Comments for Should I unsubscribe from things I've signed up for to avoid spam?

Comment from Sandra on 2010-11-29

2010-11-29T20:27:53Z

If a company with whom I have legitimately done business sends me email, and I later unsubscribe using their unsubscribe link, and they continue to send me their email, I consider that spam. Likewise, if their unsubscribe link doesn't work or takes me to a page that requires me to complete a bunch of personal information just to unsubscribe (rather than simply requiring my email address), that's also spam in my opinion.

I agree. I also strongly dislike those that say "it may take up to 14 days to process your unsubscribe". No. There's no reason in this day and age for an unsubscribe not to be immediate. Once I unsubscribe any further email from that source is spam (I may give them a grace period of an hour or two, since I, too, run servers and know that there can be occasional delays - just not 14 day ones).

30-Nov-2010

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A comment on: Should I unsubscribe from things I've signed up for to avoid spam?

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Comment from Mike on 2010-11-24

2010-11-24T20:43:09Z

When I owned a local company, I designed and administered my own website for it. One day I got a call from a web developer who offered to increase my business by tapping into visitor details, collecting information, and formulating invasive processes to aggressively advertise my services and products to them. Apparently, for many companies, if it ain't outright illegal, then it's "just good business". But my integrity is what keeps customer loyalty, not slick manipulation of their personal info.

If I've asked for it, then it's legit and I'll Unsubscribe when I no longer want it. But even if it's an onsite store that I've done business with, I didn't ask for junk mail or badgering (even by omission), and I won't give them the "benefit of the doubt" with some Unsubscribe. I'll list them as Spam and never do business with them again. Fortunately, there ARE onsite companies that don't abuse their customer relationships.

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A comment on: Should I unsubscribe from things I've signed up for to avoid spam?

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Comment from Bob on 2010-11-24

2010-11-24T11:19:20Z

I've seen a lot of spam with 'unsubscribe' links - they're getting sneakier all the time.
On a slightly different note, and a worrying one in my opinion - I received an offer email from a company I requested some info from a while back. A week later, someone phoned me from that company, and asked if I was interested in that offer, as I'd opened the email 7 times.
This shows that without doing ANYTHING with the e-mail (other than opening / highlighting / previewing it) the sender gets confirmation of a 'good' address.

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A comment on: Should I unsubscribe from things I've signed up for to avoid spam?

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Comment from woodyww on 2010-11-24

2010-11-24T10:13:04Z

I do much of the same but i never open spam becase they can trace them in some cases. I use a 3rd 4th or 5th email to have mail sent that i sign up for things, then after i find out like Leo i change it to my good email addy. I get very few spam emails that way. i go as far as setting my mail not to be as read for 25 sec that way it dont show as read to the sender incase i click on it.

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A comment on: Should I unsubscribe from things I've signed up for to avoid spam?

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Comment from Nick on 2007-12-01

2007-12-01T17:45:37Z

Another method, I believe for unsubscribing to a particular company's web site would be to utilize your tool in preferences for not receiving email from their particular web site. In other words, "BLOCK THEIR EMAIL ADDRESS" from ever getting into your email in the first place. This way, they will get it returned to them with an indication that you do not prefer to receive email from them. If they've already put others on to you, I guess you would have to do the same to them. To me, this is a sure way of unsubscribing someone.

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A comment on: Should I unsubscribe from things I've signed up for to avoid spam?

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Comment from Ken B on 2007-11-19

2007-11-19T15:25:53Z

There are anonymous e-mail service providers out there that allow you to use a different e-mail address each time you sign up for something on line. (I use sneakemail.com) This way, you know exactly where the mail should be coming from, and if it's not from them, you know who sold your e-mail address to a third party. And, if it starts getting lots of spam, simply delete the account.

Another option, if you own your own domain name, is to create unique e-mail addresses for this purpose.

Finally, if your ISP supports "username+code" e-mail addresses, you can use that as well.

For example, I use "myusername+askleo@myisp.tld" on these posts. (Not because I don't trust Leo, but rather because I do this on all public blogs I post to.)

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A comment on: Should I unsubscribe from things I've signed up for to avoid spam?

Tech Questions? Get Answers! - Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
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Comment from Greg on 2007-11-18

2007-11-19T02:19:55Z

Worth noting that some spammers put in bogus unsubscribe links just to make their e-mails look more legitimate. In those cases, you don't get more spam because the unsubscribe address or URL goes nowhere.

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A comment on: Should I unsubscribe from things I've signed up for to avoid spam?

Tech Questions? Get Answers! - Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
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