Autoresponder problems (long)
 

I have been using freeautobot with limited success, there are some issues; I wonder how others are dealing with this.
The auto responder part works like a charm. However whether the person gets the email or not is questionable and hinges on the type of email address they provide. Most people provide hotmail, yahoo or other free email addresses that will filter and place the mail in a 'junk-pile'

I had an incident with free autobot where they sent me a canned email threatening to sue me if I spam. Some flake person (who actually prompted in at my web site) accused me of spam via the link they provide.)
Spam cop was nicer to me than freeautobot. They (freeautobot) really need to brush up on their etiquette how they threaten with lawsuit their own customers based on net kooks alleged complaint. So that pissed me off the major way. I felt like Kobe being accused of electronic rape from some nitt-witt who registered on my web site and 5 seconds later forgot about it.

So I decided to download all my mail data from freeautobot and mail myself.
So I wrote a mail app to send mail using my own mail server.

I have 1600 opt-in mail addresses and my new shopping cart I am using also has free autoresponder.
__________________________________________________
Here is the mail they sent me...
""Hi,

PLEASE READ THIS THROUGH - THIS IS YOUR FIRST SPAM WARNING

Please advise how this user received your email. SEE BELOW Be aware that
all SPAMMERS on Freeautobot have so far been prosecuted in their own coutry
of origin.

We need you to to write to the complainant to explain how they received your
email. CC me with all correspondance. Then get their address and remove it
from your database.

You need to reply to this address as it masks their real address
[email protected]

If we hear nothing from you within 48hrs your account will be terminated -
your IP address has been logged and Legal procedures will begin. If as a
result of your actions Freeautobot is shut down we will persue all costs in
the closing of a company with over 6.5 million users.

Regardless of there being a remove link or you adding a line about the US
law. You must keep to the guidelines of FreeAutobot

See the words next to the join button when you joined.

Regards

Support
FreeAutobot"




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I used to run an autoresponder service and...
 

I had a simple spam policy. It was as follows.

3 spam complaints and your account was shut off. No exceptions. No refund of fees.

Was it always fair to the account holders?

No it wasn't. I've been around the block many times and know that there are all sorts of people out there.

People who simply forget the signed up for something and whine about spam.

People who are malicious and will sign up other people without their knowlege causing you to innocently spam people, etc.

But this was my business. And if I had too many complaints, my ISP could have shut me down. So it is really hard to be angry at the folks running the service when all they are trying to do is be sure someone out there doesn't get them shut down.

The best system to avoid is is a double opt in system where for every subscriber who fills out a form, an email is sent out telling to take a specific action to subscribe.

This gives you proof that the person was really subscribing and destroys any spam complaints credibility with the hosting company.

But double opt in dramatically reduces the speed at which you can grow your list.

Alas, there is no one size fits all solution to spam.

But there are services that are a bit more lenient than the way this service is acting.

Just my 2 cents.
Steven


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Re: You are right - I just hate the language of their.
 

email. I know it is a free service but I dislike being treated like a criminal....due to other scumbags out there in cyberspace.

> I had a simple spam policy. It was as
> follows.

> 3 spam complaints and your account was shut
> off. No exceptions. No refund of fees.

> Was it always fair to the account holders?

> No it wasn't. I've been around the block
> many times and know that there are all sorts
> of people out there.

> People who simply forget the signed up for
> something and whine about spam.

> People who are malicious and will sign up
> other people without their knowlege causing
> you to innocently spam people, etc.

> But this was my business. And if I had too
> many complaints, my ISP could have shut me
> down. So it is really hard to be angry at
> the folks running the service when all they
> are trying to do is be sure someone out
> there doesn't get them shut down.

> The best system to avoid is is a double opt
> in system where for every subscriber who
> fills out a form, an email is sent out
> telling to take a specific action to
> subscribe.

> This gives you proof that the person was
> really subscribing and destroys any spam
> complaints credibility with the hosting
> company.

> But double opt in dramatically reduces the
> speed at which you can grow your list.

> Alas, there is no one size fits all solution
> to spam.

> But there are services that are a bit more
> lenient than the way this service is acting.

> Just my 2 cents.
> Steven