Read Receipt Etiquette

Chomeur

Some people consider it rude to request a read receipt for an email and I suppose it often is - it could be as if you're going to use it against the recipient if he or she doesn't respond in a timely fashion. But if you're sending an email that is simply a confirmation of something - like a meeting - that doesn't need a reply, but you do need to know it's been seen, then it seems to me to be doing the recipient a favour to request a read receipt, because then they have no need to reply to confirm receipt, so I would do it. Anyone have any other thoughts on this?

Also I've heard that some spam filters will block emails that contain read receipt requests. Is this true?

Thanks.

USM

I ignore requests for a read receipt every single time - if the e-mail needs a reply, they'll get a reply.

Guardsman

If somebody needs to know if I have read something then they should pay for a registered letter.
Anything else I would class as being a invasion of privacy

bod1467

At work I have read request ON as default (Outlook client, Exchange server). At home I have it OFF as default. (If I'm lucky. )

ChiefGrasscutter

When I'm sending in a objection to a planning application I ALWAYS request a read receipt.
That way the council know that they cannot ignore/loose/delete my email.
If I don't get the receipt back I'll be on the phone/email asking why.

....and no they no longer send out letters confirming your objection has been registered so such precautions are necessary.

MX5huggy

You will never get a read receipt off me. I very rarely reply to emails as they arrive and I don't want people to know when I have read an email.

Chomeur

USM wrote: »

I ignore requests for a read receipt every single time - if the e-mail needs a reply, they'll get a reply.

But what if there's scope for misunderstanding about whether it needs a reply or not? e.g.:

You email someone saying "Shall we meet tomorrow evening?"
They reply saying "8pm?"
You reply "Yes, great, look forward to seeing you then."

If you don't ask for a return receipt and you don't hear back from them you've got to chase them for a reply. It might be that they don't feel a reply is necessary but you can't be sure of that - it might be that they haven't received your reply so assume you're not coming. It would be much simpler just to ask for a return receipt.

WilliamO

I think in today's age of mass communication even "Aunt Maud" would of spoken to you on the phone or in person, splurting:

"Chomeur, THEY told me to tell you that THEY will be seeing you at 8pm."....."THEY also told me to tell you that THEY couldn't reply to your receipt request because the broadband suddenly went down. They would of phoned you but thought you only communicate via e-mail" hence why they went old fashioned and had Aunt Maud relay the message.......If only THEY knew you had a phone :rotfl:

jackieblack

Well it would appear that I'm in the minority, but I really don't mind read receipt requests.
If the sender wants confirmation that I've received and read their email and I have, what is the big problem?

bod1467

At work (where I get very little SPAM) then using read receipts helps with business flow.

At home (where SPAM can be burdensome) then I NEVER allow read receipts as these easily confirm your email address as being valid to the SPAMmers.

jackieblack

Maybe I've mis-understood.
Are we talking about read receipts being sent automatically or just those where you click to send a read receipt?