World's first 'tax' on Microsoft's Internet Explorer 7

BBC News ^ | 14 June 2012 | Staff

[ShadowAce]

According to Ruslan Kogan this is the world's first Internet Explorer 7 "tax".

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.

Chief executive Ruslan Kogan told the BBC he wanted to recoup the time and costs involved in "rendering the website into a antique browser".

The charge is set to 6.8% - 0.1% for every month since the IE7 launch.

Every month the surcharge will rise by 0.1%.

Too much effort

According to Mr Kogan the idea was born when the company started working on a site relaunch.

Mr Kogan said that even though only 3% of his customers used the old version of the browser, his IT team had become pre-occupied with making adaptations to make pages display properly on IE 7.

"I was constantly on the line to my web team. The amount of work and effort involved in making our website look normal on IE7 equalled the combined time of designing for Chrome, Safari and Firefox."

Mr Kogan said it was unlikely that anyone would actually pay the charges. His goal is to encourage users to download a more up-to-date version of Internet Explorer or a different browser.

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

"Love your IE7 tax. I hope it becomes effective" was one of the messages posted to Kogan on Twitter.

IE7 was launched in 2006, but since then Microsoft has released two major updates to the software.

The launch of Internet Explorer 10 is due in the autumn.

[ShadowAce]

From the article:

Mr Kogan said it was unlikely that anyone would actually pay the charges. His goal is to encourage users to download a more up-to-date version of Internet Explorer or a different browser.

This is less a "tax" than an encouragement to move to something that actually works.

[ThomasThomas]

Taxes come from governments not private retailers.

[ShadowAce]

Good point. That’s probably why the word “tax” is in quotes.

[Mr. K]

"Mr Kogan said that even though only 3% of his customers used the old version of the browser, his IT team had become pre-occupied with making adaptations to make pages display properly on IE 7."

Stupid programmers... I would have ordered them to just pop up a message saying YOU NEED A NEWER BROWSER VERSION. Done

[ShadowAce]

Perfect solution. But it wouldn’t have made the news or garnered the publicity. :)

[Vigilanteman]

Exactly. I've talked to our IT guy about this in depth. We are a multinational who relies extensively on the web interface for sales, procurement and communication with all or our international affiliates.

We never go out and buy the latest version of Windows. Microsoft is still working with bugs and patches almost until the next edition is rolled out. We will often even skip an upgrade until an even better version is available. We are still using XP as well and will probably upgrade with Explorer 10 comes out according to our IT guys.

The racket of making you install new software and buy new hardware every couple years is expensive and unnecessary. We run on 4-5 year purchase cycles and it works just fine for us.

[proxy_user]

Also, some users may be on corporate computers where they don’t have access to install or upgrade software.

[DesertSapper]

They can run their business however they want ... but whenever I hit a website that doesn’t support whatever browser I’m using at the time, I usually don’t return.

[proxy_user]

I am working on a corporate conversion from XP to Win7. They had to package over 14,000 pieces of software for approved corporate installs on Win7.

[Psycho_Bunny]

What a pinhead move....I’d abandon my cart right there.

[youngidiot]

This is less a "tax" than an encouragement to move to something that actually works.

So this IS more of a tax in the modern sense of the word. Using penalties to induce someone to behave differently. I still think it's a bad idea and could have been handled differently. It's popular with people who have an ax to grind against someone (Microsoft). Then again, all good "taxes" are.

[Boogieman]

“Mr Kogan said it was unlikely that anyone would actually pay the charges.”

Damn right. If I saw that notice, I just wouldn’t shop at his website, so I wouldn’t have to pay any charges.

[TexasRepublic]

How about a general Windows [virus magnet] tax and be done with it? /shameless Linux/Apple geek

[Conservative_Jedi]

I use Firefox. No worries!

[discostu]

As a QA guy who hates the monotony of compatibility testing (same test different browser, and again, and again) I am for this.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Unless his website or offerings are extra special, his customers will just move to competitors rather than paying the surcharge.

Or they could click one of the provided links and download Chrome, Firefox or Opera.

Or they could just open the respective browser that they already have installed anyway.

This isn't 1995. Everybody knows they aren't limited to a single browser.

[Still Thinking]

In some cases the upgrade of Explorer isn't supported unless you upgrade Windows. For instance Windows XP users cannot upgrade to Explorer 9. At work, I'm stuck with Explorer 8 because my company hasn't upgraded past XP. Probably similar issues for people who haven't upgraded from older versions of Windows.

Uh, getting a newer version of Destroyer isn't really an upgrade; I think he's talking about downloading a different browser. There's plenty of good browsers out there that aren't malware magnets, and give a better and more configurable browsing experience to boot.

[Boogieman]

I’m using Telnet.

[cynwoody]

For instance Windows XP users cannot upgrade to Explorer 9. At work, I'm stuck with Explorer 8 because my company hasn't upgraded past XP.

Not a problem. Modern versions of Firefox, Chrome, Safari, and Opera will run just fine on XP. And all work better than IE 8.

[Boogieman]

Yes, they could, and sure, everyone knows that. Still, I would refuse to patronize him simply to punish his arrogance, and I doubt I am alone. Remember, the customer is always right, even when they really are completely wrong.