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Mac users locked out of AmEx application process

updated 06:05 pm EDT, Thu October 27, 2005

Mac users take back seat


Mac users are second-class citizens again with at least one employer shutting out them out from its Web employment application. The American Express website shuns Mac users when they attempt to apply online for employment with the following message: "at this time, the system environments. If you don't have access to a PC at home or work, please check out a local public library for internet access, local internet cafes, or the nearest government Work Force Center." "I am amazed that a Fortune 100 company would effectively shut out a good portion of possible candidates," the individual stated. Some people reported being able to file an application online using Safari or Internet Explorer for the Mac, while others encountered glitches, according to a report from News.com. American Express uses a company called BrassRing to manage its online job applications; however the firms' software doesn't support Macs at this time. BrassRing claims to be releasing a newer version in December, however, that will be Firefox-compatible to support Mac users, according to the report.


by MacNN Staff

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  1. mymacluvsme

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Aug 2004

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    10/27, 07:22pm | report spam | Reply |

    This is so

    1998. Web standards have become just that, standards. AmEx can do better than this. They should fire Brassring and get a different company to do this.

    "We're sorry, but we don't accept wheelchairs right now. We suggest you crawl, roll, or borrow someone else's legs to access our place."

  1. reiggin

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: May 1999

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    10/27, 07:50pm | report spam | Reply |

    a better question...

    Why would anyone want to work for them in the first place?!? I've had friends go through their financial services training and some that even stuck with it for 6 months. It's h***! Stay away.

  1. phillymjs

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Jun 2000

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    10/27, 08:14pm | report spam | Reply |

    Stay away from AmEx

    This is nothing new. When they first premiered their "Blue" card back in 1999, it came with a reader for the smart chip that was embedded in the card. Windows only, of course. Mac support was announced "real soon now," but never came to fruition. Well, as far as I know, anyway-- not long after I got the card, I was too busy fighting with AmEx for the better part of a year because they put someone else's $12,000 of balance transfers on it when they created the account, and refused to believe that they weren't mine.

    Ever since, anything I get in the mail from those idiots goes right into the shredder, unopened.

  1. kaleberg

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Jan 2004

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    10/27, 08:21pm | report spam | Reply |

    screening test

    It's obvious. This is just screening. They want to weed out the folks who have half a brain and use a Mac. People who don't have the brains to buy a usable, reliable computer are more likely to work cheap.

    Of course, this leaves open the reason why they have their main Amex card pages PC compatible given that people who can afford to upgrade out of the PC morass are more likely to afford a premium credit card.

  1. van rijn

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Sep 2002

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    10/28, 12:53am | report spam | Reply |

    RE: screening test

    please. dont be an assclown.

    why bring the price of a mac into it? it basically comes down to programming the site/back-end software like mymacluvsme said, "1998. Web standards have become just that, standards.".

    99% sure the programming language was writen by a PC developer who never touched a mac (who secretly wants one), or the echelon in the office was the same.

    although i use both platforms, and lean towards the mac platfrom, i program all my sites etc for cross browser/platfrom compatibility. the developer was just lazy,

  1. rtbarry

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    Joined: Aug 2001

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    10/28, 03:32am | report spam | Reply |

    'van rijn' nailed it...

    lazy developer. if the error message quoted was actually accurate, then "lazy and spiteful unprofessional developer who should be canned".

    so sick of these lazy fvcks who just don't get it > all industries mature, and as they do standards emerge. if you don't follow these standards (as much as the browser wars currently allows), your work is s***. you will swim in your own s***.

  1. trevc

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Mar 2000

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    10/28, 12:13pm | report spam | Reply |

    That's not it....

    It's not laziness. I do a LOT of web developement. If you're in a Windoze world at work, there often isn't even the facilities afforded you to test other platforms. Of course I test at home to make sure as well, but if I ever asked for a macintosh for testing, it definately wouldn't be approved.

    Why should I ever 'HAVE'to test on other platforms? It's like NBC having to test their TV signals on Panasonic/Sony/Samsung, etc., etc. TV's to make sure they all work.

    The problem that there ARE web standards, but they AREn't implemented in every browser, or especially I.E. as they are only partially implemented and also have their OWN standards that they create.

    Face it...as much as I hate to, it's an I.E. World. THe problem is, there are even different versions of I.E. with different levels of compatability with certain websites.

    I wish that vendors had to have their browsers sanctioned with the W3C before they were allowed to release them .... or some kind of major stir up like that to enforce STANDARDS!

    wheeew ... all this ranting!

  1. grubesteak

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Apr 2005

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    10/28, 01:01pm | report spam | Reply |

    I'm a web developer, too

    Why should you "HAVE" to test on other platforms?

    It's pretty simple, really: money. You shut out a percentage of your possible consumers, and in this case, employees, if you follow this outdated web development philoshopy.

    Web standards are so much better today, helping to go the distance to make the experience a joy for all. I don't think it's fair to say "let's face it, it's an I.E. world." It depends. I develop in a Windows environment, but that's because everybody here uses Windows. But if I were working at say, MacNN, I would focues on the development for Safari and Firefox for the Mac first, because I'm positive that's what the majority of viewers are using when they visit this site.

    Want to see something just as bad? Go here: http://www.vh1.com/vspot/index.jhtml. Even MTV and VH1, who clearly have some Mac people working for them, despite their viewers, only have I.E.-only on their sites. How retarded.

  1. outZider

    Junior Member

    Joined: Sep 1999

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    10/28, 01:51pm | report spam | Reply |

    no macs for testing?

    It still doesn't take much, you know. Worst case, you open it up in Firefox, and 99/100, it'll work in Safari, too.

  1. whitakerg

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Jun 2005

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    10/28, 05:15pm | report spam | Reply |

    AmEx Ecludes Mac

    All Mac Users, even if not exclusive users that have any of American Express cards or services, should send an email to them such as; "As a Mac User, at this time I do not support American Express. I will be canceling my accounts ". If we could get this messege out to mac users with the customer service email and a cc to an executive email and the correct address to send cancelation requests (don't try to cancel by email they probable require a letter sent by US mail, besides you wouldn't want to sent your account information in an email any way). I bet if the Mac community got behind this we could force a change.

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