Repeated Bulk Emails from the R-L21 Plus Project

[rms2]

A couple of days ago I prepared ONE bulk email to be sent to the members of the R-L21 Plus Project advising them that FTDNA's holiday sale had been extended through midnight Thursday, 03 January, Houston time. Apparently FTDNA goofed up, and the email got sent to some people as many as six times, even through today, after the sale was over.

Now I am getting the usual very snotty emails from irate project members.

Sending out project news via bulk email is a pain in the butt at the best of times. I don't get anything out of the sale of FTDNA tests and upgrades, but I always get an increase in email correspondence, especially obnoxious complaints.

So, if you see a sharp drop in communiques from me, do not be surprised.

Here is something that has been on the Background page of the R-L21 Plus Project for quite some time.

NOTE: All of the administrators of the R-L21 Plus Project are unpaid volunteers with full time jobs of their own. We don't get any money or other favors for selling dna tests. When we send out a bulk email to project members about a new SNP test or some other type of dna test, we do so simply because we think the members ought to know about it.

If you decide you do not want to receive such emails, follow the instructions below.

To stop receiving bulk emails from the R-L21 Plus Project:

1. Go to your myFTDNA pages.

2. Click on "My Account" at the top left and then on "Personal Profile".

3. Click on "Account Settings".

4. Click on "Match and Email Settings".

5. Find "Project E-mail Settings" on the right. Click on the "No" button beneath "Subscribe to 'bulk' e-mails sent by my project administrators".

That should do it.

[Mikewww]

Thanks for sending this out.

I noticed there were several 67 to 111 STR upgrades on 1/3/2013 for the L21 plus project. This means a number of people heeded your email and saved $20 a piece.

The whiners we'll always have with us, but if they don't like communications I don't know why they join a project in the first place... .plus they have every ability to restrict incoming emails without closing down communications for the whole project.

I think the worst thing is all of the "spam control filter" captcha things that some people set up. I just use google mail and mark things as "spam" if I don't want them. It seems to work pretty well without screwing up everybody else.

Mike W

[gtc]

Apparently FTDNA goofed up, and the email got sent to some people as many as six times, even through today, after the sale was over.

Beats me why FTDNA can't get something as simple as email right.

[rms2]

Apparently FTDNA goofed up, and the email got sent to some people as many as six times, even through today, after the sale was over.

Beats me why FTDNA can't get something as simple as email right.

10-4 on that.

[rms2]

Thanks for sending this out.

I noticed there were several 67 to 111 STR upgrades on 1/3/2013 for the L21 plus project. This means a number of people heeded your email and saved $20 a piece.

The whiners we'll always have with us, but if they don't like communications I don't know why they join a project in the first place... .plus they have every ability to restrict incoming emails without closing down communications for the whole project.

I think the worst thing is all of the "spam control filter" captcha things that some people set up. I just use google mail and mark things as "spam" if I don't want them. It seems to work pretty well without screwing up everybody else.

Mike W

Yeah, we did get a number of last minute upgrades, so it was worth it.

Dave Reynolds told me he got eight(!) copies of the exact same email, but he was smart enough to figure out what happened and so didn't send me a complaint about it.

We not only got upgrades to 111 markers but some to 67 and even some from 12 to 37, as I recall. Every advance helps.

[Iain Seoras Gunn]

I was grateful for the duplicates because I seemed to have mislaid the original. As a consequence, I was a last minute upgrade. Some people ought to get a life!

[Jdean]

I was grateful for the duplicates because I seemed to have mislaid the original. As a consequence, I was a last minute upgrade. Some people ought to get a life!

Agreed !!

[OConnor]

Perhaps the project needs a "Monthly Email"...if only to say thank-you for being part of an important project. Then people will know that they will recieve a bulk-email once a month..and the may opt-out if they wish. Perhaps that's not the answer?..it's just an idea.

But the multiple emails need to be addressed.

[F James]

I got 4 emails,  but just deleted the extra ones.
 Its not hard to use the delete button
Some people must have too much time on their hands if they can be bothered emailing about a few extra emails....

[Mikewww]

I sent out a bulk email to the R1b and Subclades group just a few days ago on the 111 STR markers. Most of the responses were appreciative or just had questions.

I do have one guy who said "I don't like you plugging 111 STRs..."  At first I was dismayed, but after thinking about it, I decided to try to convince him more markers is better.  Should be interesting. He'll probably wish he hadn't commented. I'll be nice but he probably doesn't really want to have the discussion. He is probably quite happy with this current thoughts.

Mike W

[k.o.gran]

Rich,

If people want to be snotty and annoyed at you for using your spare time trying to help them with genetic genealogy, ignore them. I received four of those emails and deleted three of them. It took me three seconds, tops! And you even include steps to stop receiving emails in _every_ email you send out. Keep in mind that you sent that email to more than 2000 people. Think how many that didn't complain!

Keep up the great work! :-)

-Kai

[Mike Forsyth]

It would be interesting too know how many/if any finally upgraded after the 3rd, 4th, or 5th e-mail...

[rms2]

Thanks, gentlemen.

One member just quit the project citing "way too many emails" as one of the reasons.

That amazes me, because I rarely send out emails.

Expect even fewer.

[seferhabahir]

I didn't get any of these emails. Have in the past but not this time. Someone else must have gotten all of mine. I don't ever mind getting yours or anybody else's. The delete key on my computer works perfectly. So does the Safe Unsubscribe feature of most bulk emailers. I am constantly amazed by the seeming computer illiteracy of a lot of people. Don't let their difficulties with this ruin your enthusiasm for the project.

[Mike Forsyth]

FTDNA must not have fixed the glitch yet...just received another Bulk E-Mail for the sale...

[Jdean]

FTDNA must not have fixed the glitch yet...just received another Bulk E-Mail for the sale...

And me, hope they don't have as much trouble with the Micro Allele upgrade :)_

[Mikewww]

I didn't get any of these emails. Have in the past but not this time....

Me neither. It's unfortunate that some are getting repetitive emails.

[rms2]

Now two guys have quit over this.

I emailed FTDNA again and forwarded my emails to Bennett Greenspan. Maybe tomorrow this will stop.

I am getting multiple member emails about it, many of them very reasonable and just letting me know about the problem, but some them of a different nature.

[cmblandford]

I appreciate your bulk emails.  They are informative, authoritative and poignant.  Thanks, I fully support  and appreciate them.

[Iain Seoras Gunn]

San Fairy Ann, Rich

[rms2]

Thanks, Charles and Iain.

Now three guys have quit the project behind this, and I have received even more complaining emails.

I have also received emails from Bennett Greenspan and Catherine McDonald. FTDNA's IT department is working on the problem. The emails seem to have tapered off this evening, so maybe it's over? Maybe?

[rms2]

I have received a couple of more complaints in the last few minutes, but that could just be a result of guys getting home from work, checking their email, and just now finding the offending repeats.

I won't be sending out bulk emails anymore. Instead, I plan to include the following lines in my personal welcome email to new members:

Please read the project's Background page and periodically check the project web site for news on the latest developments and announcements. Due to problems with bulk emailing in the past, I no longer use that method to communicate with project members.

So, don't expect any bulk emails from the R-L21 Plus Project. Check the web site from time to time.

[Mike Forsyth]

I received one about a hour ago...

Too bad, I looked forward hearing on the new SNPs,and other such information in your bulk e-mail's

[seferhabahir]

I sympathize, Rich. I've contemplated quitting a project once, but it wasn't because of any emails. It was because I never received a single response from any of the project's administrators after two years of attempting to communicate with them. Now, that's a reason to quit.

[NealtheRed]

Thanks, Charles and Iain.

Now three guys have quit the project behind this, and I have received even more complaining emails.

I don't understand that. I don't understand how a few e-mails could provoke someone to the point of leaving a project. It's obvious that a glitch is taking place. I received at least five of 'em, and chuckled at the very least.