Use of Autoresponders

I don't use autoresponders per se but I do have some pre-written response emails for routine inquiries I get very often.

I use Eudora PRO for my e mail and it's very easy to set up an 'auto response' to a email to either return automatically or manually.

For instance I get requests for my "450 ways to make your house sell faster" e book. I have a pre-written reply saved in Eudora I can just hit "Reply with" (that e mail) from Eudora's message menu and the reply goes out instantly with the book attached in PDF format.

I can follow up later or then with a custom written e mail as needed.

I believe Outlook and Outlook Express are also capable of doing this.

I don't use autoresponders with my primary email account.  I think over use can be frustrating to people who email often, like clients.

Though, I do use them for the various contact forms on my websites, each written specifically for the form that was used (e.g. general inquiry, sweepstakes entry, requesting CMA, etc).  Minimally, it lets the person contacting me know that their request was received.

Ditto what Jim and Ben said.  I use an auto-responder to acknowledge receipt of a web based request for reports, documents, etc.

In the rare case I'm actually "on vacation" I will set up an "Out Of The Office" auto-responder to let people know who my back up is (but I always contact current clients directly before heading out).

Never use one to respond to general emails as I agree, it's not very personal and in fact somewhat demeaning. It sends a message of "my time is more important than yours".

I don't use one either.  I can always respond to my emails in a reasonable amount of time.  Come to think of it.... everytime I get one of the auto responses... I never get a real response.

I rarely use it, but I make it a point to be very easy to get in touch with. The number one complaint I hear about mortgage brokers is lack of communication, so making sure I'm not "that guy" is important to me.

I think Kristal's frustration was a bit misdirected. If used properly, an auto responder can be helpful. If it just says, "Hey, I'm out, sorry." then obviously it isn't going to be very useful. Few pople expect email to be a form of instant communication, so saying you're out is redundant and a waste of kilobytes. However, something like "I will be out of my office until Wednesday. If this is important, I would like to talk with you before then. Please feel free to call me at..." is likely to be more appriciated than waiting days for a response - particularly if the issue is time sensitive.

The only positive I have for them (general e-mail, not responses to specific requests) is that you know the e-mail address is valid and hasn't been spammed out.

I don't use autoresponders, other than above. I think if you're going to use them, they'd be more useful if they were regularly changed, rather than one constant reply.

I used one for awhile and some of my customers liked it. When I turned it off for any reason (looping with my friend's vacation message) they would be concerned.  My manager said in training once that he liked it when I used one... Other agents said they were glad I stopped using one.

I don't use one either, as with what Sara said I can always get to my e-mail in a reasonable amount of time.  Sometimes I respond back before they even close their e-mail program. The only time I would consider an auto responder (other than for reports, or other web based forms, etc.) was if I was on extended vacation and wanted to relay alternate contact information ... but even then I have never been anywhere I can't get to e-mail.

I don't like autoresponders. I think it's a cop out. Anyone with any brains should be checking their email many times during the day if they intend to stay in business. I'm even checking it on my Treo. My RE/MAX leads come to my text messaging so I'm always ready to respond.

Whenever I receive one I assume rightly or wrongly that I have hit a dead end. Don't like tme...don't use them!

Hi I'm not in right now but if you leave your name, number, the time that you called, the MLS number of the house your interested in, the ammount of your pre-approval, the contact information for your lender, your SSN, Date of Birth, Mothers Maiden Name, and reason for your call I'll get back to you as soon as I can.

Unless it's a vacation or out of the office message telling them that I WON'T be reading their message any time soon I don't see the point..  I take the time to read and respond to my email daily so I don't see the need... I view them as the equivilant to an anoying and intrusive, and too long outgoing voicemail message.