posted on February 28, 2001 09:15:55 AM new
Here we go again. Every six months or so, AOL tries its best to stop spam. What they end up doing is dumping quite a few valid emails that they suspect coming from known spam abusers. However, when we're using services such as auctionwatch or goto to send end of auction notices, they also decide to dump quite a few of those as well as they are not sent from the email address that is listed as the reply to address. They do not let their customers know that they might not be getting important notices. Us sellers have no way of knowing that you didn't receive our notice as no error message is created and returned to us. So please be patient with your seller if you have not received a notice and have an AOL account. I'm just wondering how long it will take before I get negged because of this. The problem ususally clears up in a few weeks, but by they, the damage may have been done. So bidders, remember to be patient, but better yet, dump AOL!
[ edited by celebrity8x10s on Feb 28, 2001 09:16 AM ]
posted on February 28, 2001 02:06:44 PM new
Blame your ISP. I have to send all my e-mail to aol.com and webtv.net accounts from my yahoo account because my ISP can't stop their mail servers from being the relay or originators of spam!
Your solution is to get a better ISP, one who will perform a reverse DNS lookup on all incoming mail. Those that can not be resolved (i.e. [email protected] type spam) will be rejected.
posted on February 28, 2001 08:02:11 PM new
I do not believe AOL have uniform policies to block spam for users. The filter is set by each individual AOL user. You need to blame the user and not AOL.
posted on February 28, 2001 08:28:35 PM new
Seller using aol is not professional? Where does that come from? I have used aol and ebay for 5 years, over 10,000 successful transactions to date,over $100K per year, I guess I am in the amateur category? So aol is not perfect, big deal, what server is? Name me one that is
posted on February 28, 2001 10:20:22 PM new
I find it interesting so many of you are so narrow minded and well off as to be able to be able to select who you sell to.
As was previously mentioned, name on ISP that is perfect? Yelling anything that doesn't say AOL in it is NOT an acceptable answer.
Why do I stick with AOL? Because in my area of the country, its the best available ISP with local phone numbers. Not everyone lives in a booming metropolis with multiple options for ISPs.
posted on February 28, 2001 10:49:48 PM new
cix, I'll second that. I work for a large distributor of sportscards. The owner avoids any large transactions from parties using AOL as their sole ISP. Its not just a matter of image and has nothing to do with their terrible service. We've had a long history of a large percentage of deals going sour with AOL users. I don't know if its has something to do with all the fake user IDs created through AOL or just hobbiest trying to enter transactions that are over their head and out of their budget but the correlation is there.
Also, look at all the shill bidding on eBay from AOLers with zero feedback.
posted on March 1, 2001 04:00:11 AM new
While I don't happen to like AOL, there are good reasons why some use them. If you happen to travel a great deal, AOL makes it simple to connect from practically anywhere. Local ISP's won't help much with a dial up number from a city that is 500 miles away from your home.
Automatically looking down on a seller or buyer, especially one with decent feedback, is like ISP Profiling. It ain't right.
posted on March 1, 2001 05:11:14 AM new
Hmmm, AOL is bad? I don't think so.
Let's talk about the advantages...
Lots of my bidders are Newbies and have AOL. I can check the status of emails sent to them. To see if they have read them, deleted them etc. Never have trouble with AOL bidders but I do on other ISP's.
Great Personal Filing Cabinet with quick search capabilities to find those needed reference emails quick.
I live in an area with few ISP's available. Those that are have constant busy signals when trying to sign on. When you do sign on, response time is crappy. With AOL, I have 5 local access numbers to use..and I get online in the first try!
Got problems with your bidders not getting your email? Probably because you're using an ISP that spams everyone. The bidder or AOL user has blocked your ISP, AOL hasn't. I get every form of junkmail there is because I leave the filters off. The filters are user driven.
I've used the service for over 5 years, been on ebay for 4 years, wracked up over 5000 internet sales and repair computers as a hobby so I'm in no way an ISP/computer retard. I simply use what has worked for me from day one. My buyers know me & my email and have for a few years now. I have people I dealt with 3 years ago get in touch with me now. My use of AOL doesn't seem to bother them. Maybe cause the judge me by my business practices rather than my email tag name? Geesh!
This is about as ridiculous as saying "I don't buy from stores who have linoleum or tile floors." Who cares?
Now, why don't we stop insulting other users and try to contribute something worthy here?
posted on March 1, 2001 08:12:41 AM new
I have a pacbell dsl account, which aol from time to time blocks out. However, these notices are sent thru goto.com with the reply address being my website address. I just find it odd that AOL does this for about a month, and then it disappears.(hopefully) AOL customers account for close to 30% of my business, so when this problem arises, it can really create havoc. I have posted a warning on my about me page, but it looks like people aren't heeding my warning as I'm getting emails from AOL accounts asking why I haven't contacted them. I then have to forward the message to my yahoo account and then send it to them again. The real problem is that it doesn't affect all aol accounts. So how do I know when someone doesn't receive the message? That's the real problem. I only wish AOL would let their own subscribers know that they are doing this in an effort to avoid spam, but as a result, may be blocking out important emails. At least that way, AOL users could decide for themselves if they feel that the spam blocking is really in their best interest.
posted on March 1, 2001 11:57:03 AM new
AOL has used what amounts to slave labor for years, provides awful service, has tried to monopolize the media industry (imagine all media at the same level of AOL), is still trying to keep instant messaging to itself..., has very sleazy porno connections despite their family image, and supports some very liberal causes (possibly the most damning indictment)
I don't have a complaint per se against users of AOL having been one before. It is a ripoff to pay that much when better alternatives are less. That alone should be reason enoughto switch.
posted on March 6, 2001 10:07:46 PM new
And when there aren't alternatives to switch to? What do you suggest then? OH wait - I know! We could NOT BID on your auctions at all!
Lets think logically about this. AOL is the largest ISP around. Therefore, it stands to reason they will have the largest number of people causing negative feedback. It doesn't mean ALL AOL users are bad. That's like saying all blondes are dumb.
It does mean you should be checking the feedback, being careful with users with little feedback REGARDLESS of the tag.
You are entitled to your opinion, I mine. I just think that if you eliminate ceratin buyers because of their ISP, you are doing yourself more harm than any thing else. It brings back thoughts of the 50's and 60's....
posted on March 7, 2001 01:49:21 AM new
Some folks are missing some of the details of the original message; it is not that sellers may be using ISP's that are known for spamming, it is that many of us send e-mails through GOTO, or Auction Watch or Auction Works, where the from address and reply to addresses are different. That is the type of e-mail AOL is blocking. Since AOL and EBAY are associated, this makes little sence to me, but it happens anyway.
I agree - dump AOL.
Here is an e-mail I JUST RECEIVED from Auction Works' CEO (timely or what!):
Dear Auctionworks member,
Within the past few weeks, members have reported problems with automated Auctionworks emails addressed to America Online (AOL) members. In some cases, the emails are not being delivered, though our system confirms that the emails have been sent, and received by AOL.
This issue is not unique to Auctionworks. eBay users are reporting the same problem with automated eBay emails. We are currently trying to work with AOL to solve this problem, which began when AOL made as yet undisclosed modifications to their software.
This past weekend, we instituted changes to our notification system to address the issue. We will learn shortly, via your continued feedback to [email protected], if this solved the problem.
Since AOL has an alliance with eBay, they seem more eager to fix this problem when individuals call their customer support. Therefore, we strongly suggest that you:
1) Call AOL on their toll-free support line at 800-827-3338. 2) Explain that you sell on eBay and that emails sent to AOL buyers are not getting to those AOL members. 3) Tell them that you use a service that automatically sends emails notifying your winners that they have won auctions on eBay and your AOL winners are not getting these emails. 4) Tell them you have heard that AOL has spam filters and you do not want them to view your email as spam. 5) Tell them you want them to fix the problem.
We understand your concern, and we want insure all of our members that we are working diligently to solve this problem - finding a solution is a high priority.
Thank You
So the problem with aol includes rejected mail from eBay's new e-mail service!
It would be a good idea for people having problems reaching their buyers to follow the suggestions from Auction Works.
