Thunderbird - return receipt

  • Thread starter Thread starter mike ring
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mike ring

I've been using T/bird for a month or two, but I can't solve the problem of
return receipts.

As my ISP is a bit (lot) flaky, and the general problem of spamtraps, O
wouls like to request a return receipt.

This does not work, as I've sent mail to friends just to find out, also to
myself. I've tried all sensible configuration options.

I've been to the forum, and there are a number of posts on the subject, but
they seem all to have been ignored; so I wondered if anyone here could help
me. I quite like Tbird (not as much as OE, but that's life), but I haven't
been able to get on with any other email prog, so hope someone can help


mike
 
mike ring said:
As my ISP is a bit (lot) flaky, and the general problem of
spamtraps, O wouls like to request a return receipt.

This does not work, as I've sent mail to friends just to find
out, also to myself. I've tried all sensible configuration
options.
Click to expand...

One thing to consider is that receipt sending is handled by the
email client, and it is usually configurable (at least in
Thunderbird). Some people might have turned it off, and will never
send you back a receipt no matter what...

Another thing: wether a receipt is requested or not is specified
by the email headers. Thunderbird inserts a "Disposition-
Notification-To:" header to request receipts for emails, but other
email clients may use other headers or even combinations of
headers to identify an email as "receipt-requesting". Also, not
all mail clients even *implement* the receipt-request mechanisms
as specified in the corresponding RFC.

So: in short, you can request receipts but you can NEVER fully
rely on them, especially not if a number of different email
clients are involved.


Regards,
Wald
 
<snip explanation>

Thank you for the explanation, Wald; I was not fully aware of that.

But if I send an email to myself (T/bird>t/bird) with a request for
receipt, even that doesn't work.

I don't know if it's a bug or my ignorance, abd the forum does not appear
to help.

Of course I haven't had time to search it all, but the half dozen times the
question has been posted that Ive checked have no replies.

mike
 
mike ring said:
<snip explanation>

Thank you for the explanation, Wald; I was not fully aware of that.

But if I send an email to myself (T/bird>t/bird) with a request for
receipt, even that doesn't work.
Click to expand...

Just checked that, and you're right, it doesn't work with the same account.
I guess this is some kind of built-in protection, wouldn't know the exact
reasons why.

It behaves normally with separate accounts though, at least in my case...

Wald
 
wald schreef:
One thing to consider is that receipt sending is handled by the
email client, and it is usually configurable (at least in
Thunderbird). Some people might have turned it off, and will never
send you back a receipt no matter what...
Click to expand...

Spammers really like features like automatic receipts & read
confirmations... ;-)
Another thing: wether a receipt is requested or not is specified
by the email headers. Thunderbird inserts a "Disposition-
Notification-To:" header to request receipts for emails, but other
email clients may use other headers or even combinations of
headers to identify an email as "receipt-requesting". Also, not
all mail clients even *implement* the receipt-request mechanisms
as specified in the corresponding RFC.
Click to expand...

There are 2 relevant RFC: one for mail servers to tell the sender their
mail reached the recipients server (the MTA--this is not the same as
reaching the addressed person's mailbox!), and one for mail read
confirmations (sent back by the mail client).

IIRC the "Disposition-Notification-To:" header is the one that works at
the server-level; it needs support in the sender's mail client and the
receiver's mail server.
So: in short, you can request receipts but you can NEVER fully
rely on them, especially not if a number of different email
clients are involved.
Click to expand...

And the main reason to not rely on them is that both RFCs are *optional*
extensions to the internet e-mail system.
 
I've been using T/bird for a month or two, but I can't solve the problem of
return receipts.

As my ISP is a bit (lot) flaky, and the general problem of spamtraps, O
wouls like to request a return receipt.

This does not work, as I've sent mail to friends just to find out, also to
myself. I've tried all sensible configuration options.

I've been to the forum, and there are a number of posts on the subject, but
they seem all to have been ignored; so I wondered if anyone here could help
me. I quite like Tbird (not as much as OE, but that's life), but I haven't
been able to get on with any other email prog, so hope someone can help

mike
Click to expand...

msgtag.com
 
msgtag.com
Click to expand...
Thanks for that Chrissy, I'll definitely consider it as I do find email
spasmodically unreliable.

But I don't want to be sneaky, or aggressive; the people I write to often
request and get receipts from me, and I would like the same facility - so
that they can refuse a receipt if they wish to, though of course, as we use
mail to communicate we wouldn't refuse, but willingly send confirmation.

By gum, I'm stuck with a moral dilemma.....help, I feel a crash comi
 
But I don't want to be sneaky, or aggressive; the people I write to often
request and get receipts from me, and I would like the same facility - so
that they can refuse a receipt if they wish to, though of course, as we use
mail to communicate we wouldn't refuse, but willingly send confirmation.
Click to expand...

This program will not tag multiple emails outgoing so all you would have to
do is place a cc: to yourself and no tag will be sent to the To: addressee.
If a tag is sent, then the user gets a tagline notification.
 
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