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Auto-Reply Emails - Who Are You Trying To Impress?

Why are self aggrandizing auto-reply emails so prevalent?

When email updates are sent to our clients, we receive thousands of automated replies in return.

Most of them are used to indicate they've received the email or are on vacation. Some of them (way too many), tell us the real estate agent is doing something like "helping someone achieve the dream of homeownership," or "busy with another client." This is true even when we've sent the email in the middle of the night. These are hard workers.

Did someone give a seminar somewhere that said consumers appreciate these chest-thumping automated messages? The numbers tell me that too many people believe this is a good business practice. I don't agree.

I wouldn't normally write about something like this, but the following automatic response really got my attention today. email stamp

Greetings Friends and Esteemed Colleagues,

Due to high workload, I am currently checking and responding to e-mail twice daily at 11:00 AM ET and 3:00 PM ET.

If you require urgent assistance (please insure that it is urgent) that cannot wait until either 11:00 AM or 3:00 PM, please contact me via cell phone at xxx-xxx-xxxx.

Thank you for understanding this move to more efficiency and effectiveness. It helps me accomplish more to serve you better.

Sincerely,

Sincerely? "Please insure that it is urgent?" I know they meant "ensure" and I'm reasonably certain they had good intentions. But if I were a potential client, I'd be asking some tough questions. Is this supposed to make me feel good? Is this supposed to make me feel like my business is important to you? Or is it supposed to make me feel like YOU are important? Either way, it fails.

My opinion

Unless you're on vacation, turn off the autoresponder. In today's world of mobile devices, getting to your email in a timely fashion should be a priority. If I'm already your client and emailing you often, the auto-responder is going to drive me nuts. And those who are contacting you for the first time don't count your auto-responder as a real response. They're smarter than that. Answer their question quickly and they'll respect that.

Also, leaving it on all the time opens you up to the potential for increasing amounts of spam. If a spammer gets an auto reply from your email address, it will verify that your E-mail address is a valid and working address and you will be more likely get more spam in the future. Lots of people who would never knowingly respond to a spam message are doing so blindly via their unfiltered auto-reply messages.

If you are going leave it on all of the time, be sure to set it up with the proper filters to NOT respond to spam and don't try to sell the consumer on how important and busy you are. They don't care. Instead, simply and quickly let the client know that their email made it to you and didn't wind up in your spam folder. Something like: "Thank you for your email. I am away from my computer right now, but will get back to you as quickly as possible. If your needs are urgent, please feel free to call me at xxx-xxx-xxxx." That let's me know my email didn't end up in your spam box and doesn't require me to "insure" that my need is urgent.

What's your opinion?

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Posted by Jeff Turner on 11/08/2007 02:07 AM

Comments (118)

email, relationships, jeff turner

Originally posted at: Turner's Perspective: Auto-Reply Emails - Who Are You Trying To Impress?

118 Comments on Auto-Reply Emails - Who Are You Trying To Impress?

NOV

2007

Plain and simple....I don't do auto reply....and I receive all your RES emails! WooHoo!

Auto responders can open you up to more spam as the writer states as it confirms your email address a valid. In many cases that is all a Spammer want to know.

I automatically reply with an actual reply directly from me to the e-mailer. The ones that get me are the:

"Thank you for your interest. I will be in contact with you as soon as possible."

Signed "Captain Obvious"

The client expects you to be available or to contact them as soon as possible. Unless you have something out of the ordinary to communicate (on vacation, etc), leave the auto-responders to the auto-responders.

If I were looking for someone to give my business to, that statement that you quoted would the a sure sign to move on to a different Realtor. I hate that crazy nonsence people are sending out, it drives me to just pick up the phone and call them to say, all the e-mail I send out is important, otherwise I would not send it, but no, I move on to other things and when the person responds "if they respond I should say, when it is another Realtor" I am thankful for the responce.

Celeste... Thank you for your comment. I am away from my computer right now, but will get back to you as quickly as possible. If your comment needs immediate attention, you are completely out of luck. :)

Ntsike... without question. Spammers are just looking for verification.

David and James... the first one to REALLY respond is the winner.

They've always bothered me too. I don't do auto-replies on emails. I check it often enough so I can give them a real reply within an acceptable time.

Maggie... that doesn't surprise me one bit. :)

Wow. I'm stunned. I've heard that on voice mail before, but never an auto-responder to an email inquiry.

If I was the consumer I would delete it and move forward. I'd rather receive nothing at all for a few hours than receive that!

Kris... exactly!

I don't do Auto-Reply either except on vacation. Before I leave on vacation, I contact all the VIP's to let them know that "I'll be gone from blah-to-blah" and when they don't hear back from me they usually remember. Plan ahead...that's my motto when possible.

GOOD POST Jeff!! I think I would've been offended if I received "that auto reply" myself!!

Jeff, absolutely turn them OFF, when you are truly not away. It is agravating and you can get caught up in a loop with spam comes in. Plus the spammers know it is a valid email address.

I believe that all agents in Maryland and Virginia should use auto reply with their e-mail. Keep that AOL mail too because we know they have wonderful spam blockers. They block a lot that isn't spam, but hey, you're so wonderful folks will overlook it when you don't respond to their mail and they'll call.

For that matter, I believe that it would be extremely helpful if all agents only returned phone calls at 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. We know you're very busy because you're so wonderful, consumers and agents needing your services will not minding arranging their daily schedule around your telephone routine.

Oh, and don't answer that cell phone or land line when Lenn calls with a referral, let it go to voice mail. Lenn and the buyer will wait, no matter how long it takes because you're so wonderful.

After all, we are in a vibrant, thriving real estate market with good prices, easy mortgages, little competition, buyers lining up to buy those listings and business has never been better, right????

When you are so wonderful, folks will understand and wait, and wait, and wait.

Hey Jeff, thanks for the congrats. You are truly a man of honor.

In regard to the Auto-Reply. I know not about the impact the e-mail filters offered by Norton or McAfee or the other e-mail software respond. However, having said that, I know that it does nothing for me in the positive realm. Even if they are out of the office or away unable to check their e-mail, if I am doing my job and have not heard back within a short amount of time (depending on the focal point of the message sent). I will be picking up the phone and finding out why they have not responded. As far as I can see, (93,000,000 miles - The Sun) there is not much positive that can come from it. Unless you are auto responding to folks that are new to e-mail's????

Your Brother - Connor MacIVOR

Same mother different father, Jeff was raised by wolves, I was raised by sheep!!!

I totally agree! (I think Lenn was a bit better at articulating how I feel:)

Jeff - Oh, my goodness, my feelings exactly! Who are these agents? If I ever receive a response like that I think two things - you're smug and conceited and you can't manage your time well enough to handle your work-load. Does anyone really think a customer is going to be impressed that you're SO busy that you can't respond to an email? No! They'll think you're too busy to handle their business and go elsewhere where they can communicate with a human being with time to give them! ARGHHHHHHHHH!

Personal communication is the only way to work in this business...and while we're on the topic, how about those automated requests for feedback on listings? Click....delete! Send me a personal email...I promise I'll respond. Otherwise, you have a better chance of having dinner with God!

Dead on, Jeff.

I hope I have "insured that my response is important," because I agree with you 100%.

Will you be available to reply between 11:00 and 3:00?

I personally don't like it...sometimes the person isn't even away...they forgot to remove it. It makes the public think they are working with a robot. Not very personable either.

Congratulations on the feature! And for catching 'insure" vs "ensure." Some coaches teach this tactic, not only for email (I'm sooo busy. I'll try to fit you in, but I'm really, really busy while everyone else has no business...) but for the phone. Never pick up the phone. All calls to voicemail. "I return my calls twice a day, between 10 and 11, and again from 3 to 4...) I'm not impressed with the scarcity scam. Just aggravated. I want a personal, warm touch from my vendors.

Mike in Tucson

Well said. As a client I would be wondering how important I am to you. As a potential client I would get the impression you are already too busy so I would be better off going somewhere else. Personally I hate getting messages from an autoresponder.

The only time I use an auto-responder is when I go visit my daughter in the UK. I still check my email but I let people know that due to the time change my responses my come at odd times. If they have an urgent question they can call my partner at xxxxx. I heard a VM yesterday with one similiar to what you used. Please folks is your life that regulated?

I hate autoresponders and this line:

Due to high workload, I am currently checking and responding to e-mail twice daily at 11:00 AM ET and 3:00 PM ET.

Well that just SCREAMS to me, I'm important you are not, I'm so busy I'll try and squeeze you in if you are lucky.

I totally don't like what it says.

I don't like autoresponders either. I do leave a message on my cell and voicemail what time I will be returning calls and quite frankly it's only the agents that have a hard time with it.

I stopped using auto responder years ago. There are instructors out there that do tell agents to block out times of the day to return calls. Some that I run into don't even return calls when they say they are going to.

These are the same agents that want you to call them back immediately if they call you. Just doesn't make sense to me.

My question is if you use Outlook and you "add sender to block senders list" does this too fuel more emails from spammers?

Jeff,
I agree, the only time I want to get an auto response is when you are away and it is letting me know you are gone and when you will be back. Otherwise, respond and do it it in a timely manner or I'm going elsewhere.

AMEN! Well said. 'Nuff said. See ya next week!

I not only hate it when I get auto-responders like that, but I hate when I'm working a deal with another agent and their voicemail says they return called between 10-11am and 4-5pm. What? What if I call at 11:15am? Are you really not calling me back until after 4pm with my offer acceptance?? People are told it's a way to streamline their business and time manage better, and I think it's a bunch of bull.

Jeff - This gave me a good chuckle this morning. I have gotten a few of those emails saying that they only check at certain times of the day....That's great service isn't it!!. I have actually heard of few voice mails that brokers have created that says the same thing. I only use the auto responder if I am on vacation.

I don't receive too many email auto responders, unless the people are on vacation. My pet peeve is really with the phone messages that say they'll return calls only between certain hours. To me that smacks of very poor customer service and that the person thinks THEY'RE more important than I am. Very negative.

Time Management courses teach them this. The problem is those seminar teachers are used to giving the course to corporate execs NOT people in the customer service industry.

I hope none of my competitors are reading this blog. I get a lot of call from customers who said that I was the only one who would answer the phone .So I never did what the CRS trainers teach about scheduling your return calls .That may have worked in the old days with land lines. But why have a cell phone with text messaging and e-mail if you don't us it. Respond to e-mail as soon as you can. If you have a blackberry or treo, it should be immediate.

The first realtor to answer the phone usually wins.

I don't like auto responders. I doubt someone is getting such a high volume of emails that they can't sit down and reply to a few emails each day, personally.

vacation only for me. and i do see a few of those 'chest thumpers' from people who don't need to be thumping their chest. LOL

I don't use, don't like it, never have liked it.

That said I have sat through many classes that promote it including tech classes. I have a Tero and can respond quickly. If it's in the middle of the night...I can wait till morning to respond. Auto reply...not me!

Jeff, My gmail and yahoo-mail have auto responders, which I use for two reasons:

Aggravate the spammers - send me one, get one. I know it verifies mine is a real email address, but I don't believe that has had any real effect. Doesn't EVERYONE get 3200 spams a day? (LOL)
Promote the radio show. However, I know I should change it more than annually, but I don't. Laziness is as laziness does - or some other "Gumpism."

Unfortunately, the auto-responders have limits. I can either auto-respond my database OR everyone. I would truly like a setting whereby I can auto-respond ONCE to a sender, then after that they get free communication. For at least until I cook up a new one. But I cannot, so I tend to aggravate everyone - and sometimes confuse people as well. I personally don't take it all that seriously - it's a gimmick, and becoming a tiresome and old one at that...who wants auto-responder reruns?

Your question about the "I'm cool and really busy" email responders - they remind me of receiving a phone call from somebody's assistant, then they tell ME to hold (they called!) as they get the "real" caller. Rude.

But maybe not as rude as my heartless auto-responder. I'm gonna see if I can get one that plays "Dancing With The Stars" highlights.

As for "ensure" vs "insure" - I want the one that's a diet meal replacement for the ambivalent: "Unsure?"

I don't like Auto Reply either. It does say that person is too busy for you. The only thing it's good for is vacation, period, end of story. Hope those that use it read this Jeff! (wonder if they'll actually get the hint)

vacation only for me. and i do see a few of those 'chest thumpers' from people who don't need to be thumping their chest. LOL

*scratching my head why i was logged out on that first reply*

"Ain't nothing like the real thing ba-by" You're singing to the choir! But I totally agree, Auto-responders are a turn off.

Jeff, I absolutely agree! The whole idea behind marketing is to get someone to either call or e-mail. I really can not believe there are agents who have the "I return your call between 11-12 and 3-4 PM" Imagine ordering a pizza and Pizza Hut says we will deliever between 11-12 and 3-4 PM." The consumer whether it is a pizza or an agent will go elsewhere. Congrats on the feature post!

Thanks for the post. Sorry I don't have time to respond but I will be out of the office today from 10am to 10pm doing absolutely nothing. If my responding to your post is urgent(and please make sure it is) then you can call my voicemail at 555-555-5555 where you will receive a similar message verbally in case you are too stoopid to "get it" this time around. I AM a mega producer, top agent, million dollar producer, numero uno(for those that don't speak English) and I DON'T respond to emails OR answer my phone. PLEASE call my assistant!!!!! I'm too busy making dreams come true......mine not yours :)

Ugh. Hate those. And as for only being available certain hours....what irony when a "customer service dept" at a bank will only allow you to talk to them between 8AM and 10AM EAST COAST TIME. ? What the heck?

When I am shopping for anything, and I mean anything, often I completely eliminate those that I can't talk to right away. I am impatient and so is the world.

Thank you for pointing it out Jeff. And Lenn...seriously you are hilarious.

Thank you for writing such a wonderful and informative blog post. I love to read your posts and will be responding with an appropriate comment when I return to my desk this afternoon at 1pm or this evening at 5pm.

Jeff, got a kick out of reading this. I can't tell you how many times when I email Realtors in Listings by Address, I receive the same notification and the numbers are of them are outrageous. I know that if I were a possible client, it would definitely turn me right off. I think there was a universal seminar that they all attended.

It has the opposite effect than the intention, I think. If I were a potential Home Buyer or Seller and received that message, I would simply move on to the next Realtor who isn't soooooooooooo busy or on vacation and get my needs taken care of.

It's nice to get another confirming take on this very issue. Thanks for bringing it to the Realtor's attention.

I would be quite offended as a client. This is why we have mobile devices. We can respond immediately. Potential clients are constantly amazed at how quickly my team responds.

Good information and good post, I think we could all learn something from this post.

That almost as bad as having to go through the process some companies force us to do push this button to get this department and this button for that group and finally this button after you put in you account number to get CUSTOMER SERVICE. I think they have forgotten about the customer long ago and see it as an inconvenience and would love to send us to another so they can deal with you. We need to get back to talking to people and not be so concerns about us as we should be concerned about or current and potential future clients.

OK... I'm reading through all of these this morning ad so far I have three favorite comments.

Lenn Harley... you should have written this post!

Art Blanchet... "a diet meal replacement for the ambivalent: "Unsure?" I'm still cracking up.

Bryant... :)

AND before I leave for a bit to come back and respond to all the others...

Connor... "Same mother different father, Jeff was raised by wolves, I was raised by sheep!!!" You're killing me, brother!

Dearest Blogger...

I am too busy throwing things in the lake to really give a crap about you and your blog. Should you feel you need immediate attention. Tough. Life is tough. Get used to it. Just because your post has been featured does not mean I have to comment on it. You have plenty of comments. In fact ... The fact that you have comments means your "POPULAR".... It 's either that or someone found out about the Commando.

Did I say all that out loud? :)

TLW...ROAR!

TLW [SVW]... oh no you did not! LOL

Jeff, like you said in todays world you really don't need auto responds. I can be anywhere and receive email, text or phone calls. great point.

Recommended read: Tim Ferriss', The Four Hour Work Week. If I could make his presentation there applicable to the Real Estate business, life would be fabulous. I personally like auto-replies if there is informative content answering basic FAQ's such as who, what, when, where, why or how.

In my opinion, there are only two acceptable times to use an auto-reply. Vacation is the first and "I am in meetings all day today" when you are actually on the golf course is second.

Maybe that annoying subscribe to me button should have an auto-responder on it too:)

Good post, Jeff. The problem is that there are lots of folks out there teaching agents to use auto responders and recommending them. Lots of websites have them installed so when buyers are searching for homes they get one. And so on.

It's not unlike the voice mail messages some people leave - how important the call is, will get back to you right away or will return calls between...., and 2 days later nothing has happened.

AND given that studies continue to show that folks want immediate responses, or certainly within a hour, it's hard to understand, except in the case of vacation.

Lenn's comment was a hoot!!

Jeff

Heh heh I think it is cheese ball also! I am writing on a topic that goes along these lines later on today :)

Yesterday some dimwits sent out a blanket eflyer and for some reason when you reply to them it goes out to EVERYONE on the list without pressing "reply to all". So I got a kazillion "unsubscribe" and "remove me (insert your favorite expletive)" messages in my inbox.

GOT TO LOVE technology sometimes!

Auto responding e-mails can be EXTREMELY valuable in limited applications. We use auto responders only to provide specific information in response to a specific request.

Here's an idea. Call the individual with the autoresponder and leave a long slow voice mail message w/out identifying yourself. Have funa and see how annoying you can be do things like clearing your throat, chewing on food loudly, talking to other people in the room. Then you can address how annoyed you are with the autoresponder.

All this being said, be sure this individual has a sense of humor and can take it.

I have been to seminars where they promote the idea of auto responders. I hate them.

I have used them only on a rare occasion, like when I was in the hospital to give people the contact person who was covering for me. I also auto forwarded the messages to that person.

I don't like auto responders (especially the example you gave!)

I can't tell you how many clients I have had the pleasure to work with simply because I answered my phone, returned their call quickly or sent a PERSONALIZED email (that asks questions about THEM).

While I actually don't use auto-responders myself, I see nothing wrong with them. It at least informs people when you'll get back to them.

You're assuming YOU would respond quickly; maybe you do. Most agent don't. So, I would rather know you received the email. Now, if you don't respond, I know you're a slacker.

Wow........ let me reiterate....WOW!

I personally don't like to use autoresponders as I don't like receiving them. Makes me wonder if the person has another job and that's why they can't check email......but really you could easily forward your emails to your phone......I don't get it.

I think it is the nature of the auto-respond message that is most important. The one in your example is obnoxious. Since when do we want clients to feel that we are too busy for them?

I don't mind getting these messages, what I really mind is never getting any sort of response and feeling like the email I sent went into some big black hole. I hate having to send the follow up ..."Hey, just checking to see if you got my email yesterday..." when I'm waiting for an answer. It's just plain rude.

That being said, I don't have an auto-responder. You're going to get the real me!

I absolutely HATE auto-responders and do everything that i can to never have them sent. (Although there are a few programs that I use that have them already built in that I am trying to remove as we speak ...)

If we, here in web 2.0-land, are so pro-personal contact and "real estate is a people business" then by definition, we need to eliminate the auto responder.

Although, your idea of making it sound more like a voice mail message, is a good alternative.

Interesting, I just got rid of my autoresponder yesterday, no sense paying for something I don't really like using

You are so right! Every time I hit an autoresponder it just annoys me. It doesn't impress anyone it just disappoints when the quick response you thought you were getting is in reality a message saying you've got to wait. Well.. that's already assumed! I suppose it does confirm that the email got there, but that's all it does.

I agree - those things are so annoying unless you really are going to be out of town...

I agree with using auto-response for those special vacation occasions.

Now, keep this in mind, because its good stuff:

According to NAR:

25% of potential clients pick the first agent that responds

21% want IMMEDIATE response

23% want contact within 30 Minutes

28% want contact in 4 hours!

Cozy up to those mobile devices folks and stay ahead of the game!

What do they tell the client? Sorry we have to be finished looking at houses by 3:30 as I have to rush to my computer to respond to all the emails. I hate them and the VM as well. I can't/won't regulate my schedule that tightly. I respond quickly to all emails because if I don't someone else will. And an auto-responder doesn't cut it.

Thanks for the post... Made me rethink my use of autoresponders... Which I intend to terminate right away!

I do not have an auto responder turned on. I do it all my self.

I almost NEVER use an auto-responder. There are times when I might only get my mails sporadically, and then I try to make sure that there is a responder in place. But, those times are few and far between.

And people that only check mail a couple times a day are telling me that they are too busy to deal with me. So I help them out.

I love this post! I was googling autoresponders because I'd heard they are all the rage but my ADD kicked in and I got distracted in the rain. Now that I have stumbled across this post, I think I'll just keep blogging but I DO agree that when you are on the golf course, a blackjack table, a poker game or at the spa, an auto reply is appropriate. Nothing makes me want to swing a golf club harder than people wasting my time on the phone (either talking or typing) backing things up needlessly.

Karen Luke--I am going to do as you have suggested. Should be hilarious.

Nothing should be automated. People love the personal touch.

I love auto-responders when done correctly. My escrow officer uses this with style. When she plans to be out all afternoon (not vacation), she'll have her auto-responder turn on too - that way, I'd know to expect a reply from her when she returns......

Jeff - I detest auto responders. They are cold and impersonal, at best.

My insurance agent uses auto response when she is on vacation - "I am out of the office from xxxx on xxxx until xxxx on xxxx. I will respond to your inquiry upon my return. If your need is more urgent, please call xxxxxxxxxxxx and someone will help you immediately."

At least that message lets the customer know that they can still get assistance promptly if that's their choice.

In the world of RE - I don't think they have any place. We are in a "people" business and people don't want a machine responding to them.

I need to go check my email because I obviously have it going to the wrong place cause I don't get emails from you - I do agree on the auto-responder. Enjoyed the post as usual :-)

Jeff, I'm so glad you wrote about this! It's particularly annoying when you are on a Yahoo group and a email is sent to all and it gets an autoresponder telling you someone is out of the office. There is one loan officer that must not spend any time in the office because her autoresponder goes off every time....

I definitely agree with you Jeff - keep it off!!!!

I have to agree with you too!

Jeff,

I thought I was the only one who hates those auto-repsonders. One agent I just did a deal with used email a lot (no problem), but it was 4 or 5 auto-responses a day. IRRITATING! I wanted to call her and tell her, turn that off, I know you aren't helping a client, you are at your son's soccer game!!

LOL

Jeff, you are too funny! I think that this auto respondent is hillarious. At least, it's unique and not your average - thank you for your interest! I always felt that auto responders are great for vacations and nothing else.

Hate the auto-responders. And it's even worse when people have them on and they get messages on digest news lists -- then the entire list ends up getting their auto-responder message over and over and over. Too much!

NOV

2007

Notice how I write a post about auto-reply and then walk away from the post and don't reply to any of the comments?

Jeff,

Put the auto reply on your comment replies or hire a ghost commenter:)

hate auto responders. I have a colleague who uses them so much that my impression is that he is never there. Not checking your email in this day and age is a big no no.

I agree, Jeff. Auto-replies are somewhat tactless, especially when they also include spelling errors. With all the mobile technology we have, what's with the wait?

Brian Wilson, Zolve.com

Well, once again, I agree with you Jeff. I love e-mail and would much rather get an opportunity to review information and get a chance to learn something (ie Ricardo Bueno updates) than lose an opportunity. I have a couple of e-mail lists and hope some new information I send can help their business growth. Same reason I BLOG on AR, hope to get information out that can make a difference. I'd much rather get an e-mail than get bombarded with a million sales calls any day. I do feel that every e-mail counts and deserves a moment to check out. The spam filters do an awesome job of clearing out the pure junk.

I think that unless on vacation, autoresponders on personal boxes just add more junk that must be deleted.

I despise auto-responders.... Unless they are out on vacation.....

Jeff - last I heard we're in a relationship business??? I think auto responders, whether on the phone or email are rude.

That is really, really bad. I can't believe someone would have that for an auto responder!! And the misspelling tops it all off. How funny!!

NOV

2007

I like auto responders about as much as I like automated phone systems what ever happened to human contact.

We have become so enamoured with instant gratification in all that we do that we are loosing our humanity.

Great points! Love your auto-response, but responding to spammers is bad... Thanks!

NOV

2007

Jeff, you are so right. I think these days there are to many "gurus" trying to come up with things that are different from the other guy. In my opinion your last paragraph pertaining to keeping it simple sounds to be the best solution.

I've been lobbying against the use of auto-responders for years. They were originally a well-intended way to (presumably) show clients and customers that you truly care about their email and are right on top of things (NOT!) even though you are away from the office.

I feel this is a way out of responding to your emails, I also do not like the auto-response. From my experience you never get a direct answer. No I do not feel important when they have the auto-response. I would rather here from them. I guess some feel if they use this auto --- they will keep their clients happy. Wrong, they will drive them away just like I drove away from them.

Great Post. I wished I would of thought of this first.

Yes I completely agree a) a spelling error big no no b) how condescending is that message. I would simply think A#$ and not deal with that person. The only time I use an autoresponse is when Im out of town. Oh wait I dont even do it then because I get everything on my iphone. However when I am on my cruise after thanksgiving I will actually use it to redirect things to a colleague handling my business since a cruise ship is a slightly harder place to handle business.

Only under the most dire situation will I use auto responder. There is always somewhere I can check my email, but in the case of family emergencies, when I should be focused on them, I will put one up and I have. Only to direct them for immediate service from my associate.

NOV

2007

All... thanks for your responses. I've been remiss to respond... ironic, isn't it. :) This is a relationship business, always will be. Anything you're doing that stands in the way of that should be discontinued.

NOV

2007

My partner just started one with her email and I thought it was a great idea, until I started getting my email filled with your auto-responder emails. We send a lot of emails to each other, and now I get it back, two-fold. It couldn't be more annoying, and while it seems reasonable for people you aren't working with yet, for current clients, it's just not practical.

I love your example though - too funny, I'll happily take over their extra workload, but I can only return those phone calls once a day (when it's most convenient for me) HA!

NOV

2007

Leigh... you understand my point exactly. Unless you can build an intelligent auto responder that filters for those already in your database or those you have already replied to, it's annoying at best.

NOV

2007

They are so half-hearted that they're not even any different from not replying at all. They are meaningless and can appear lazy. This does not include autoresponders that come when you fill out a contact form on a website. I'm only talking the autoresponders that come along when you send an agent an email.

Jenna Ryan
http://www.TheMarketingShop.com

NOV

2007

the only time I think these are necessary are when you're out of town

this is like the people that fluff up their voicemail messages with

"Hi... thanks for calling the Offices of... "

you're one person, one cell phone... it isn't your office and if you're counting a desk at a KW office , your home and your car, then you're taking it too seriously

the only time I think these are necessary are when you're out of town

this is like the people that fluff up their voicemail messages with

"Hi... thanks for calling the Offices of... "

you're one person, one cell phone... it isn't your office and if you're counting a desk at a KW office , your home and your car, then you're taking it too seriously

NOV

2007

David... :) could not agree more. I awoke to 397 "out of office" emails from Realtors this morning. Amazing.

Thank the lord there is someone else who hate's them as much as I do....if you ask me, the auto-response only devalue's the feeling of personalized service that a client would get....I want to feel like the realtor is working only for me, so I don't want to see a message that they're off helping someone else.

NOV

2007

Well, I have to admit when I went on vacation for three days last May (how sad is that) I did an away message that said 'Im on vacation, if you have a question please call yada yada' and then I put in my return date.

Is this bad? I have to admit I laughed out loud at some of the ones you mentioned above!

how about 'god is speaking to me on my mountain retreat. When god is finished, I will return to answer your email'

:-)

I have to add, now that I have my new Voyager I wont have to leave a message people can come with me. Ooooh that is both good and bad

NOV

2007

HAHAHAHAHA Sounds like someone is trying to make it seem as if they are busy in real estate. That responder is a joke. That person is dead bored and has no business going on so they want to make it seem as if they are busy. LOL

Derek.. we all want that feeling, it's universal.

Carole... no, I don't think it's bad when you are really on vacation and need to let someone know who to contact. We all need breaks!

Derik... :)

DEC

2007

THANK YOU!

I hope many auto responder users read and heed your advice.

DEC

2007

Hello Blooger Jeff, I do appreciate you taking the time to reach me, but I have been so busy for a month that I missed your post. I promise to respond in a timely fashion when I unchain myself from my endless bookmarking and socializing on AR. If this is urgent please contact someone else...

LOL!

hate these too!

Ginger

APR

2008

I agree that the autoresponder should be turned off if you want to keep the customer. Even when I am on vacation, I always check and reply to my customers. I hope that other realtors follow your advice.

Jay Skinner

APR

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MAY

What a bunch of negativity.

MAY

Dustin... do you think the negativity is unwarranted? Are you a fan of autoresponders?

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