Banana Republic

[garskoci]

Anyone try to go to the Banana Republic web site recently? My browser is FF 1.07.
Is it the browser or the operating system? Hmmmmmm....... Either way, no access=no $$$ spent! :cool:

We're sorry, but we do not support the version of the browser you are using.
Our site works best with the following browsers:

PC users
Internet Explorer 5.5 and above
Netscape 7 and above
Mozilla (including Firefox) 1.0 and above

Mac users
Netscape 7 and above
Mozilla (including Firefox) 1.0 and above

We're working on supporting Safari. Please check back soon.

[Wurm]

Methinks it's the OS. I'm running the windows version of 1.0.7 and the site loads fine.

Pretty dumb when you think about it, I can't see anything there that isn't flash or html - both of which are handled well under linux.

[justbill]

I just got the same thing you did garskoci, I'm running fc4
Justbill

[Sepero]

Same safari error here.
Firefox v1.0.7 here too. Debian.

http://www.bananarepublic.com/browse/info.do?cid=8808

[garskoci]

Yeah, pretty sad. If they only had a clue on how much business they are turnning away in the busiest shopping seasons of the year. I think that I'll call their customer service and cancel my BR card. :D

[banzaikai]

Not just Firefox - I use Mozilla 1.7.8 on FC4 (I prefer the all-in-one Moz), and get the same thing. Plugins up the wazoo. Both Java and JavaScript are enabled (but my cookies only accept from first-party). Hang on...

Nope. Enabling cookies didn't do it, either.

Yup. They're dipswitches.

banzai "prefer NewEgg" kai

[con]

works with konqueror...change browser identification to IE 6 on WinXP ;)

[paj12]

My school's web site is the same way. Try the user agent switcher extension.

https://addons.mozilla.org/extensions/moreinfo.php?id=59

[Syngin]

Not sure if anyone wants to send a complaint but the email address is custserv@bananarepublic.com

[garskoci]

I sent them an email. I received a generic response saying that they will send it to their IT dept. I'll post their response when I get it.


My school's web site is the same way. Try the user agent switcher extension.


Dunno if I'm interested in that. I'm a firm believer in Linux and have been 100% for ten years now. If they want to shut me out due to the os rather than capability of the browser, well I can take my business somewhere else. Just my opinion........

[paj12]

I'm with you, but in my case it's a necessary evil. I need to use the website to register for classes, check my records, etc.

In this case, though, you're 100% right. Take your business somewhere else.

[Syngin]

Got the following response. Strange that it arrives at 10pm on a Saturday night:

Dear BananaRepublic.com Customer,

Thank you for your recent e-mail regarding the enhancements we have been making to our website. We were sorry to hear of the problems your friends are having accessing our website with the Linux operating system. Customer feedback is very important to us. In an effort to improve the shopping experience for everyone, please be assured your comments will be forwarded to our Technical Team. We appreciate the time you have taken to share your concerns with us and hope you will give us another opportunity to serve you in the future.

If we may be of further assistance, please contact us via e-mail at custserv@bananarepublic.com or by calling 1-888-BR-STYLE. Our Customer Service Consultants are available 24 hours a day for your convenience.

Sincerely,

Carolyn
Customer Service Consultant

[garskoci]

paj12 - Yeah, in all reality, there is not a whole lot that you can do. If I were in your situation, I would do the same.

Syngin - I received the same type of response. Different wording, so it appears that they actually read and reply to their emails.


Dear Mr. :D ,

Thank you for your e-mail regarding your recent online experience. We
would like to apologize for the inconvenience you have experienced with
our service. We have forwarded your comments on to our Technical Team
for further review. Please know that our goal at BananaRepublic.com is
to exceed our customer's expectations. We are sorry that, in this
instance, we clearly did not and we hope that you will give us another
opportunity in the future.

If we may be of further assistance at any time, please feel free to
contact us via e-mail at custserv@bananarepublic.com or by calling
1-888-BR-STYLE. Our Customer Service Consultants are available 24 hours
a day for your convenience.

Sincerely,

Adam
Customer Service Consultant

[garskoci]

....and if anyone doesn't know, this goes with Old Navy and The Gap.
Same company.

[garskoci]

Syngin - Have you heard anything? Has anyone else sent them an email?

[Sepero]

I sent an email, but I sent it directly to tech support. I never received a reply. Hopefully, they are working on it.

[garskoci]

I guess that I'm a bit surprised that more people aren't sending emails. Not so much that everyone has to shop at BR, but the idea that Linux users are being shut out as if Linux can't handle their web page. I guess that we're officially mainstream now.

[Syngin]

Yup, no word as of yet.

[garskoci]

Just a bit to add. I sent a follow-up email to their customer service. Nothing yet.
Oh, the ironic part???? Their webservers run Linux and Apache. Imagine that! :mad:

[Sepero]

I installed the "agent switcher" extension for Firefox. Thanks for the tip, Paj12.

[garskoci]

Well, after a little persistence, I finally got a real reply to my emails.
Now would be a good time for the Linux community to fire off some emails!

Thank you for your e-mail. We apologize for the difficulties you
experienced on our site. We have spoken with our IT department and been
assured all three of our brand websites are accessible using both the
Mozilla and Firefox browsers from a Linux workstation, which we use in
house. We have forwarded your details of this issue to our developers
to further research and if needed to resolve.

Please know that our goal here at gap.com is to exceed our customer's
expectations. We're sorry that, in this instance, we clearly did not
meet yours, and hope that you will give us another opportunity in the
future.

If we may be of further assistance, please contact us via e-mail at
custserv@bananarepublic.com or by calling 1-888-BR-STYLE. Our Customer
Service Consultants are available 24 hours a day for your convenience.

Sincerely,

Kelly
Customer Service Consultant

[Alex Cavnar, aka alc6379]

Rock on!

Hopefully this will change. Normally I'm the passive type, and I'd install a User Agent Switcher, or something, but the point is, this shouldn't be happening. What good does a website do that is intentionally inaccessible by people who actively want to buy products from a company?

[garskoci]

Yep! Normally I wouldn't push so much either. But, I guess to me, Linux is more than something that my computer runs on. If the next guy wants to use windoze, what ever.... His/her choice. But, I don't want to be intentionally excluded just because I'm not a Bill worshiper. Looking at their javascript, but not knowing javascript either :rolleyes: , I don't see how they are allowing Linux users to access their web sites.

[Alex Cavnar, aka alc6379]

Yep! Normally I wouldn't push so much either. But, I guess to me, Linux is more than something that my computer runs on. If the next guy wants to use windoze, what ever.... His/her choice. But, I don't want to be intentionally excluded just because I'm not a Bill worshiper. Looking at their javascript, but not knowing javascript either :rolleyes: , I don't see how they are allowing Linux users to access their web sites.

Javascript should be accepted pretty universally. The only thing that should raise eyebrows is if they decide to start throwing VBscript into the mix. Then non "Bill worshippers" (your words, not mine) should start getting concerned about a loss of functionality.

[garskoci]

Well???? After 8 emails and 2+ months Banana Republic fixed their web page. WooooooooHooooooo!!!!

[happybunny]

get to work on www.cvs.com then

[Sepero]

get to work on www.cvs.com then
Went there with regular Firefox and it seems ok to me. Besides that, I think a better use of peoples' time might be spent at www.freshmeat.net.

[garskoci]

Yeah, had no problem with CVS. I'm using Firefox 1.5.
What's up with fresh meat???

[Sepero]

freshmeat maintains the Web's largest index of Unix and cross-platform software, themes and related "eye-candy", and Palm OS software. Thousands of applications, which are preferably released under an open source license, are meticulously cataloged in the freshmeat database, and links to new applications are added daily. Each entry provides a description of the software, links to download it and to obtain more information, and a history of the project's releases, so readers can keep up-to-date on the latest developments.

freshmeat is the first stop for Linux users hunting for the software they need for work or play.http://freshmeat.net/about/

There is always a need for more help. Even if you don't know how to program, there is a need for people to help test programs and write documentation.