What to do when unsubscribing to email doesn’t work
When I get unwanted or unsolicited email from someone, the first thing I do is look for an unsubscribe link. The problem is, more often than not, the person or company sending me the email has made unsubscribing difficult. Instead of what should be a 1 or 2-click action, I often have to jump through hoops and traverse several screens before I actually get a confirmation that I am unsubscribed.
And still in about half of those scenarios I continue to get their email.
So I've decided to reclaim my power. Now, instead of (or in addition to) unsubscribing, I set up a mail filter to automatically delete email from people who send me email that I don't want.
My email is hosted by Google (Gmail) so filtering my email is as simple as this:
Open up the email I no longer wish to receive. Click the More button and select Filter messages like these.
Verify the sender's email address is displayed in the From field in the filter creation box and click the Next Step button.
Check the box next to Delete it and click the Create Filter button.
It's as simple as that. The next time an email comes in from that email address, it will go straight to the email trash and I will never see it.
You might also find this a good strategy if you want to stop receiving email from someone you know due to the notification the person automatically receives when you unsubscribe. With this method your friend will never know you decided to stop receiving his or her emails.
I just hope people don't use this new trick to auto-delete Noobie's weekly email! Then again, when you unsubscribe from Noobie's mailing list, you are truly unsubscribed and will never be sent another email again.
3 comments for this blog post so far...
October 18, 2011 at 7:22 am
J.R.
Hi, Patric! I am a Gmail user and fan, and I forgot all about the fact that you can “filter” messages right into the trash! Good job, and thanks.
There’s a company that’s been sending me weekly messages for about three months now. I clicked “unsubscribe,” then, later, I took the time to compose a message with “Unsubscribe” as the subject line, and asked them to please take me off their e-mail distribution list. That ~normally~ works, but I continue to receive messages from them. I’ll be “filtering” them soon. Thanks again!
October 18, 2011 at 11:01 am
Dorothy
Thanks for the filtering instructions for Gmail. I knew they existed but always felt it was easier to delete unwanted email than it was to figure out how to use the filtering. Sometimes it seems a better use of time to take the easy way out when it comes to tech stuff. It can turn into another full time and unpaid job to figure things out---kind of like those software and app updates that take so much away from productive use of the computer---LOL---and, yes, I’m calling Facebook “productive"…
October 18, 2011 at 2:12 pm
Duke Snyder
Two things. First, just find this a good opportunity, Patrick, to let you know what an informative and enjoyable read your blog is for “non-techie” me. Secondly , have encountered the frustrations of being unable to unsubscribe myself but Hotmail also has a filtering process whereby you “block” your designated senders. Given the cry for transparency I find it surprising of some of the better known name companies that make unubscribing a true hassle.
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