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I've automated the opposite: three unsolicited mails, and I automatically send the sender's entire company to spam and reply with a friendly request to stop. Th

I've automated the opposite: three unsolicited mails, and I automatically send the sender's entire company to spam and reply with a friendly request to stop. Three more, and I send an automated cease and desist, threatening legal action (with receipt confirmation requested). If it still continues after that, I actually involve lawyers. Most people are only willing to do something after repeated attempts because they're polite and want you to stop. If a website asks you whether you want cookies, you only click "yes" because the alternative is more work. If you constantly pester and threaten someone long enough, you'll always get a "yes" at some point. But that's not consent, which is why it's illegal. Even if lawyers cost money, if I'm just expensive and stressful enough to stop people like you from sending even a single unsolicited message, it's worth it. Time is the most valuable resource we humans have, you've got no right to waste other people's.

satvikpendem 4y ago
Good for you but you're such a vanishingly small part of the population that it won't stop anyone in sales and marketing from continuing to follow up on people (which, by the way, is not illegal). You effectively don't matter. And good follow up software will also stop once a reply has been sent from the recipient, which is then forwarded to a salesperson to triage.
- kuschku 4y ago
  > which, by the way, is not illegal As business, sending automated messages to individuals without prior authorization is spam. Pre-checked tick boxes are not consent to receive such messages, you need explicit opt-in. If you are informed that these messages are unwanted, and told to stop, and yet you continue, it becomes explicitly and knowingly illegal. > You effectively don't matter As long as I cost them enough to make sure they'll never even think of contacting me again, I'm happy.
  - satvikpendem 4y ago
    Correct, if you're following CANSPAM in the US you must abide by its rules in order to remain legal, however explicit opt-in is not required. What is required is: - No deceptive information - Valid physical address - Must have an easy way to unsubscribe, most often an unsubscribe link but asking the recipient to reply to stop being sent emails is also sufficient - Promptly honor unsubscribe requests within ten days Other countries have different laws though. https://www.gmass.co/blog/is-cold-emailing-illegal/ https://www.gmass.co/blog/is-cold-emailing-illegal/ > As long as I cost them enough to make sure they'll never even think of contacting me again, I'm happy. Honestly if they're following the above rules, you won't cost them anything. And if they're not, and therefore doing it illegally, well, looks like your lawyers will have their work cut out for them.
    - kuschku 4y ago
      I'm in Germany, so far stricter rules apply. And often senders aren't even complying with the CANSPAM rules. Far too often have I received an email with sad gifs attached telling me they don't want to stop emailing me. Recruiters, Sales, shitty spam farms, it's all the same. My hometown already banned any kind of outdoor ads with lights and heavily regulated ad size, personally I'd appreciate if we banned advertising altogether as society.
      - satvikpendem 4y ago
        That's unfortunate in Germany, I've had people cold email me with good information, I've even gotten a few jobs from that. Similarly, I've had good clients come from cold email as well. I'm not sure how advertising as a whole could be banned, there are many types, and it could be argued that even word of mouth (or merely even showing a brand image like logos) is a sort of advertising. Also, it would be very difficult for new entrants in an industry to start up, ironically cementing existing players in the market; Coca-Cola doesn't need more advertising since everyone knows about Coke, while a new soda brand would find it extremely hard to grow without any advertising whatsoever.
        kuschku 4y ago
- io84 4y ago
  From a typical starting pool of 100 leads, what percentage respond positively having received (up to) seven emails?
  - satvikpendem 4y ago
    It depends on the campaign, sometimes it's as high as 50%. However the amount that explicitly say no or to stop messaging them is less than one percent, most people just ignore them.
Cheezewheel 4y ago
See, you don't think like salespeople do. It doesn't matter how much this practice harms you, the only externality that matters is how much it benefits them.

satvikpendem 4y ago

Good for you but you're such a vanishingly small part of the population that it won't stop anyone in sales and marketing from continuing to follow up on people (which, by the way, is not illegal). You effectively don't matter. And good follow up software will also stop once a reply has been sent from the recipient, which is then forwarded to a salesperson to triage.

kuschku 4y ago
> which, by the way, is not illegal As business, sending automated messages to individuals without prior authorization is spam. Pre-checked tick boxes are not consent to receive such messages, you need explicit opt-in. If you are informed that these messages are unwanted, and told to stop, and yet you continue, it becomes explicitly and knowingly illegal. > You effectively don't matter As long as I cost them enough to make sure they'll never even think of contacting me again, I'm happy.
- satvikpendem 4y ago
  Correct, if you're following CANSPAM in the US you must abide by its rules in order to remain legal, however explicit opt-in is not required. What is required is: - No deceptive information - Valid physical address - Must have an easy way to unsubscribe, most often an unsubscribe link but asking the recipient to reply to stop being sent emails is also sufficient - Promptly honor unsubscribe requests within ten days Other countries have different laws though. https://www.gmass.co/blog/is-cold-emailing-illegal/ https://www.gmass.co/blog/is-cold-emailing-illegal/ > As long as I cost them enough to make sure they'll never even think of contacting me again, I'm happy. Honestly if they're following the above rules, you won't cost them anything. And if they're not, and therefore doing it illegally, well, looks like your lawyers will have their work cut out for them.
  - kuschku 4y ago
    I'm in Germany, so far stricter rules apply. And often senders aren't even complying with the CANSPAM rules. Far too often have I received an email with sad gifs attached telling me they don't want to stop emailing me. Recruiters, Sales, shitty spam farms, it's all the same. My hometown already banned any kind of outdoor ads with lights and heavily regulated ad size, personally I'd appreciate if we banned advertising altogether as society.
    - satvikpendem 4y ago
      That's unfortunate in Germany, I've had people cold email me with good information, I've even gotten a few jobs from that. Similarly, I've had good clients come from cold email as well. I'm not sure how advertising as a whole could be banned, there are many types, and it could be argued that even word of mouth (or merely even showing a brand image like logos) is a sort of advertising. Also, it would be very difficult for new entrants in an industry to start up, ironically cementing existing players in the market; Coca-Cola doesn't need more advertising since everyone knows about Coke, while a new soda brand would find it extremely hard to grow without any advertising whatsoever.
      - kuschku 4y ago
io84 4y ago
From a typical starting pool of 100 leads, what percentage respond positively having received (up to) seven emails?
- satvikpendem 4y ago
  It depends on the campaign, sometimes it's as high as 50%. However the amount that explicitly say no or to stop messaging them is less than one percent, most people just ignore them.

Cheezewheel 4y ago

See, you don't think like salespeople do. It doesn't matter how much this practice harms you, the only externality that matters is how much it benefits them.