What to do about Return Receipt Abusers?
I’ve written about RRs on this site, including what return receipts are and how to use them. (What is an email Return Receipt (RR), and how do you use it properly?)
However, some folks have not read that article and need to refresh their technology skills. Many people are unaware of what they don’t know.
Regularly, someone fills out my ‘ask-a-question’ form and asks how to address those who are unsure about using return receipts. How do they let the sender understand RRs and stop using them?
So, here’s a note I have written to the Return Receipt Abuser in your life. Feel free to direct people to this page or use my text as is.
Example Note to Return Receipt Abusers
Dear RRA:
I am writing this open letter to help you understand what return receipts are and how to use them. First, please stop requesting a return receipt with every email you send.
The RR or Return Receipt feature in your email program is frivolous. Being the recipient, I can decline/disregard the request for a return receipt as I do for every RR request I receive. So, what’s the point?
As I’m sure you can understand, I do not particularly appreciate senders wanting to know when I open or receive an email—that is my business, especially regarding day-to-day communications. Did you notice that I said “opened or received”? RR’s requests do not mean that I’ve actually read your message.
Could you please explain why you include an RR request in every email so that I can understand why? Are you trying to babysit the person on the other side? Is it curiosity or just being nosy?
RRs can serve a purpose in important and legal emails, where knowing whether the other side has received the email is critical. However, when most simply decline these requests today, it is more of a nuisance, and you risk being annoying by having this feature engaged for your everyday communications.
I am open to understanding why you continue to engage with RRs on every email you send. I look forward to your reply.
Thank you,
Have a question you would like me to write about?
Let me know here.
