Hi
My client is getting a lot of emails bounced back as being suspected spam. We've gone through the server settings and this is now only happening to the order confirmation/status update emails that the cart sends out. We are on version 6.9 and using the default mail() function. Is there anything to be gained from upgrading and using the PHP Mailer because as I understand it, that only works for mail addressed to the same host. Or are there any other settings that I can use?
Thanks
Eric

Hi Eric

Is there anything in the email header or footer that you think could possibly trigger a spam warning? I've seen people use very long footer information for example that would have the potential for tripping a filter. Are you using the customer name / order id in the subject https://www.ecommercetemplates.com/help/email-messages.asp#email as that might help.

If that's of no use it wouldn't hard to try phpmailer and see if it makes a difference, you could always set it back if it doesn't.

Andy

Please feel free to review / rate our software

Hi Andy

This is a typical message (I've obfuscated the actual host names):
A message that you sent could not be delivered to one or more of its recipients. This is a permanent error. The following address(es) failed:

royburrell@******.com
SMTP error from remote mail server after end of data:
host mx.bt.lon5.cpcloud.co.uk [65.20.0.49]: 554 Message rejected on
2019/03/26 09:43:25 GMT, policy (3.2.1.1) \342\200\223 Your message looks like SPAM or has been reported as SPAM please read www.bt.com/postmaster

------ This is a copy of the message, including all the headers. ------

Return-path: <admin@superflex.co.uk>
Received: from [127.0.0.1] (helo=infongd-eu3077.rtr.kundenserver.de)
by server.******.co.uk with esmtp (Exim 4.84_2)
(envelope-from <admin@*******.co.uk>)
id 1h8ic8-0004rs-Vz
for royburrell@*******.com; Tue, 26 Mar 2019 10:43:25 +0100
Received: from 213.205.194.87 (IP may be forged by CGI script)
by infongd-eu3077.rtr.kundenserver.de with HTTP
id 0YfIo8-1hIZy443Xw-00A123; Tue, 26 Mar 2019 10:43:24 +0100
X-Sender-Info: <87640952@infongd-eu3077.rtr.kundenserver.de>
Date: Tue, 26 Mar 2019 10:43:24 +0100
Message-Id: <0YfIo8-1hIZy443Xw-00A123@infongd-eu3077.rtr.kundenserver.de>
Precedence: bulk
X-Apache-Env: www-ip="MjEzLjIwNS4xOTQuODc=";helo="aW5mb25nZC1ldT
MwNzcucnRyLmt1bmRlbnNlcnZlci5kZQ==";script="L2t1bm
Rlbi9ob21lcGFnZXMvNS9kODc2NDA5NTIvaHRkb2NzL3NmeG1h
bmFnZXIvYWRtaW5vcmRlcnMucGhw"
To: royburrell@******.com
Subject: Order status updated
MIME-Version: 1.0
From: admin@******.co.uk
Content-type: text/plain; charset=utf-8

I can't see anything there that would trigger a spam warning - except I don't know what the Precedence: bulk is. To be honest it's a bit outside my comfort zone.

Eric

I see they offer some suggestions here http://www.bt.com/postmaster - have you checked to see if you are on any spam lists?

Andy

Please feel free to review / rate our software

Thanks Andy

I see that the bounced messages are stating SPF and/or DMARC failures, so I'll pass it all on to the hosting company, but I don't understand why 'ordinary' emails should be OK but those from the shopping cart seem to fail. I'll wait and see what they say.

Eric

Hi Andy
I'm still struggling with this issue. 95% of the 'normal' emails that my client sends don't bounce, but almost all of the ones generated by the shopping cart do. I've created SPF and DMARC records at the server but the problem still persists. Will using the new PHP Mailer make any difference? I believe I will have to update the shopping cart to use that - and that's something I don't do lightly.
Thanks
Eric Lewis

If you are on 6.9 you don't need to update to use phpmailer, you can use the standalone files. It's just in 6.9.3 we added them to the download https://www.ecommercetemplates.com/help/email-help.asp

Andy

Please feel free to review / rate our software

It's not a magic bullet, but PHPMailer definitely helps deliverability for the reasons stated here: https://servelink.com/clients/index.php?rp=/knowledgebase/24/How-do-I-configure-my-ecommerce-template-PHP-store-e-mail.html Running outdated software isn't to be taken lightly either, but it doesn't need an update as PHPMailer has been supported by the cart for years

Peter

ServeLink
Professional ecommerce web hosting for ASP & PHP
https://servelink.com

Take a look at our image upload/resize tool for the ASP cart
https://servelink.com/clients/cart.php?gid=7

Thanks Guys

I have implemented PHP Mailer, and no emails have bounced yet ... but there is another strange issue now. Neither the automatic 'order confirmation' email to the customer nor the 'order at your store' email arrive. But they do arrive if the resend button is clicked. Any idea why that should be?

Eric

You have a super secret hidden vsadmin folder? You need to make those changes in both admin folders so they are identical.

Peter

ServeLink
Professional ecommerce web hosting for ASP & PHP
https://servelink.com

Take a look at our image upload/resize tool for the ASP cart
https://servelink.com/clients/cart.php?gid=7

Hi Peter
Yes I have a duplicate vsadmin folder, but they are the same.
Eric

Might want to double check that, I reckon you only added the PHPMailer files and entries in includes.php to the secret admin folder, and not the vsadmin folder.

Peter

ServeLink
Professional ecommerce web hosting for ASP & PHP
https://servelink.com

Take a look at our image upload/resize tool for the ASP cart
https://servelink.com/clients/cart.php?gid=7

Hi Peter

Yep, you're absolutely right. It looks like I failed to upload the files to the vsadmin/inc folder.

Many thanks

Eric

You're welcome

Peter

ServeLink
Professional ecommerce web hosting for ASP & PHP
https://servelink.com

Take a look at our image upload/resize tool for the ASP cart
https://servelink.com/clients/cart.php?gid=7