Test data mishap

25 Nov 2004

Make sure your developers use test data that’s clean and wouldn’t embarass your company if it accidentally slips out to the public. Otherwise you might end up with something like this.

Target.com Product detail page for 'Marijuana'

Update: Apparently this isn’t a test data problem. It’s a problem with not enough product details and the way the ecommerce system’s back end works. The item in question is a book that Amazon carries, but Amazon has no details on the book. Since Target.com is managed by Amazon, many of the products sold by Amazon can be forced to show in the Target.com design; just tack the ASIN from Amazon onto the Target URL. For instance, you buy Isaac Mizrahi cashmere gloves from Target.com even though your local Target isn’t going to carry this item.

When the book is shown on Amazon, it’s obvious that Amazon is selling a book entitled “Marijuana,” but when shown through Target’s interface it just looks like they’re selling pot.

Serge K. Keller
November 26, 2004 12:26 AM

But there’s even worse on that site! See http://www.meyerweb.com/eric/thoughts/2004/11/22/targets-backdoor-sale/ for (gory) details…

Trackback from Amanita.net
November 28, 2004 9:14 AM

links for 2004-11-28

Excerpt: Test Data Mishap So how much pot are they selling for $25? (categories: corporate funny) Science Textbook Disclaimers Wow, scary. But hey, it beats...

Kenneth Norton
November 28, 2004 11:55 AM

It’s a real book, not test data. From Amazon’s site you can see the ISBN number: 0823916839.

Lots of merchants sell the hardcover version:

http://shopping.yahoo.com/p:Marijuana:1976247212:isbn=0823930076

Chloe
November 28, 2004 3:43 PM

The first incident was funny, I’ll grant… But now it’s just old news. The first thing that comes to mind is that certain people are deliberately looking for things that slipped through target.com’s weakness there, just to play the joke for all it’s worth.
Thanks for the rather rational explanation, even though I doubt it’ll quell the enthusiasm for people who are still getting a rise out of the topic. haha. I doubt it seems particularly embarrassing to Target anyway, actually. After all, people constantly make fun of Wal-Mart for all sorts of reasons, and they like the attention, good or bad. hah! Perhaps Target is different, but I somehow doubt it.

Trackback from smart brother
December 3, 2004 12:57 PM

I didn't know they legalized it already.

Excerpt: Test data mishap :: Adam Kalsey Track


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