Arrrghhhh Skobee

Tried to sign up for Skobee tonight, a new service for helping plan meet-ups. Read about it on TechCrunch.

Dring the sign up process, Skobee asks for your zipcode. I put in mine: 3013. Then I get this error message:

Zip code is invalid. We use your Zip code to help you find local places. Your location is kept private and will never be shared. Please enter a valid 5 digit Zip code.

Seems I can't sign up unless I either a) live in the USA or 2) lie. What a conundrum...

Comments

[Daniel]

It's astonishing how many web sites assume all their users will be in the USA. Maybe you can fill it with a zero? 03013. And will your state become VI?

[Bob M]

It's only a white lie.

[Jodie Miners]

This is bloody typical of the Yanks - 30 boxes had a similar thing where the whole app didn't recognize any time zones outside the US. It's about time the Yanks woke up to themselves and realised (yes that's realised with an 'S') that there is a whole world outside their shores!!! And don't get me started on A4/Letter paper sizing!, that's another area where the Yanks just don't have a clue.

[Paul]

I had the same issue signing up for Pandora. In the end I just googled for a U.S. postcode and used it as my address. Worked a treat.

[Alan Jones]

After years of making up US zipcodes to register for things, i can confidently report there's always something interesting in zipcode 90210.

Don't worry, while we're kvetching about the yanks and their international blindspot, it does leave us a tidy opportunity to copy US startups and launch AU versions. Trademe shows how valuable that can turn out to be if the timing of your exit is right.

Meanwhile, a bazillion non-English language natives are kvetching that almost nothing Web 2.0 has a Chinese, Hindi, Arabic or Portuguese version...