A lot of returned e-mails

Why so many of my e-mails don't get through?

[cameraguy]

Here is my probmem: I have a script that sends e-mails to people who registered an account on my site with a link that allows them to activate that account.

Almost 1/3 of those e-mails return (daemon) with an error message indicating that for the most of them that the address does not exist.

While I can accept that some people will use a fake e-mail address despite the clear an numerous warnings not to, I cannot believe that so many would to it.

Could it be a problem with my script? Could it be that some users filter systematically HTML e-mails?

Here is the script I use:

$headers = "MIME-Version: 1.0\n";
$headers .= "Content-type: text/html; charset=iso-8859-1\n";
$headers .= "From: #*$! <support@#*$!.net>\n";
$headers .= "Reply-To: [e-mail]\n";
$headers .= "Return-Path: [e-mail]\n";
$to = "$user_email";
$subject = "$string[336]";
$message="<font size=-1 face=verdana><p>$string[223]
<a href='http://www.xxx.net/account_activation.php?user_id=$user_id'>
[xxx.net...]
$string[216]<br><br>
$string[224]<br><br>
<img src='http://www.xxx.net/image.gif'><br><br>
</p></font>";
mail($to, $subject, $message, $headers);

What do you think?

[choster]

Some e-mail systems will return messages they regard as spam. This may be based on the content of your e-mails, the server from which it is sent, the domain name, and other factors.

[BlobFisk]

It all depends on what they are registering for. In some cases I can see 33% being about the right level of fake addresses.

But again, it depends on what you are asking them to register for.

[cameraguy]

WOW! So many fake addresses? That's pretty dumb! I mean, why do they even bother registering if they are NOT going to get the product/service...? Having said that, a lot of addresses look real. (Although that's not a criteria).

I design web tools for bloggers (like visitor counters, message boards, etc.). So, is it possible that it's the wording I use in the body or subject of my message that makes my e-mails be treated as spam? Interestingly, I copy myself on those e-mails and guess where they wind up: in the spam folder! So perhpas you are right. But then, what can I do?

Here is the text of my e-mail:

Subject: Confirm your account.

Message: You have requested a free account. To confirm your registration and start using your web tools immediately please click on the following link: <link...>
After your free 14-day trial period of our premium product you can either purchase it or keep the free version.
Thank you for your interest in our products! Do not hesitate to contact us if you have any question.

[Terabytes]

I thought I'd interject here with a tech viewpoint on this issue...

There can be seveal reasons why the mail is being returned as "do not exist"..

you made the commment that "most" are returning for "address does not exist"...

does the username not exist or the domain not exist?

can you access any of the email domains through your browser? if so, then they should only be coming back s username not found.

There are times when email servers don't work and play well with each other, usually it's due to configuration issues with one email server or the other.

Ever had an email come back from an address you know is correct?

If this is an opt-in mailing (I do several myself...) normally the amount of bad emails is normally low...

I would possibly suspect an issue with the email server itself...
can you try the addresses from another mail server or from another mail account to test a few "questionable" email addresses?

Just a thought...
thanks!

[wildbest]

1. Your emails have been identified as spam and domain you use to send your emails from has been blacklisted. As a result your emails are bouncing back... If you continue same practice, you just risk your IP to be listed in The Spamhaus Block List. The SBL is a realtime database of IP addresses of verified spam sources (including spammers, spam gangs and spam support services).

2. A reason visitors register their emails - they want to try your tools... but they do not like the idea of being spammed. That is the reason of possible huge number of false emails. It is simple and understandable!

3. You use an IP block that some spammers use and as a result your service can be identified as a spam.

[cameraguy]

Terabytes:
Very useful suggestions! Thank you. First of all I am confident in saying that the domain names are OK.
Next, I tried a few addresses from another mail server and had none come back, which suggests a problem with my mail server. What can I do? I checked and my server's IP address is not blacklisted.

wildbest:
I understand what you are saying about spamming people. I hate those practices just like anyone else. But if I don't ask for an e-mail address, a) people will abuse my services and b) people will usurpt identities. Besides, it's the industry standard to ask for an account activation. But I don't want to go into this debate.

So, how can I get through to my customers who after all sign in for my services and wilfully indicate their e-mail address, without my e-mails being stopped? How does an opt-in work?

[Terabytes]

I believe you'll have to do some Sherlock Holmes stuff yourself...

decide if it's YOUR mail server or the recipients mail server.

if you can send succesfully from another email server, then your email server/service would be suspect.

If you don't host your own server, contact your providers support. explain your issue, citing that you can succesfully send from other mail server to the recipient, but not from yours. They will probably want a returned email forwarded to them, or they will want to know when you sent it, so that they can go back in the logs and see the transaction between the servers.

they "should" be able to tell you what's happening.

hope that helps!
Tera