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James Kimmons

Here's My Email Hoop - Jump Through It!

By , About.com GuideMay 14, 2008

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Though I've written about this before, it's a pet peeve, and it is a business killer for a lot of real estate agents out there. I sent an email to a real estate professional at their business email address this morning. I received this automated reply: "The message you sent requires that you verify that you are a real live human being and not a spam source."

Though my question was about their website, I could have been a buyer who found one of their listings on the Web. My interest is general at this point, but I would like to know if there is a restriction relating to outbuildings for the property (example). I'm all over the Web looking at listing information, but there is mild interest in this one, if I can add a workshop. I'm sending the same question to half a dozen Realtors this morning.

My interest doesn't extend to "proving that I'm human" to this listing agent. Nobody hates SPAM more than I do. However, the last thing I would do is allow it to further damage me by losing potential business because it annoys me to scan through a spam-catcher file once a day.

I am indeed human. That's why I'm prone to annoyance when I'm required to jump through hoops to give you my business. Probably unreasonable on my part, but there are others out there like me...I think.

Comments
May 15, 2008 at 4:50 pm
(1) Tyrone :

I know what you mean its annyoing the amount of places that do this, blogs, signing up to sites, submitting directories. Then again soam has reached a stupendous high so who can blame them. The internets always been prone to spam and always, unfortunatly, will be

May 16, 2008 at 2:32 pm
(2) Josette Skilling :

At least there was an answer! I think some never respond at all or do so days later. Yikes!

May 21, 2008 at 4:07 pm
(3) Allen :

I agree that requiring a person to submit to a test of his humanity is over the edge. I also think that spam is one of the biggest problems in trying to manage your time and work efficiently.
Many less annoying spam filters may delete valuable emails. I guess it depends on how busy you are with the clients you have. If you spend all day marketing trying to get new clients, then you should read every email you get and determine personally whether it is valuable or spam.

May 21, 2008 at 9:22 pm
(4) Marvin :

I won’t jump thru the hoops – even including a potential client.

April 1, 2011 at 5:26 am
(5) David Sobelman :

I just got one of those replies, and I rather thought it was brilliant! (please note, this wasn’t for a “buisness” website)

but as I’ve found my hotmail email address tends to land my emails in someones spam or junk folder by mistake, and it may be days or weeks if ever that anyone catches it. I was pleased to know my email will end up in their inbox and all i had to do was click reply and send!

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