Comments on: Pet Hates – Forms that don’t allow for ‘foreigners’.

By: Teri Dempski

Teri Dempski — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 03:48:47 +0000

Let’s hear it for our international friends! I’m proud to be a “foreign” member of Kathie’s International forum.

Open those zip code fields to encourage international growth.

By: Lynn Thomas

Lynn Thomas — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 23:49:40 +0000

Hey, I agree. Isn’t that why it is called the Word Wide Web.
I always welcome international customers

By: Kathie Thomas

Kathie Thomas — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 22:23:05 +0000

I think if there are any legalities involved then it needs to be explained on the page before people signup. I really think in most cases those who create these forms don’t think outside of what’s the ‘norm’ for their country and that postcodes (zipcodes) and addresses work differently in many other countries. It doesn’t take much to change a field setting on a form.

By: Betty Lynch

Betty Lynch — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 17:46:54 +0000

I don’t think it is necessary for a complicated sign up process. I agree membership should be open to the world and not just those in one country.

By: PopArtDiva

PopArtDiva — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 17:46:27 +0000

Well, how silly of them to not understand that the web is international!! Isn’t that the whole point?

I would have turned them into spam and given up at the irritation and waste of time.

By: Beverly Mahone

Beverly Mahone — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 16:52:02 +0000

Kathie,

I can see the restrictions if a contest is involved but if it’s just to sign up to become a member of a community, I don’t see the issue. It may have something to do with some legalities in dealing with the international community.

I know that’s the case for Boomer Diva Nation. We can have international members but no one outside of the US can be on the Board of Directors.

By: Cindy Opong

Cindy Opong — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 04:02:25 +0000

Thanks for the reminder Kathie. I have to sheepishly admit that an International organization we both belong to lacks in this area. It’s bugged me ever since I joined the Board of Directors last year and had to start processing membership requests! In our case, I believe it’s because the company we use doesn’t fully support it. This is a good reminder to have our web team check into it!

By: jeanie

jeanie — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 05:32:19 +0000

I have a weekly email from one company that I got right through there 4 page signup on, only to find that they only accepted US citizens.

Of course, they constantly remind me I haven’t finished my sign up (email was page 1) and I have sent them many emails back to which they never respond…