Return Receipt Abuse & Ineffectiveness

Did you know that the RR or Return Receipt request feature in your e-mail program is basically ineffective? Being one can disregard the request for a return receipt as I do for every request I get, what’s the point?

I don’t know about you but I do not particularly appreciate someone wanting to know when I opened their e-mail — that is my business.  Note I said opened. RRs do not not mean that the e-mail was read.

Then you have those who have an RR request with every single e-mail they send as though they have to baby sit you.  One excuse I was given is the RRs allowed this person to organize follow-ups.   I have rarely used RRs and can organize my follow ups just fine.

And even after asking they refrain from having an RR request on every single e-mail so I wouldn’t have to decline the request each time, they continue to do so anyway.   How very considerate of them to completely ignore my request.  Why would you continue to use an intrusive feature that you’ve been asked to refrain from using to keep yourself organized?  How about simply putting a copy of the e-mail you sent in your follow-up folder?

Back in the day, RRs could serve a purpose on important and legal e-mails where it was critical to one side or the other knowing the e-mail was received because they knew the recipient would acknowledge the RR request. However, today, when most simply decline and ignore these requests, know you are being more of a nuisance by having this feature engaged for every single business e-mail you send.

If anyone has found an effective use of Return Receipts that I am not aware of, please do let me know.  I am always open to new ways of e-mail efficiency and  productivity and by the number of RR requests I get daily, I must be missing something!