Getting stiffed on free products - Have you noticed this?

by cjreynolds

Posted: 13 years ago 18 replies

INTERNET MARKETING

I've recently noticed an unusually high number of people offering free reports, eBooks, etc. and when you sign up for their list, the confirmation email never arrives.

I've had this happen occasionally and just figured it was bad autoresponder configuration or something, but lately it seems like this is happening most of the time!

Has anyone else noticed this?

#free #noticed #products #stiffed

ChickenMan 13 years ago

Sure it's not your email marking them as spam or anything?
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- KateHunter 13 years ago
  
  nope everything i sign up for arrives promply. Inbox is buldging at the seams.
  
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Alexa Smith

Banned 13 years ago

Originally Posted by cjreynolds

I've recently noticed an unusually high number of people offering free reports, eBooks, etc. and when you sign up for their list, the confirmation email never arrives.

I always check my "junk"/"spam" email folders carefully in case they've gone there ... but yes, I have had this happen a couple of times recently, when the confirmation email just hasn't arrived at all.

On both recent occasions they've been people using the same "free autoresponder" (probably with appalling deliverability), and I've learned not to hold my breath for those, now.

They're probably sitting there wondering why "so many people seem not to confirm" ... :rolleyes:

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Coby 13 years ago

If I were guessing I would say you likely use Gmail?

Recently Gmail figured they knew what was best for you and have they "updated" their spam filters. Unfortunately many marketer's emails are now going to spam folders.

Be sure to mark the ones you like as "not spam" to fight back against Gmail's discrimination!
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- Alexa Smith Banned 13 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by Coby
  
  If I were guessing I would say you likely use Gmail?
  
  I think you were asking the OP, really, not me ...
  
  But in my case, I don't use gmail, and the problem isn't that people's emails are going into my "spam" folder.
  
  The problem is that some marketers, knowing no better, are using a free autoresponder, and those can have dreadful deliverability.
  
  It's really not an "inspired" way to try to build a business.
  
  When you see them posting in threads here discussing confirmed and single opt-in, they sometimes seem to imagine that everyone loses about a third of their "confirmations". But if you ask them if their autoresponder's working properly, you'll typically hear "Oh yes, no problems that I know of".
  
  The logic, you may notice, is that of a parachute salesman who has "never had any complaints".
  
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hotlinkz 13 years ago

Try using a CPanel email address from one of you domains.
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Yogini 13 years ago

I've had this happen recently a few times. The spam filter in gmail is hidden in my dashboard so I don't always remember to check in. I think I have to click on the more folders option to even find it. Also I believe that earthlink provider does not permit aweber because a number of newsletters I had I no longer get. I did get the initial confirmation and maybe one issue and then they stopped coming. I find aweber goes to spam most of time for me in yahoo email but the yahoo groups go directly to my inbox (interesting how they do that).

Debbie
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- Alan Ashwood 13 years ago
  
  He's (cjreynolds) right you know.
  
  Many thanks to all previous posters regarding spam filters and Gmail; they're great tips, and worth checking first.
  
  However, I have had this happen 3 times recently. In fact I was so suspicious that I sent one to a rarely used inbox, containg only 5 previous mails, and no spam.
  
  Registered again with a ridiculous name, and voila! . . or rather no voila.
  
  The confirmation email never arrived.
  
  I did start getting useless emails sales letters using that name though.
  
  Unsubscribed - failed to unsubscribe - now spam forever.
  
  Oh, and Alexa, they weren't using 'free autoresponders' either.
  
  Cheers
  
  Alan
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sbucciarel Banned 13 years ago

Free means free. Perhaps some of your freebie seekers don't want to be on an email list. They only wanted the free product you are offering.
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Michael Oksa 13 years ago

How is that being stiffed?

I would say being stiffed is getting the confirmation, being put on the list, and then never receiving the product.

Nothing was actually exchanged in the situation you described. So while it may be irritating, I don't think it qualifies as being stiffed.

There's no victim, so your best bet is to just let it go.

That's my take on it anyway.

All the best,
Michael
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Jamie Charles 13 years ago

One issue I've had recently is Aweber sending out e-mails much later than they should. I've seen this issue across a few of my buyer lists where they are sent after a person purchases a product and some have been delayed up to an entire day.

Maybe that's it?
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E. Brian Rose 13 years ago

Couldn't decide on a response, so here they both are...

Response A) It's a bad start to a new relationship, that's for sure. If you can't deliver on the freebie promise, then why would anybody pay you money for products down the road?

Response B) If you sign up for a free product and don't get it, ask for a refund.
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- cjreynolds 13 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by E. Brian Rose
  
  Response B) If you sign up for a free product and don't get it, ask for a refund.
  
  I think I'll do that
  
  But seriously - no spam filters (I always disable those), no particular autoresponder (happens sometimes w/aweber), and the email I use is on a dedicated company-owned server (college district, actually).
  
  I'm guessing a lot of newbies don't know how to setup an autoresponder...
  
  No biggie - I'm a recovering freebie-seeker (I've joined a 12-step program). Just taking it one day at a time
  
  joe
  
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Andrea Wilson 13 years ago

I often get the confirmation emails in my spam folder and yes I use gmail for such task. What I hate most is some people are giving away ebooks unworthy of opting in. I am now staying away from free offers.

Andrea
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WebPen 13 years ago

Yup it could be that these people just didnt set up the autoresponder correctly.

And the fact that Gmail's filter is pretty good- too many scammy words and its in the Spam box!
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richgrad 13 years ago

I believe if they're using a reputable autoresponder service like AWeber, they wouldn't have such problems
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- cjreynolds 13 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by richgrad
  
  I believe if they're using a reputable autoresponder service like AWeber, they wouldn't have such problems
  
  Only as good as the one who configured it
  
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  I just added this sig so I can refer to it in my posts...
  
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