Re: lynx-dev unanswered queries (1) follow-up

[Philip Webb]

980727 i reminded lynx-dev of the following query:
> Date: Fri, 3 Jul 1998 20:36:29 -0400 (EDT)
> From: Keith A Monahan <address@hidden>
> Subject: lynx-dev Cookie problems with Lynx 2.8rel2
> 
> I'm experiencing a problem with Lynx 2.8rel2 on a SunOS 413_4c box.
> When accessing www.buydirect.com,
> the site reports that the browser is not configured to accept cookies.
> I've tried  -cookies  and  -force_ssl  flags.
> Is it possible they aren't following the standards?
>> You've reached this page because your browser is not configured
>> to accept cookies.  The Open Market Transact software used to process
>> your order carries your name and address from one page to the next
>> using a cookie. This is a nonpersistent cookie,
>> and it will not be used for anything but processing your order.
>> Please enable cookies and try your purchase again.
>> You can return to Aesthetic Solutions, Inc.'s storefront.
 
no-one else offered help, so i contacted the site myself:

> i visited your site today & found i was prevented from buying software
> due to a screen which came up telling me my browser was not configured
> to accept or handle cookies.  i use Lynx 2-8, which is fully upto-date
> & most certainly IS capable of handling cookies within a session,
> which your screen reassures me is all you need.
>
> is there perhaps some problem in the programming of your site?
> have you simply not updated your information from the time (1996)
> when Lynx 2-6 (i think) was cookie-challenged?
>
> this is non-trivial, as many blind shoppers use Lynx with a screen reader
> & you could perhaps find yourselves in conflict with the ADA,
> if they live in the USA.  in any case, i'm sure you have no intention
> of unnecessarily shutting potential customers out of your site.
>
> could i have your assurance that you will look into the problem
> in case i want to buy from you in future?

Nate replied:

> I'm sorry for the inconvenience.  The problem may be you need a browser
> that supports the SSL protocol as well as cookies to use our site.
> Unfortunately Lynx does not support the SSL protocol
> and cannot be used to purchase software from us.  
> Is it possible to use a text reader with a browser
> like Netscape or Internet Explorer?
> Please let me know if I can be of assistance to you.

i tried again:

> thanx for your prompt & polite reply.
> i was checking your site for someone else,
> who is blind & who would have bought something from you
[note today: i believe i confused  2  lynx-dev inquiries here].

> you are quite wrong to suppose Lynx does not support SSL,
> tho' in my own case i have not taken the trouble to compile it in,
> since it involves extra work & i myself have no need for it.
> however, the other lady does have SSL compiled into her Lynx,
> so she should have had no problem on that score.

> you have strengthened my guess that the problem lies in a false assumption
> that Lynx does not support upto-date protocols,
> so that somewhere in your site -- presumably CGI -- there is something
> which calls up your negative screen message simply because it sees `Lynx'.
> if that is in fact the problem, you really should change it:
> you are losing customers & causing problems for the disabled.

> i'm sure you want to be helpful: Lynx is a very fast & efficient browser,
> which is continually under development by volunteers around the World,
> so it should be quite easy to ensure your site can react appropriately;
> Lynx is preferred by many blind people as fitting screen readers easily.
> many other sites present Lynx with no difficulties for cookies & SSL
> & people do successfully buy things from those sites using Lynx.

to which i have had no further reply.

this is a very good illustration of attitudes out in the real world,
where site managers & document authors -- even with customers at stake --
cannot understand why people don't use the Big Two browsers
& -- more important -- can't be bothered to discuss the matter further.
if Lynx has a long-term future, it must do its best to help users
find their way to & thro' such sites & the many other pitfalls out there.

-- 
========================,,============================================
SUPPORT     ___________//___,  Philip Webb : address@hidden
ELECTRIC   /] [] [] [] [] []|  Centre for Urban & Community Studies
TRANSIT    `-O----------O---'  University of Toronto