Autoresponders: How To Irk A Business Owner
It’s been a while since I’ve been up on my peach crate (otherwise known as a soapbox) but I just had to write about this. Not only am I a business owner but I work for other business owners. One of my jobs is customer service. I really enjoy customer service but I do NOT enjoy wading through autoresponses to newsletters!
Come on folks. Get with the program. I (and other business owners) don’t need a confirmation that you received everything that is emailed to you. If you’ve subscribed to a newsletter, it SHOULD be because you want to learn something. Subscribing to a newsletter just so you can reply with an autoresponder, which contains a three paragraph plug for your site/product, is called spam.
I can understand autoresponder mistakes from newbie business owners. It’s all part of learning. What I don’t understand is why established business owners practice this sort of business to business spam. For me, it all goes back to the “do unto others” rule. I only send out resources and announcements to people who sign up for them. I expect to receive the same courtesy.
When an autoresponder is set to reply to newsletters (or everything in general), it causes people to lose money and time. In my case, I have to filter through responses to find the legitimate questions and requests. For businesses which outsource, you are essentially making them pay someone to delete an impersonal, unwanted, and irrelevant reply.
Everyone makes mistakes. Check your email addresses and see if this autoresponder mistake has been one of yours. If so, fix it quick and don’t be too hard on yourself. 
*gets off of peach crate*
Have you had this or a similar experience with autoresponders? Let us know!
I get the same thing in my customer service work. If someone is on vacation and needs to set an email autoresponder, thats perfectly fine but to sign up to receive updates, tips and newsletters with an address that always sends an autoresponder is unprofessional and annoying.
And, while we’re on a peach crate, I have another gripe along the same lines…. It annoys me to no end for people to sign up for a newsletter and have some spam block program want us to verify that we are legit. Let me tell you people…. IT AIN’T HAPPENING (yeah that’s my southern roots showing). If you want our knowledge and information, we’re happy to share it but we are NOT taking extra steps to give it to you.
I do understand protecting yourself from spam but you should not expect us to jump through hoops so that you can receive our mailings.
Anyway, back to the original topic…
Many of the mailing list programs will automatically remove email addresses after so many bounces and I would like to see them add a feature to catch these autoresponders & spam block programs too.
In the mean time, I’ll manually remove them from our lists and I assure you, if I have to take extra time removing these, not only are you not going to get my personal business but I will not be forwarding your promo/spam to my clients.
*Gets off the peach crate*
I remember when the 4 hour workweek craze was going on, it seemed every time I emailed someone I would get one of those automatic responses:
“in order to cut back on my email habit, etc., etc.”
Fair enough if you have one of those when your’e going on vacation but to have it all the time is annoying in most cases. There are exceptions.
I hate those spam verification things too.
I agree 100% with both of you. I remove those who send me autoresponse answers and those who want verification, don’t get it and get removed.
Excellent post!!!
Audrey
As another VA who handles CS, I too am really annoyed and immediately delete these nasty buggers! ‘Tis all part of the work I guess, but it’s no wonder business owners get fed up checking their own email.
Thanks for the great post Kit!
I agree with the vacation ones, those can be helpful if you are a normal person emailing them and waiting for a response.
But a 3 paragraph ad as routine reponses?
C’mon!
What do they honestly hope to accomplish??
I agree with the autoresponse or the verifications but I don’t agree with vacation response. To me that is spam too and it really annoys me to no end.
If you want to go on vacation, just do it. Let your partners and clients know before hand. You don’t have to spam them with a message because many clients will continue to email you while on vacation just so they don’t forget.
If you are worried about customers getting angry at your non-response while you are on vacation. Hire a VA. Getting just one response from a real person to say you are away is much more productive than 10 autoresponse. Your clients will think better of you too.
I totally agree, Mel.
You are so totally right, Mila. There are times when we need to know what is going on. The trick is learning what each group of people in your address needs.
Go Audrey, go! lol
Oooooooo! No doubt, Arika! It’s a good thing that they can hire folks like us to take care of that headache for them.
Oh heck-fuzzy yes! Rayven, I have a friend who is in business and a good bit of time can go by between chats. It helps me tremendously when she sends an autoresponder message. That way if I have a lot to say, I stick it all in one emailing and just wait for her to get back to me.
LOL Love your suggestions, Lynette! If you’re only going to be away for a short time, your clients may not even notice your absence, providing you have a knowledgeable VA handling things for you. If your vacation is going to last a week or more, hiring a VA, who knows your products and style, is a must.