Here's a message from 2003. (scroll up)
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!msg/uk.comp.os.linux/5c40N...
> http://www.argos.co.uk
> "Sorry, the Argos Internet site cannot currently be viewed using
Netscape 6 or other browsers with the same rendering engine.
> In the meantime, please use a different web browser or call
0870 600 2020 to order items from the Argos catalogue."
> Sorry, I think I'll shop elsewhere until you get it fixed...
Argos was sniffing the useragent. I think people tried changing the useragent, and it worked fine.
This kind of thing wasn't rare, even in 2003.