Email received notifications

downshifter

Is there any way to know if someone has received or read an email other than expecting them to return a received notification which they can choose not to? I'm increasingly fed up of sending emails (work stuff) to people that I expect an answer to, specially if I've asked a question, and then having to resend it a day or so later asking for a response. Also if people ask me for information and I then send it, I end up asking them a couple of days later if they received it ok. They always say they have but a quick 'thanks' would let me know I can draw a line under that enquiry.

If I ask for a notification receipt to be sent, often people don't return them so that's unreliable. Is there any other way of knowing my message has been displayed on their computer?

Thanks

DS

davb

Unfortunately read receipts are not reliable, as the recriprient can choose not to send them, depending on how they configure their email client.
There is software around that will do more invisible tagging, msgtag is one I have tried in the past. They generally rely on an image (linked to the vendors website) being displayed in the email, which is then recorded, but AFIK all of them can be blocked by security software.

missile

You could speak to the recipient?

I find it amusing people in an office where people send e mails to those two offices down the corridor.

downshifter

missile wrote: »

You could speak to the recipient?

I find it amusing people in an office where people send e mails to those two offices down the corridor.

I work from home, the only thing down the corridor is the dog! Emails allow me to track a conversation and give me a trail of what's been said by whom.

downshifter

davb wrote: »

Unfortunately read receipts are not reliable, as the recriprient can choose not to send them, depending on how they configure their email client.
There is software around that will do more invisible tagging, msgtag is one I have tried in the past. They generally rely on an image (linked to the vendors website) being displayed in the email, which is then recorded, but AFIK all of them can be blocked by security software.

Just had a play with msgtag, it looks just what I want, however doesn't seem to work with Thunderbird. Will play a bit more but it only lists Outlook, Outlook Express, Eudora and Incredimail in the free version. What a shame. Thanks for the idea though.

DS

[Deleted User]

downshifter wrote: »

Just had a play with msgtag, it looks just what I want, however doesn't seem to work with Thunderbird. Will play a bit more but it only lists Outlook, Outlook Express, Eudora and Incredimail in the free version. What a shame. Thanks for the idea though.

DS

Improved compatibility with mail clients MSGTAG now tightly integrates with more mail programs, such as Mozilla Thunderbird, and has support for many more.

http://www.msgtag.com/products/status2/changelog/

downshifter

Deleted_User wrote: »

http://www.msgtag.com/products/status2/changelog/

Yup but seems to be only for the paid version, (Status). I wanted to try the free one out first before deciding whether to pay. Perhaps this will follow with future releases. Thanks

Lum

Modern versions of Outlook will block those image tags by default and display a warning to the user. They may also play badly with some anti spam software as spammers use a similar trick to validate email addresses. I wouldn't waste my money on that software.

Basically there is no reliable way to do what you are asking.

cgk1

downshifter wrote: »

Is there any way to know if someone has received or read an email other than expecting them to return a received notification which they can choose not to? I'm increasingly fed up of sending emails (work stuff) to people that I expect an answer to, specially if I've asked a question, and then having to resend it a day or so later asking for a response. Also if people ask me for information and I then send it, I end up asking them a couple of days later if they received it ok. They always say they have but a quick 'thanks' would let me know I can draw a line under that enquiry.

If I ask for a notification receipt to be sent, often people don't return them so that's unreliable. Is there any other way of knowing my message has been displayed on their computer?

Thanks

DS

They follow my rule of thumb, if something is important, the person will ask for it again. I delete any requests for information the first time.

cgk1

missile wrote: »

You could speak to the recipient?

I find it amusing people in an office where people send e mails to those two offices down the corridor.

A lot harder to dispute the facts as set out in an email rather than a corridor conversation.