To all those who build sites thinking your country is the only one in the World
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Yes, this is aimed squarly at US developers. I'm sorry, but there are other countries in the world and it really, really helps your country's economy when you allow these unwashed foreigner types to buy from you. My latest (in a series) was a site that was extremely helpful in suggesting a corrected address for me:
Incorrect address:
Chris Maunder
250 Ferrand Dr
Toronto, ON M3C3G8
CanadaSuggested Address:
250 Ferrand Dr
Toronto, ON
USANo, I really think I managed to get it right the first time. Trust me. But while I'm on the topic it's extremely frustrating when: - the site insists that postal codes are 5 digits (or it's an Australian site that thinks the only postcode in the world is a 4 digit one) - the site offers you the ability to choose any country, but no way to choose anything other than 1 of the "standard" 50 states. - the site won't accept credit cards from non-US addresses - (a little specific) the site uses a .ca website, is based in the US, and then won't ship to Canada.
cheers, Chris Maunder The Code Project | Co-founder Microsoft C++ MVP
Well, I think it's more of a sloppy code issue than anything else; they probably just copy-pasted code that was inappropriate for the situation and never fully tested the final application. Also, there's really no guarantee that the developers who put together the sloppy code were from the USA. It could easily have been subcontractors from India or Pakistan; there are people all over the world who don't know if Canada is part of the USA or not.
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Testing? Hang on, let me grab a dictionary...
Christopher Duncan Author of The Career Programmer
It's the word just after Testes - which is what most testing is anyway...
Ideological Purity is no substitute for being able to stick your thumb down a pipe to stop the water
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Yes, this is aimed squarly at US developers. I'm sorry, but there are other countries in the world and it really, really helps your country's economy when you allow these unwashed foreigner types to buy from you. My latest (in a series) was a site that was extremely helpful in suggesting a corrected address for me:
Incorrect address:
Chris Maunder
250 Ferrand Dr
Toronto, ON M3C3G8
CanadaSuggested Address:
250 Ferrand Dr
Toronto, ON
USANo, I really think I managed to get it right the first time. Trust me. But while I'm on the topic it's extremely frustrating when: - the site insists that postal codes are 5 digits (or it's an Australian site that thinks the only postcode in the world is a 4 digit one) - the site offers you the ability to choose any country, but no way to choose anything other than 1 of the "standard" 50 states. - the site won't accept credit cards from non-US addresses - (a little specific) the site uses a .ca website, is based in the US, and then won't ship to Canada.
cheers, Chris Maunder The Code Project | Co-founder Microsoft C++ MVP
Yes - I've hit similar issues with Spanish addresses and Spanish names in my work. In Spain people have two surnames - Just imagine what happens when you try to transfer data between databases...
Continuous effort - not strength or intelligence - is the key to unlocking our potential.(Winston Churchill)
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Again??
cheers, Chris Maunder The Code Project | Co-founder Microsoft C++ MVP
Yes, we just made it the largest of the US National Parks.
A guide to posting questions on CodeProject[^]
Dave Kreskowiak -
Yes, this is aimed squarly at US developers. I'm sorry, but there are other countries in the world and it really, really helps your country's economy when you allow these unwashed foreigner types to buy from you. My latest (in a series) was a site that was extremely helpful in suggesting a corrected address for me:
Incorrect address:
Chris Maunder
250 Ferrand Dr
Toronto, ON M3C3G8
CanadaSuggested Address:
250 Ferrand Dr
Toronto, ON
USANo, I really think I managed to get it right the first time. Trust me. But while I'm on the topic it's extremely frustrating when: - the site insists that postal codes are 5 digits (or it's an Australian site that thinks the only postcode in the world is a 4 digit one) - the site offers you the ability to choose any country, but no way to choose anything other than 1 of the "standard" 50 states. - the site won't accept credit cards from non-US addresses - (a little specific) the site uses a .ca website, is based in the US, and then won't ship to Canada.
cheers, Chris Maunder The Code Project | Co-founder Microsoft C++ MVP
Dang it! The final take over of Canada was supposed to take place next week. Someone updated the website before it was supposed to. ;-)
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Again??
cheers, Chris Maunder The Code Project | Co-founder Microsoft C++ MVP
Don't worry Chris. The annexation occurs about every 2 or 3 years. One day, I think they'll get it correct and ask us to take over them. :)
Chris Meech I am Canadian. [heard in a local bar] In theory there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice there is. [Yogi Berra] posting about Crystal Reports here is like discussing gay marriage on a catholic church’s website.[Nishant Sivakumar]
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It's not a simple answer, it's a simplistic answer. Sometimes there simply is no other supplier. I'm all for making a point (Lord knows...) but when I need a carbon fibre aerodynamic bottle top opener that matches the exact colour of my bike and there's only one place to get it, and they won't give it to me, things get ugly. Real ugly.
cheers, Chris Maunder The Code Project | Co-founder Microsoft C++ MVP
Chris Maunder wrote:
carbon fibre aerodynamic bottle top opener
Like of what use would be a bottle top opener be while biking? Or do you use it to break the fingers of people that cut you off in traffic? Cheers!
"With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine."
Ross Callon, The Twelve Networking Truths, RFC1925
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Again??
cheers, Chris Maunder The Code Project | Co-founder Microsoft C++ MVP
We're thinking about giving Texas back to Mexico and need a place to store all our stuff until we can rent a big enough warehouse.
Christopher Duncan Author of The Career Programmer
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Chris Maunder wrote:
carbon fibre aerodynamic bottle top opener
Like of what use would be a bottle top opener be while biking? Or do you use it to break the fingers of people that cut you off in traffic? Cheers!
"With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine."
Ross Callon, The Twelve Networking Truths, RFC1925
I think it's to impress the ladies. :cool:
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Yes, this is aimed squarly at US developers. I'm sorry, but there are other countries in the world and it really, really helps your country's economy when you allow these unwashed foreigner types to buy from you. My latest (in a series) was a site that was extremely helpful in suggesting a corrected address for me:
Incorrect address:
Chris Maunder
250 Ferrand Dr
Toronto, ON M3C3G8
CanadaSuggested Address:
250 Ferrand Dr
Toronto, ON
USANo, I really think I managed to get it right the first time. Trust me. But while I'm on the topic it's extremely frustrating when: - the site insists that postal codes are 5 digits (or it's an Australian site that thinks the only postcode in the world is a 4 digit one) - the site offers you the ability to choose any country, but no way to choose anything other than 1 of the "standard" 50 states. - the site won't accept credit cards from non-US addresses - (a little specific) the site uses a .ca website, is based in the US, and then won't ship to Canada.
cheers, Chris Maunder The Code Project | Co-founder Microsoft C++ MVP
Chris Maunder wrote:
Yes, this is aimed squarly at US developers.
come at me bro :laugh: I work for a company that sells products globally. We just updated our sales website for Americatown. Only people in the US can place and receive orders from it. If America's Hat wants to buy something from us they need to hit the Canadian version of our site that was built completely different by/for Canadians. And so on in many other countries. You might think one big website that that services the world would be a better idea.... And you'd be right! :sigh:
Kill some time, play my game Hop Cheops[^]
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Don't worry Chris. The annexation occurs about every 2 or 3 years. One day, I think they'll get it correct and ask us to take over them. :)
Chris Meech I am Canadian. [heard in a local bar] In theory there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice there is. [Yogi Berra] posting about Crystal Reports here is like discussing gay marriage on a catholic church’s website.[Nishant Sivakumar]
We're meant to apologise to the invading forces when they arrive, eh?
cheers, Chris Maunder The Code Project | Co-founder Microsoft C++ MVP
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Chris Maunder wrote:
carbon fibre aerodynamic bottle top opener
Like of what use would be a bottle top opener be while biking? Or do you use it to break the fingers of people that cut you off in traffic? Cheers!
"With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine."
Ross Callon, The Twelve Networking Truths, RFC1925
Apres ride. One needs to be prepared.
cheers, Chris Maunder The Code Project | Co-founder Microsoft C++ MVP
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We're meant to apologise to the invading forces when they arrive, eh?
cheers, Chris Maunder The Code Project | Co-founder Microsoft C++ MVP
Yup. I've got an extra two-four cooling in the garage. Just in case they are thirsty after all that hard work. :)
Chris Meech I am Canadian. [heard in a local bar] In theory there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice there is. [Yogi Berra] posting about Crystal Reports here is like discussing gay marriage on a catholic church’s website.[Nishant Sivakumar]
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Chris Maunder wrote:
Yes, this is aimed squarly at US developers.
come at me bro :laugh: I work for a company that sells products globally. We just updated our sales website for Americatown. Only people in the US can place and receive orders from it. If America's Hat wants to buy something from us they need to hit the Canadian version of our site that was built completely different by/for Canadians. And so on in many other countries. You might think one big website that that services the world would be a better idea.... And you'd be right! :sigh:
Kill some time, play my game Hop Cheops[^]
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This isn't too bad if the .com automatically redirects to your local site (like Amazon and various others).
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Yes, this is aimed squarly at US developers. I'm sorry, but there are other countries in the world and it really, really helps your country's economy when you allow these unwashed foreigner types to buy from you. My latest (in a series) was a site that was extremely helpful in suggesting a corrected address for me:
Incorrect address:
Chris Maunder
250 Ferrand Dr
Toronto, ON M3C3G8
CanadaSuggested Address:
250 Ferrand Dr
Toronto, ON
USANo, I really think I managed to get it right the first time. Trust me. But while I'm on the topic it's extremely frustrating when: - the site insists that postal codes are 5 digits (or it's an Australian site that thinks the only postcode in the world is a 4 digit one) - the site offers you the ability to choose any country, but no way to choose anything other than 1 of the "standard" 50 states. - the site won't accept credit cards from non-US addresses - (a little specific) the site uses a .ca website, is based in the US, and then won't ship to Canada.
cheers, Chris Maunder The Code Project | Co-founder Microsoft C++ MVP
Yeah, I'm an American and when I see shiite like what you describe I alwasy cringe and wonder what people from other countries think. Now I know... It's just what I thought.
Chris Maunder wrote:
- (a little specific) the site uses a .ca website, is based in the US, and then won't ship to Canada.
ROTFFLMFAO!!!!!
If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader." - John Quincy Adams
You must accept one of two basic premises: Either we are alone in the universe, or we are not alone in the universe. And either way, the implications are staggering” - Wernher von Braun -
Based on the evidence, it was at least twice.
Software Zen:
delete this; -
We annexed Canada last month. Didn't you get the memo? :-D
Christopher Duncan Author of The Career Programmer
He couldn't get the memo because the email program is just as broken in this regard as web sites.
".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
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You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
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"Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997 -
Yes, this is aimed squarly at US developers. I'm sorry, but there are other countries in the world and it really, really helps your country's economy when you allow these unwashed foreigner types to buy from you. My latest (in a series) was a site that was extremely helpful in suggesting a corrected address for me:
Incorrect address:
Chris Maunder
250 Ferrand Dr
Toronto, ON M3C3G8
CanadaSuggested Address:
250 Ferrand Dr
Toronto, ON
USANo, I really think I managed to get it right the first time. Trust me. But while I'm on the topic it's extremely frustrating when: - the site insists that postal codes are 5 digits (or it's an Australian site that thinks the only postcode in the world is a 4 digit one) - the site offers you the ability to choose any country, but no way to choose anything other than 1 of the "standard" 50 states. - the site won't accept credit cards from non-US addresses - (a little specific) the site uses a .ca website, is based in the US, and then won't ship to Canada.
cheers, Chris Maunder The Code Project | Co-founder Microsoft C++ MVP
To be fair though one should note... Why don't you buy from from the country you are in? Selling something to someone in a foreign country in the US is not just a matter of accepting payment and shipping it. There are laws in the US and the foreign countries to deal with. And developers are not lawyers. Retailers don't do their own credit card processing. They are limited to what their service provider allows. Even certification for other card types is not only more difficult but can impact other aspects of credit processing selection. Developers often create based on business requirements. Just because the sales dept insisted on a country selection on the form doesn't mean that anything else is suited for international sales. Testing a site for international sales requires testing for many, many cultures. It isn't just a matter of seeing if the language works. There aren't a lot of companies that can afford to test say in 200 different cultural settings. So one needs to make a best guess effort. Finally realistically were you buying the web site or the product on the website? Compare it to eating lunch - does every restaurant provide an ideal entry way? Ideal seating at every table? Ideal lighting? Plenty of indoor and outdoor seating regardless of season and time of day? Certainly the places I go to don't - but I like the food which is the point.
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To be fair though one should note... Why don't you buy from from the country you are in? Selling something to someone in a foreign country in the US is not just a matter of accepting payment and shipping it. There are laws in the US and the foreign countries to deal with. And developers are not lawyers. Retailers don't do their own credit card processing. They are limited to what their service provider allows. Even certification for other card types is not only more difficult but can impact other aspects of credit processing selection. Developers often create based on business requirements. Just because the sales dept insisted on a country selection on the form doesn't mean that anything else is suited for international sales. Testing a site for international sales requires testing for many, many cultures. It isn't just a matter of seeing if the language works. There aren't a lot of companies that can afford to test say in 200 different cultural settings. So one needs to make a best guess effort. Finally realistically were you buying the web site or the product on the website? Compare it to eating lunch - does every restaurant provide an ideal entry way? Ideal seating at every table? Ideal lighting? Plenty of indoor and outdoor seating regardless of season and time of day? Certainly the places I go to don't - but I like the food which is the point.
As I mentioned before: sometimes the only place you can find things is in another country. Decent coffee, for instance...
cheers, Chris Maunder The Code Project | Co-founder Microsoft C++ MVP
