I can’t stand emails with read receipts. This is officially my new pet peeve. I understand why they exist, since the easiest excuse for a lazy person to make is “oh, I didn’t see that one in my inbox.” That said, they imply a certain level of urgency, and it seems like most messages with read receipts are way too pointless to have them. They are not worthy of the energy it takes for my retinas to scan them. I look at computer screens all day long. Reading your electronic jibber-jabber just took me one step closer to someday needing glasses. And for what? So that I can learn about your “revolutionary B2B marketing tool”?
I should kick your ass.
Yes, I know this geek rant is just a little bit angry in tone, but I have gotten a few different read receipt emails from folks over the past few days, all of which wanted something from me, and offered me absolutely nothing that I need in return. The worst ones have come from folks marketing products, none of whom actually got my address directly from me. Maybe it’s a good thing that these people know that I read their emails and never got back to them. It’s like saying “go f*ck yourself” without actually having to say it. What say you, readers? Also, is there a way around this? I might actually want to go the lazy route and avoid getting back to a few people one of these days. At least I’m honest about it!
Well…honest until I get asked about that email I ignored the Hell out of!
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Would u hate me if I said I love sending “read receipts”? Cuz I do…I had my work email set-up to where EVERY email came with one & I guess my boss hated it too because he would never send them back…
Lol @ “I should kick your ass”
Yes, I would. Is every email you send really that important?? If I was your boss, I wouldn’t send them back either. Come on now, seriously?
I always deny. Always. Most likely, I also de-prioritize the item because often the person misjudges their relative importance in my day.
Sometimes read receipts are necessary. I just wish they required a sentence summary of what my email said or something. Better yet, just do what I asked you to in the email and be honest if you don’t. Tell our supervisor in the team meeting that you blew me off instead of saying you never got my email. This way read receipts become unnecessary.
Sorry to unleash the beast but damn. My office is notorious for being an email black hole.
I can understand why you might not like them, but when scheduling meetings, conference calls and travel plans, I like to use them, so like you said no one can say oh you didnt send it I didnt see it or I didnt get it, Im just covering my ass, so I dont have to get ethnic on these folks over here lol
For Outlook, in your mail options you can set up “deny receipts”.
Entertained Guest has posted a comment on your blog and has requested a read receipt be sent when his comment has been read. Do you want to send a receipt?
@ Entertained Guest, your comment has been read, and it’s greatly appreciated!
@ Everyone else, I know they’re sometimes necessary, but some folks overdo it!