Redbox: Confirming Subscriptions? YES!
Redbox, a popular U.S.-based movie and game rental service with trademark red kiosks at many gas stations and minimarts across the country, is actively confirming subscriptions to its service and mailing list. Over the past couple of months a number of my spamtraps have received confirmation requests from Redbox via its ESP, Cheetahmail, a subsidiary of Experian.
Normally I report spam on the Mainsleaze blog. This is a case of a company who is doing bulk email right. The only thing that I would like to see change is that the email does not explicitly state that the user must confirm to be placed on, or remain on, the mailing list. Since Redbox isn’t spamming any of those email addresses after sending confirmation messages that received no responses, however, it appears that they’re doing the right thing even if the wording in the confirmation is a bit ambiguous.
Redbox isn’t just being considerate of the rest of us who don’t want spam. They’re also smart. If the number of my spamtraps that they are attempting to confirm is any indication, Redbox gets a lot of typoed or otherwise bogus subscriptions. Since Redbox confirms subscriptions, however, those bogus subscriptions and typos aren’t poisoning their email stream with spamtrap hits and annoyed non-customers who receive email that they did not request. That has a direct, positive effect on reputation and deliverability.
Sending IP: 207.251.96.125
Spam Sample:
Actual Headers:
Received: from ebm1.cheetahmail.com (ebm1.cheetahmail.com [207.251.96.125])
by <xxx> (Postfix) with SMTP id <xxx>
for <xxx>; Sun, 19 Aug 2012 22:xx:xx -0000 (UT)
Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="<xxx>"
Date: Sun, 19 Aug 2012 22:xx:xx -0000
From: "Redbox" <Redbox@e.redbox.com>
Message-Id: <<xxx>@ebm1.cheetahmail.com>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Received: (qmail 39725 invoked by uid 108); Sun, 19 Aug 2012 22:xx:xx -0000
Reply-To: "Redbox" <support-<xxx>@e.redbox.com>
Subject: Action Required: Confirm your email address
To: <xxx>
Readable Email:
From: Redbox <Redbox@e.redbox.com>
To: <spamtrap>
Subject: Action Required: Confirm your email address
Reply-To: Redbox*s <support-<xxx>@e.redbox.com>
View this email with images. Click the link below.
http://e.redbox.com/a/<xxx>
—————————————————————–
CONFIRM YOUR SUBSCRIPTION
http://e.redbox.com/a/<xxx>
Confirm your Redbox email subscription and get a free* one-night rental. Be the first to receive Redbox offers, freebies and new release details straight to your inbox!
Click on the link below to verify your account and you’ll get your code for a free rental!
Yes, Confirm My Email Address and Give Me My Free Rental
http://e.redbox.com/a/<xxx>
<removed>
You have received this email as a registered user of the Redbox.com email list. You are subscribed as <xxx>. If you do not wish to continue receiving these notices, please unsubscribe:
http://e.redbox.com/a/<xxx>
Please click here to view our privacy policy:
http://e.redbox.com/a/<xxx>
(c) Copyright 2012 Redbox Automated Retail LLC. All rights reserved.
Redbox Automated Retail, LLC
1 Tower Lane, Suite 900
Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181
866-733-2693
(c) Copyright 2011 Redbox Automated Retail LLC. All rights reserved.
Redbox Automated Retail, LLC
1 Tower Lane, Suite 900
Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181
866-REDBOX-3