Newsletter Hyperlinks Dead in Webmail

[RodG]

> Surely sending HTML embedded email is one of the most basic functions of the internet?

Actually, no. Email was around for a couple of decades before HTML was even thought of. HTML was developed as a means of sharing information via WEB Servers, and everyone was happy. Then one day, some bright spark thought it'd be cool to clog up their friends email boxes with entire webpages, rather than sending them the link to the webpage (which is always going to be more up to date and probably even display better anyway), other people then got on the bandwaggon by adding needless backgrounds and fonts to their emails, with no regard as to whether the intended recipient could read it or not, and no thought whatsoever about the needless waste of bandwitdh to they imposed on others to recieve such things (not everyone has broadband), and eventually, the hackers and scammers figured out that these HTML emails, with who knows what object embedded in them, was the ideal method to gain access to other peoples machines and/or information.
Without a doubt, HTML embedded email has been, and is, one of the most overused and abused merging of technologies I can think of. It has no useful purpose other than to make emails look pretty (if you can consider that as being 'useful', but if you are going to go to that trouble, create a webpage and send the link. :-)

I happily trade off pretty looking emails for plain text ones *knowing* that I'll never get an email virus or suckered into going to a phishing site by doing so.

Just my 2cents worth ;-)

[Beer_man]

Thanks Rod And Chuckl

I don’t think this is a server problem as for me, it is restricted to newletters, coupons, messages etc.. sent by my own and other ZC stores. Indeed, it is restricted only to ZC emails that I receive (all other HTML comes through as it should be).

Rod, I understand what you are saying about the security issues of HTML, but my issue is that HTML doesn’t work, not how secure it is (or isn’t). Irrelevant of how secure/safe it is (or isn’t) if a customer wants a to receive HTML email they should be able to do so and view it exactly as intended (well, 99% of people should!) and not some squashed, crushed, ‘wrong’ version of it.

For me, HTML newsletters are a way to keep customers informed about their order, and keep them updated and informed about new products. Ultimately, the aim is to increase sales. Pretty pictures, colours, hyperlinks all help this. I imagine that most customers would agree.

Cheers!

Beerman

[facklera]

How can I stop Excel 2004 (Mac) from converting an email address to a hyperlink? No way to do this under AutoComplete. I know how to REMOVE a hyperlink, but I don't want Excel to auto-create one IN THE FIRST PLACE. Thanks for any help you can offer!