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Flash sparks Charitycards.co.uk debate in Guardian

Howard Lake | 28 October 1999 | News

Last week’s letter in The Guardian Online concerning charitycards.co.uk’s use of Flash technology on its Web site has spawned a reply on the supplement’s letters page. Gordon Stevenson retorted that “the original web designer of charitycards was correct to use Flash, since 69.78% of all web browsers now have Flash player installed.”

Mr Stevenson wondered “and what about the other 30.22% of lost customers?” His answer – “why didn’t they simply install the free Flash player?”

So, the customer is wrong and needs to get the right technology to buy a charity card online? That is hardly a customer- or indeed donor-focused approach.

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Gift acceptance and due diligence course by Kerry Rock. Background image (filtered yellow) of one hand on the left with thumb down, and on the right a hand with a thumb up.

Mr Stevenson’s argument that the technology is out there so use it is not uncommon. However, charities sticking to it are likely to annoy donors and even more importantly potential donors.

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