excuse? Bopher's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    Carlisle, PA
    Posts
    980

    Default Online Retailer charging tax for using IE7

    http://www.techguide.com.au/menu-new...explorer-7-tax

    Thought this might be an interesting read for everyone out there.

    "Technical neglect is one of the worst kinds of neglect, won't you sponsor an octal or adsl2 card so they can someday grow up into big capable adsl2+ cards? random celebrity does."

  2. #2
    Undead Pirate d_stilgar's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Philadelphia, PA
    Posts
    2,987

    Default Re: Online Retailer charging tax for using IE7

    I saw this. I don't see anything wrong with it. Now, if I were an IE7 user I might be mad enough not to shop there (if I did), but that would be about me and them, not about some basis of principle.

    What's good is that they are very transparent about it. They let you know many times that there will be a surcharge for using an outdated browser.

    My fear (that I've had for a long time) would be a site like newegg or amazon doing a similar thing but not telling people. I don't want lower or higher prices based on my browser or especially not based on their tracking of my browser cookies and/or purchase history. And I might not know about it if it weren't disclosed.

  3. #3
    I've got the madcow, what's your excuse? Bopher's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    Carlisle, PA
    Posts
    980

    Default Re: Online Retailer charging tax for using IE7

    True, and they do give you the option to upgrade to a version that is supported without the tax before you are charged for it. I can see the point, but working with the internet so much now I have to ask in my head when people are having trouble, "Why are you still using IE7?" I can defintely agree with the tax. It probably takes a lot of man hours to make sure each page at the site can be seen in IE7.

    "Technical neglect is one of the worst kinds of neglect, won't you sponsor an octal or adsl2 card so they can someday grow up into big capable adsl2+ cards? random celebrity does."

  4. #4

    Default Re: Online Retailer charging tax for using IE7

    Agreed Stil, I can see their point of view and they did everything right as far as I can tell. The transparency being the big thing. But, like you said - not everyone is as forthright as these guys. I can see this getting into Facebook even, buy credits with IE7? Get taxed (and we're not going to tell you about it).

    My guess is, this is going to happen. Someone's going to find out about it. Then it'll cause an overreaction from the government, then Rise of the Planet of the Apes happens...
    The Ghostwheel Project
    "A lot of theoretical crap involving space and time and some notions of some guys named Everett and Wheeler."

    :: Spectre : GHOST 38.1 Mk1 : GHOST 38.1 Mk 2 : GHOST 38.2 ::

  5. #5
    mentally overclocked Cale_Hagan's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    Cameron Park, Ca
    Posts
    671

    Default Re: Online Retailer charging tax for using IE7

    haha, i saw this a couple days ago. made me smile, and chuckle... i even giggled a bit.
    "The very existence of flamethrowers proves that sometime, somewhere, someone said to themselves, 'You know, I want to set those people over there on fire, but I’m just not close enough to get the job done.” -George Carlin

    “Fighting for peace is like screwing for virginity.” -George Carlin

    Quote Originally Posted by DynamoNED
    Any contest that lacks integrity is no contest at all

  6. #6
    Anodized. Again. Konrad's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Canada
    Posts
    1,060

    Default Re: Online Retailer charging tax for using IE7

    Do the newer IE versions run on obsolete Windows?

    I agree with the reasoning behind this tax, especially since Kogan provides links to free upgrades. Agreed, too, that you have to draw the line somewhere unless you want to support every software technology all the way back to MS-DOS modem BBS and telnet.

    Having said that, I see this as a very dangerous precedent - how long before they decide it costs too much to maintain compatibility with FF, Chrome, Opera, or lesser browsers? How long before they simply decide IE9 or whatever other browser happens to be most "mainstream" is the only one they'll support? Further, how long before they accept kickbacks from Microsoft (or whomever) for doing this? Really, what this all amounts to is that the business is failing to provide adequate service - it's not the user's problem if the vendor can't afford to maintain virtual advertising or retail space, it's the vendor's problem that they cannot reach a larger market. Unless they provide some cash incentive (to pass their new streamlined tech-support savings onto the customer) then it's something I would personally avoid.
    My mind says Technic, but my body says Duplo.

  7. #7
    I've got the madcow, what's your excuse? Bopher's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    Carlisle, PA
    Posts
    980

    Default Re: Online Retailer charging tax for using IE7

    IE will run on XP. I know the ISP I work for doesn't even touch anything earlier then XP for trouble shooting. Though we do get people with earlier versions and I have to wonder how they were sold internet because Customer Service is suppose to be asking the OS version. I had one a few weeks ago with Windows ME, and before the one with 2000. Had someone asking yesterday what we trouble shoot in 98 and everyone was like, "Trouble shoot to the modem and that is it." I agree I can see some retailers not telling you and the government stepping in to stop issues.

    "Technical neglect is one of the worst kinds of neglect, won't you sponsor an octal or adsl2 card so they can someday grow up into big capable adsl2+ cards? random celebrity does."

  8. #8
    Custom Title Honors Snowman's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    B F E
    Posts
    1,005

    Default Re: Online Retailer charging tax for using IE7

    8 Will run on xp, version 9 was the first to go win 7 and vista sp2 only as well as server software but not very many people run server os in the scheme of things.
    Regedit'ed, Rooted, and Jailbroke anymore questions?
    Here’s a bumper sticker I’d like to see: “We are the proud parents of a child who’s self-esteem is sufficient that he doesn’t need us promoting his minor scholastic achievements on the back of our car.”

  9. #9
    AARGH dr.walrus's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Ho Chi Minh City
    Posts
    993

    Default Re: Online Retailer charging tax for using IE7

    Quote Originally Posted by Konrad View Post
    Having said that, I see this as a very dangerous precedent - how long before they decide it costs too much to maintain compatibility with FF, Chrome, Opera, or lesser browsers? How long before they simply decide IE9 or whatever other browser happens to be most "mainstream" is the only one they'll support?
    The fact that we have a centralised standards body in the W3C and the fact that browsers are finally striving to meet those standards now is why this won't happen.

  10. #10
    The floppy drive is no longer obsolete. AmEv's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Location
    Idaho, USA
    Posts
    3,052

    Default Re: Online Retailer charging tax for using IE7

    And text-based browsers? Are those ever going to go away completely?
    Two years. They were great. Let's make the next ones even better!

    Tri.fecta

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •