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http://au.finance.yahoo.com/news/shopping-website-to-fine-customers-using-ie7.html
Online electronics retailer Kogan.com has waged a war on “stuck-in-time” customers by implementing the world's first Internet Explorer 7 "tax" today.
The website will begin charging customers who use the “antique” browser more for their online technology purchases.
According to reports, the new 6.8% charge comes into effect from June 14 on all products purchased from Kogan for any Australian shoppers still using IE7.
CEO and founder Ruslan Kogan says the company had been spending “too much time and money making the site compatible with IE7” and that technology companies such as itself should not have to unnecessarily spend money sustaining out-dated technology such as IE7.
"Internet Explorer 7 has long since passed its use-by date," Mr Kogan has been quoted as saying. "It’s a constant source of frustration for our web guys and we’re sick of burning cash on a browser that hit the market nearly six years ago. It goes against everything Kogan stands for."
"Based on what Kogan stands for with efficiency it just didn't seem right, we should not be punishing our savvy customers who are using a proper browser,” he says.
But Kogan says can avoid paying extra by switching browsers to Firefox, Chrome, Safari, Opera or a more recent version of Internet Explorer.
The website now has a browser that asks customers to upgrade to the latest browser.
"As internet citizens, we all have a responsibility to make the internet a better place. By taking these measures, we are doing our bit," he told Smart Company.
Seems like a drastic move. It sounds like Web Developers are getting sick of making things compatible for IE7 and other web browsers. Is it just a simple cash grab by the company? Perhaps they have cut a deal with other Web Browser Developers.
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Hyrule19150 Posts
As a web developer, I feel like I must pressure Kogan about this tax. It's completely unreasonable. It should be no less than 15%.
No but seriously IE sucks. Hurray for Kogan!
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I feel like they'd be shooting their own foot by doing this.
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LoL. This is actually hilarious. They should fine anyone who used any version of IE. Haha...that is just the IT tech in my bitching.
Overall, it seems like overkill and a bit ridiculous. It could become problematic too because websites could start "supporting" certain browsers this way, like a 10% discount for Firefox users or whatever. It seems like something that could snowball and lead to Google destroying the competition, but we will have to see.
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good move imo. if they actually have to spend extra money to make their site compatible with IE7, then I don't see why they shouldn't be allowed to recoup that cost from the customers who use it.
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The PR behind this is wrong. They should present it as a discount to customers who have an up-to-date browser.
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On June 15 2012 00:33 tofucake wrote:
As a web developer, I feel like I must pressure Kogan about this tax. It's completely unreasonable. It should be no less than 15%.
No but seriously IE sucks. Hurray for Kogan!
Even Google is dropping support for IE7, and everywhere else should follow. It is an incredibly annoying browser to develop for -- 15% sounds about right 
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Or you could just make the ebsite uncombatible with IE7 and be done with it. Im sure the 7 people still using IE7 Can go somewhere else and shop and not be missed.
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On June 15 2012 00:33 TheAmazombie wrote:
LoL. This is actually hilarious. They should fine anyone who used any version of IE. Haha...that is just the IT tech in my bitching.
Overall, it seems like overkill and a bit ridiculous. It could become problematic too because websites could start "supporting" certain browsers this way, like a 10% discount for Firefox users or whatever. It seems like something that could snowball and lead to Google destroying the competition, but we will have to see.
I don't really see that happening, if it was really a good idea I think we would already have it by now.
I understand Kogan's decision to refuse supporting outdated software though, seems perfectly reasonable.
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Although the price might be a bit drastic, I do support it, because perhaps it will make Microsoft get their asses in line and produce a web browser that you can use by default that can run with all websites.
I've noticed lately that Microsoft have had loads of ad campaigns showing off the new IE, perhaps they are worried.
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On June 15 2012 00:37 Orcasgt24 wrote:
Or you could just make the ebsite uncombatible with IE7 and be done with it. Im sure the 7 people still using IE7 Can go somewhere else and shop and not be missed.
I don't think that's very fair for people who aren't very computer savvy. I know personally that some of my cousins and auntys simply don't use a computer as much as I do and automatically assume IE is the only browser available.
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AHAHAHAH, You've been served. I doubt there's another thread today that can make me laugh this much, wp.
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On June 15 2012 00:40 blug wrote:Show nested quote +On June 15 2012 00:37 Orcasgt24 wrote:
Or you could just make the ebsite uncombatible with IE7 and be done with it. Im sure the 7 people still using IE7 Can go somewhere else and shop and not be missed. I don't think that's very fair for people who aren't very computer savvy. I know personally that some of my cousins and auntys simply don't use a computer as much as I do and automatically assume IE is the only browser available.
So then just update it?
If you don't know how to update/install a web browser you really shouldn't be making electronic purchases.
I say that with all seriousness too. Those are the type of people who refresh a page during billing, charging them self twice, fall for phishing scams, and end up just not maintaining their computer properly among other things.
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Why is it that IE isn't compatible? Is it to hard for Microsoft to incorporate? Or did Microsoft just expect everyone to change their browsers based on what Microsoft did?
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On June 15 2012 00:40 blug wrote:Show nested quote +On June 15 2012 00:37 Orcasgt24 wrote:
Or you could just make the ebsite uncombatible with IE7 and be done with it. Im sure the 7 people still using IE7 Can go somewhere else and shop and not be missed. I don't think that's very fair for people who aren't very computer savvy. I know personally that some of my cousins and auntys simply don't use a computer as much as I do and automatically assume IE is the only browser available.
Well they should get computer savvy. And eventually pretty much everyone will be.
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On June 15 2012 00:40 blug wrote:Show nested quote +On June 15 2012 00:37 Orcasgt24 wrote:
Or you could just make the ebsite uncombatible with IE7 and be done with it. Im sure the 7 people still using IE7 Can go somewhere else and shop and not be missed. I don't think that's very fair for people who aren't very computer savvy. I know personally that some of my cousins and auntys simply don't use a computer as much as I do and automatically assume IE is the only browser available.
The thing is that you don't have to be...Windows will auto-update it for you.
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On June 15 2012 00:36 bonifaceviii wrote:
The PR behind this is wrong. They should present it as a discount to customers who have an up-to-date browser.
That's clever!
I do wonder if this is going to get out of line, however. It sets a precedent that allows a website to discount people using certain browsers... does that mean we're going to start having companies like google and mozilla get into bidding wars for exclusive discounts in online stores when you use chrome/firefox? I don't think that's a good idea. It could get out of hand really quick.
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Hahaha this is so funny, though somewhat understandable.
On June 15 2012 00:36 bonifaceviii wrote:
The PR behind this is wrong. They should present it as a discount to customers who have an up-to-date browser.
10 points for you hahaha
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On June 15 2012 00:44 Grobyc wrote:Show nested quote +On June 15 2012 00:40 blug wrote:On June 15 2012 00:37 Orcasgt24 wrote:
Or you could just make the ebsite uncombatible with IE7 and be done with it. Im sure the 7 people still using IE7 Can go somewhere else and shop and not be missed. I don't think that's very fair for people who aren't very computer savvy. I know personally that some of my cousins and auntys simply don't use a computer as much as I do and automatically assume IE is the only browser available. So then just update it? If you don't know how to update/install a web browser you really shouldn't be making electronic purchases. I say that with all seriousness too. Those are the type of people who refresh a page during billing, charging them self twice, fall for phishing scams, and end up just not maintaining their computer properly among other things.
To bad the world doesn't work like that buddy. Some people simply don't like using computers and only use them for purchasing online and checking their facebook statuses.
Sure, they should be learning how to use their computers, the same way drug addicts should straighten up and get a job, not gonna happen xD.
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On June 15 2012 00:45 goiflin wrote:Show nested quote +On June 15 2012 00:36 bonifaceviii wrote:
The PR behind this is wrong. They should present it as a discount to customers who have an up-to-date browser. That's clever! I do wonder if this is going to get out of line, however. It sets a precedent that allows a website to discount people using certain browsers... does that mean we're going to start having companies like google and mozilla get into bidding wars for exclusive discounts in online stores when you use chrome/firefox? I don't think that's a good idea. It could get out of hand really quick.
Given that these browsers are free and you can have several installed at once, this would easily be avoided by just using the discount browser when you wanted to buy something and otherwise never using it.
Presumably that's why it hasn't happened yet.
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EPT
