Previously, Report Cards were sent to any domain generating in excess of 0.1% inbox complaints. The Report Card itself listed the specific inbox complaint number.
The new Report Cards will be sent to domains generating in excess of 0.3% inbox complaints. While 0.1% is still the target for a bulk mailer, we do not feel it is necessary to alert mailers of a potential problem until they have reached 0.3%. In addition to this change, we will no longer be providing the specific inbox complaint percentage for each domain. The report card will simply be an indication that you have exceeded 0.3% and that you should check your processes to ensure you are managing your spam complaints.
We have also updated our Report Card information page on the Postmaster site and the text of the Report Card itself. The new text of the Report Card is as follows:
From: postmaster@aol.com [mailto:postmaster@aol.com]
Sent: 9/6/2005 9:45:07 AM Eastern Daylight Time
Subject: AOL email concerns for "domain name"
Dear "domain name",
You are receiving this message via our automated "Report Card" process because our available data indicate that in the last 24 hours your domain's [insert domain here] mail stream has exceeded an inbox complaint rate of 0.30%.
This email is only an indication that your domain's mail stream has exceeded a pre-defined complaint threshold; it is not necessarily indicative of a spam problem. We send a report card to every domain that exceeds this threshold, regardless of what type of mail is sent. We hope that it may be useful to help identify potential issues.
For additional information please visit our Postmaster website, where one can find a more detailed explanation of how the Report Card system works, AOL's technical requirements for sending email to us, AOL's best practices guidelines for bulk-mailers, and more.
This is an automated notification. Replies to this email will not be seen.
Sent: 9/6/2005 9:45:07 AM Eastern Daylight Time
Subject: AOL email concerns for "domain name"
Dear "domain name",
You are receiving this message via our automated "Report Card" process because our available data indicate that in the last 24 hours your domain's [insert domain here] mail stream has exceeded an inbox complaint rate of 0.30%.
This email is only an indication that your domain's mail stream has exceeded a pre-defined complaint threshold; it is not necessarily indicative of a spam problem. We send a report card to every domain that exceeds this threshold, regardless of what type of mail is sent. We hope that it may be useful to help identify potential issues.
For additional information please visit our Postmaster website, where one can find a more detailed explanation of how the Report Card system works, AOL's technical requirements for sending email to us, AOL's best practices guidelines for bulk-mailers, and more.
This is an automated notification. Replies to this email will not be seen.
The next step we plan to take is to send a different report card to domains generating over 1.0% inbox complaints. So, if you have 0.3% - 1.0% you will get Report Card #1. If you have over 1% complaints, you will get Report Card #2. This change will likely be made in the coming weeks, and we will post the text for Report Card #2 at that time.
Christine
Manager, Postmaster Team
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
1. Huh. This seems like a way to cut costs and simplify a process on the AOL end at the expense of the mailer.
Am I off base?
Posted at 7:29PM on Nov 25th 2008 by Alexa
2. Christine-
Thank you for the update(s)!
While I recognize that it would require some additional work by AOL, would it be possible to include the IP address(es) causing the issues?
From an ESP's point of view, there could be any number of clients sending from a domain - and it would help identify the offenders/resolve the issue(s) faster.
I am working on getting tools/alerts in place internally - but this would be a huge help.
Thank you!
jb
Posted at 10:09AM on Nov 26th 2008 by John Burke
3. Can you include the complaint rate in the report card?
Just to make sure we are tracking the correct value as AOL, to prevent problem before even getting a report card from AOL.
Thanks alot.
Posted at 1:17PM on Dec 2nd 2008 by KS
4. AOL is downloading unwanted screens when I sign on. AOL Search and at least one of the last sites I visited befor I signed of last. This is very annoying and AOL seems to offer no way to get rid of this time consuming annoyance.
I have been with AOL since I started with computors some 15 to 20 years. Iam not the only one who is rather PO with AOL's ""screw you" attitude and am about to switch if some one can't fix the problem
HELP
Posted at 12:29PM on Feb 20th 2009 by Joseph