newsletter - email limit?

Sounds like you've got a host whose services aren't adequately catered for a busy eCommerce site.

Remember: new customers get a welcome email, and the admin gets a copy of that email. Same with order confirmations: both customer and admin get separate emails. That's 4 for just one new customer who makes a purchase.

Your concern is valid, and real. It's worth lobbying your hosting company to review their policies ... or find someone whose policies are already suitable to your needs.

I just PM'd you on this mod - would love to test it out for a client on one of my dedicated servers that I use to provide hosting. We have a 1000 limit on this server - and I have had to recommend PHPList for my hosting clients that have large email lists. Looking forward to hearing from you! :D

bunyip:

I've just completed a small modification to the newsletter page for a client.

What the mod does is throttle the email sending rate to 80% of your server limit (which you input manually as a new key on the email configuration page). So if you set a value of 1000 for the server limit, it will send emails at the rate of one every 4.5 seconds, giving an overall rate of 800/hr. That leaves a reasonable percentage of the server allowance for normal store emails to proceed unimpeded.

The script progress is shown on the admin page, and it shouldn't tie up a lot of server CPU resources (on linux servers) because the mod uses the php sleep function as the throttle. I don't think it's suitable for Windows servers though - I believe the php sleep function doesn't work the same on those.

If anyone wants to participate in beta-testing this mod, contact me via PM.

bunyip I have sent you a PM, I would love to use your mod. I just recently switched to Host Gator which only allows 500/hr so I'd love to break my throttle down since I have over 700 subscribers and when I send out a newsletter they all bounce back. I've tried both phplist and groupmail and they are both just to slow (only half of the subscribers get the newsletter). Can't wait to hear from you.

Patty

bunyip:

I've just completed a small modification to the newsletter page for a client.

What the mod does is throttle the email sending rate to 80% of your server limit (which you input manually as a new key on the email configuration page). So if you set a value of 1000 for the server limit, it will send emails at the rate of one every 4.5 seconds, giving an overall rate of 800/hr. That leaves a reasonable percentage of the server allowance for normal store emails to proceed unimpeded.

The script progress is shown on the admin page, and it shouldn't tie up a lot of server CPU resources (on linux servers) because the mod uses the php sleep function as the throttle. I don't think it's suitable for Windows servers though - I believe the php sleep function doesn't work the same on those.

Does anyone know how to reach bunyip? I've PM'd him twice regarding his mod but can't raise him. We need a throttling mod for our site. Any help appreciated.

Greg

bunyip:

I've just completed a small modification to the newsletter page for a client.

What the mod does is throttle the email sending rate to 80% of your server limit (which you input manually as a new key on the email configuration page). So if you set a value of 1000 for the server limit, it will send emails at the rate of one every 4.5 seconds, giving an overall rate of 800/hr. That leaves a reasonable percentage of the server allowance for normal store emails to proceed unimpeded.

The script progress is shown on the admin page, and it shouldn't tie up a lot of server CPU resources (on linux servers) because the mod uses the php sleep function as the throttle. I don't think it's suitable for Windows servers though - I believe the php sleep function doesn't work the same on those.

beyerg:

Does anyone know how to reach bunyip? I've PM'd him twice regarding his mod but can't raise him. We need a throttling mod for our site. Any help appreciated.

He is currently on holiday

I have figured out a work around. Basically, you split your newsletter list into smaller batches that are under your hosts limit. It takes a little bit of manual work, but does the job.

My host allows 100 e-mail's per hour. I split my e-mail list into batches of 85 and send a batch every hour.

Insert this code via the Install SQL Patches. Refer to below for options to change.

INSERT INTO `query_builder` (
`query_id` ,
`query_category` ,
`query_name` ,
`query_description` ,
`query_string` ,
`query_keys_list`
)
VALUES (
NULL , 'email,newsletters', 'BATCH NAME', 'BATCH DESCRIPTION', 'select customers_firstname, customers_lastname, customers_email_address from TABLE_CUSTOMERS where customers_newsletter = ''1'' LIMIT 0 , 84', ''
);

Few things to change
BATCH NAME: Name of this batch that will appear on your "Please select the audience for this newsletter mailing:" (I.E. "All newsletters Batch 1" ... Each Batch Must have a unique name)
BATCH DESCRIPTION: Description for said batch (I.E. "Sends Message to all Subscribers, #1 through 85)
LIMIT 0, 84: This stats the starting record and ending record to process in this batch, in this case 85. For the second batch of 85 you would change that to 85, 169, etc.

Working Example:

INSERT INTO `query_builder` (
`query_id` ,
`query_category` ,
`query_name` ,
`query_description` ,
`query_string` ,
`query_keys_list`
)
VALUES (
NULL , 'email,newsletters', 'All Newsletter Subscribers Batch #1', 'Returns name and email address of newsletter Subscribers. Results 0-84.', 'select customers_firstname, customers_lastname, customers_email_address from TABLE_CUSTOMERS where customers_newsletter = ''1'' LIMIT 0 , 84', ''
);

If someone wants to automate this, feel free to.

kobra:

lucianman,
You should check your hosts terms of service...

Most allow mail for normal business operations and for a busy shop with maybe 5 persons responding to orders this would be about 2-3 minutes per response X 5 or about 150 per hour.

Mass mailing is a business and one can subscribe to services to conduct these mass mailings BUT at costs that are normally more than one pays for hosting

So...is there a function allowing us to select 100-200 customers' emails at once and send them? And then wait an hour or 2 and send more, so they will go through without being blocked?

westwindworld.com:

So...is there a function allowing us to select 100-200 customers' emails at once and send them? And then wait an hour or 2 and send more, so they will go through without being blocked?
That's not a built-in feature in the current version of Zen Cart (presently v1.3.8a).

westwindworld.com:

So...is there a function allowing us to select 100-200 customers' emails at once and send them? And then wait an hour or 2 and send more, so they will go through without being blocked?

Not an built in function, but if you refer to my code a few replies back, it'll split your mailing list into "batches" that you can manually send at the interval you want.

I am interested in getting a hold of bunyips script. I sent him a PM yesterday and have yet to hear back, just wondering if any of you others that have used it could provide it to me as well. Thanks!

nightdesigns:

I have figured out a work around. Basically, you split your newsletter list into smaller batches that are under your hosts limit. It takes a little bit of manual work, but does the job.

I've been looking for something like this, thank you VERY much! If somone can make this automated, superb! Could you have a look over the following to make sure that it is OK? It is to send 399 out at a time (my limit is 500 per hour) up to 3999. Can I simply paste all of them the same time in to the Zen Cart 'Install SQl Patch' function, or do I need to do each seperately?

PS. I currently have 2200 Newsletter subscribers. Is it OK to install all of these patches (i.e. over that number up to 3999) now, or do I need to wait until I have more subscribers and add the patches accordingly?

INSERT INTO `query_builder` (
`query_id` ,
`query_category` ,
`query_name` ,
`query_description` ,
`query_string` ,
`query_keys_list`
)
VALUES (
NULL , 'email,newsletters', 'All Newsletter Subscribers Batch #01', 'Returns name and email address of newsletter Subscribers. Results 0-399.', 'select customers_firstname, customers_lastname, customers_email_address from TABLE_CUSTOMERS where customers_newsletter = ''1'' LIMIT 0 , 399', '

INSERT INTO `query_builder` (
`query_id` ,
`query_category` ,
`query_name` ,
`query_description` ,
`query_string` ,
`query_keys_list`
)
VALUES (
NULL , 'email,newsletters', 'All Newsletter Subscribers Batch #02', 'Returns name and email address of newsletter Subscribers. Results 400-799.', 'select customers_firstname, customers_lastname, customers_email_address from TABLE_CUSTOMERS where customers_newsletter = ''1'' LIMIT 400 , 799', '

INSERT INTO `query_builder` (
`query_id` ,
`query_category` ,
`query_name` ,
`query_description` ,
`query_string` ,
`query_keys_list`
)
VALUES (
NULL , 'email,newsletters', 'All Newsletter Subscribers Batch #03', 'Returns name and email address of newsletter Subscribers. Results 800-1199.', 'select customers_firstname, customers_lastname, customers_email_address from TABLE_CUSTOMERS where customers_newsletter = ''1'' LIMIT 800 , 1199', '

INSERT INTO `query_builder` (
`query_id` ,
`query_category` ,
`query_name` ,
`query_description` ,
`query_string` ,
`query_keys_list`
)
VALUES (
NULL , 'email,newsletters', 'All Newsletter Subscribers Batch #04', 'Returns name and email address of newsletter Subscribers. Results 1200-1599.', 'select customers_firstname, customers_lastname, customers_email_address from TABLE_CUSTOMERS where customers_newsletter = ''1'' LIMIT 1200 , 1599', '

INSERT INTO `query_builder` (
`query_id` ,
`query_category` ,
`query_name` ,
`query_description` ,
`query_string` ,
`query_keys_list`
)
VALUES (
NULL , 'email,newsletters', 'All Newsletter Subscribers Batch #05', 'Returns name and email address of newsletter Subscribers. Results 1600-1999.', 'select customers_firstname, customers_lastname, customers_email_address from TABLE_CUSTOMERS where customers_newsletter = ''1'' LIMIT 1600 , 1999', '

INSERT INTO `query_builder` (
`query_id` ,
`query_category` ,
`query_name` ,
`query_description` ,
`query_string` ,
`query_keys_list`
)
VALUES (
NULL , 'email,newsletters', 'All Newsletter Subscribers Batch #06', 'Returns name and email address of newsletter Subscribers. Results 2000-2399.', 'select customers_firstname, customers_lastname, customers_email_address from TABLE_CUSTOMERS where customers_newsletter = ''1'' LIMIT 2000 , 2399', '

INSERT INTO `query_builder` (
`query_id` ,
`query_category` ,
`query_name` ,
`query_description` ,
`query_string` ,
`query_keys_list`
)
VALUES (
NULL , 'email,newsletters', 'All Newsletter Subscribers Batch #07', 'Returns name and email address of newsletter Subscribers. Results 2400-2799.', 'select customers_firstname, customers_lastname, customers_email_address from TABLE_CUSTOMERS where customers_newsletter = ''1'' LIMIT 2400 , 2799', '

INSERT INTO `query_builder` (
`query_id` ,
`query_category` ,
`query_name` ,
`query_description` ,
`query_string` ,
`query_keys_list`
)
VALUES (
NULL , 'email,newsletters', 'All Newsletter Subscribers Batch #08', 'Returns name and email address of newsletter Subscribers. Results 2800-3199.', 'select customers_firstname, customers_lastname, customers_email_address from TABLE_CUSTOMERS where customers_newsletter = ''1'' LIMIT 2800 , 3199', '

INSERT INTO `query_builder` (
`query_id` ,
`query_category` ,
`query_name` ,
`query_description` ,
`query_string` ,
`query_keys_list`
)
VALUES (
NULL , 'email,newsletters', 'All Newsletter Subscribers Batch #09', 'Returns name and email address of newsletter Subscribers. Results 3200-3599.', 'select customers_firstname, customers_lastname, customers_email_address from TABLE_CUSTOMERS where customers_newsletter = ''1'' LIMIT 3200 , 3599', '

INSERT INTO `query_builder` (
`query_id` ,
`query_category` ,
`query_name` ,
`query_description` ,
`query_string` ,
`query_keys_list`
)
VALUES (
NULL , 'email,newsletters', 'All Newsletter Subscribers Batch #10', 'Returns name and email address of newsletter Subscribers. Results 3600-3999.', 'select customers_firstname, customers_lastname, customers_email_address from TABLE_CUSTOMERS where customers_newsletter = ''1'' LIMIT 3600 , 3999', '

I realized that I had made a mistake in the original code I posted here. After LIMIT, batch 2 should be 400, 399 (starting record, number of record to process). And yes it's OK to install all of these patches now. It'll just show up as "0 subscribers" in that batch until you've acquired enough.

INSERT INTO `query_builder` (
`query_id` ,
`query_category` ,
`query_name` ,
`query_description` ,
`query_string` ,
`query_keys_list`
)
VALUES (
NULL , 'email,newsletters', 'All Newsletter Subscribers Batch #01', 'Returns name and email address of newsletter Subscribers. Results 0-399.', 'select customers_firstname, customers_lastname, customers_email_address from TABLE_CUSTOMERS where customers_newsletter = ''1'' LIMIT 0 , 400', '

INSERT INTO `query_builder` (
`query_id` ,
`query_category` ,
`query_name` ,
`query_description` ,
`query_string` ,
`query_keys_list`
)
VALUES (
NULL , 'email,newsletters', 'All Newsletter Subscribers Batch #02', 'Returns name and email address of newsletter Subscribers. Results 400-799.', 'select customers_firstname, customers_lastname, customers_email_address from TABLE_CUSTOMERS where customers_newsletter = ''1'' LIMIT 400 , 399', '

INSERT INTO `query_builder` (
`query_id` ,
`query_category` ,
`query_name` ,
`query_description` ,
`query_string` ,
`query_keys_list`
)
VALUES (
NULL , 'email,newsletters', 'All Newsletter Subscribers Batch #03', 'Returns name and email address of newsletter Subscribers. Results 800-1199.', 'select customers_firstname, customers_lastname, customers_email_address from TABLE_CUSTOMERS where customers_newsletter = ''1'' LIMIT 800 , 399', '

INSERT INTO `query_builder` (
`query_id` ,
`query_category` ,
`query_name` ,
`query_description` ,
`query_string` ,
`query_keys_list`
)
VALUES (
NULL , 'email,newsletters', 'All Newsletter Subscribers Batch #04', 'Returns name and email address of newsletter Subscribers. Results 1200-1599.', 'select customers_firstname, customers_lastname, customers_email_address from TABLE_CUSTOMERS where customers_newsletter = ''1'' LIMIT 1200 , 399', '

INSERT INTO `query_builder` (
`query_id` ,
`query_category` ,
`query_name` ,
`query_description` ,
`query_string` ,
`query_keys_list`
)
VALUES (
NULL , 'email,newsletters', 'All Newsletter Subscribers Batch #05', 'Returns name and email address of newsletter Subscribers. Results 1600-1999.', 'select customers_firstname, customers_lastname, customers_email_address from TABLE_CUSTOMERS where customers_newsletter = ''1'' LIMIT 1600 , 399', '

INSERT INTO `query_builder` (
`query_id` ,
`query_category` ,
`query_name` ,
`query_description` ,
`query_string` ,
`query_keys_list`
)
VALUES (
NULL , 'email,newsletters', 'All Newsletter Subscribers Batch #06', 'Returns name and email address of newsletter Subscribers. Results 2000-2399.', 'select customers_firstname, customers_lastname, customers_email_address from TABLE_CUSTOMERS where customers_newsletter = ''1'' LIMIT 2000 , 399', '

INSERT INTO `query_builder` (
`query_id` ,
`query_category` ,
`query_name` ,
`query_description` ,
`query_string` ,
`query_keys_list`
)
VALUES (
NULL , 'email,newsletters', 'All Newsletter Subscribers Batch #07', 'Returns name and email address of newsletter Subscribers. Results 2400-2799.', 'select customers_firstname, customers_lastname, customers_email_address from TABLE_CUSTOMERS where customers_newsletter = ''1'' LIMIT 2400 , 399', '

INSERT INTO `query_builder` (
`query_id` ,
`query_category` ,
`query_name` ,
`query_description` ,
`query_string` ,
`query_keys_list`
)
VALUES (
NULL , 'email,newsletters', 'All Newsletter Subscribers Batch #08', 'Returns name and email address of newsletter Subscribers. Results 2800-3199.', 'select customers_firstname, customers_lastname, customers_email_address from TABLE_CUSTOMERS where customers_newsletter = ''1'' LIMIT 2800 , 399', '

INSERT INTO `query_builder` (
`query_id` ,
`query_category` ,
`query_name` ,
`query_description` ,
`query_string` ,
`query_keys_list`
)
VALUES (
NULL , 'email,newsletters', 'All Newsletter Subscribers Batch #09', 'Returns name and email address of newsletter Subscribers. Results 3200-3599.', 'select customers_firstname, customers_lastname, customers_email_address from TABLE_CUSTOMERS where customers_newsletter = ''1'' LIMIT 3200 , 399', '

INSERT INTO `query_builder` (
`query_id` ,
`query_category` ,
`query_name` ,
`query_description` ,
`query_string` ,
`query_keys_list`
)
VALUES (
NULL , 'email,newsletters', 'All Newsletter Subscribers Batch #10', 'Returns name and email address of newsletter Subscribers. Results 3600-3999.', 'select customers_firstname, customers_lastname, customers_email_address from TABLE_CUSTOMERS where customers_newsletter = ''1'' LIMIT 3600 , 399', '

Hi. Thanks very much for the update. Unfortunately when I paste the code into 'Install SQl Patch' I simply get a 'failed' message at the top of the screen. :-(

Any news about this issue. I too have over 600 subscribed users and would like to send all the emails throughout the day. I have Siteground for hosting and I believe the limit it 200 per hour.

I looked at the third party software and my expense account is minimal right now but would love to learn something new if it works ok.

Has anyone implemented nightdesigns code without error? My server only allows 200 emails per hour so I'm hoping to rectify this within zencart also :)

nightdesigns:

I realized that I had made a mistake in the original code I posted here. After LIMIT, batch 2 should be 400, 399 (starting record, number of record to process). And yes it's OK to install all of these patches now. It'll just show up as "0 subscribers" in that batch until you've acquired enough.

INSERT INTO query_builder (
query_id ,
query_category ,
query_name ,
query_description ,
query_string ,
query_keys_list
)
VALUES (
NULL , 'email,newsletters', 'All Newsletter Subscribers Batch #01', 'Returns name and email address of newsletter Subscribers. Results 0-399.', 'select customers_firstname, customers_lastname, customers_email_address from TABLE_CUSTOMERS where customers_newsletter = ''1'' LIMIT 0 , 400', '

INSERT INTO query_builder (
query_id ,
query_category ,
query_name ,
query_description ,
query_string ,
query_keys_list
)
VALUES (
NULL , 'email,newsletters', 'All Newsletter Subscribers Batch #02', 'Returns name and email address of newsletter Subscribers. Results 400-799.', 'select customers_firstname, customers_lastname, customers_email_address from TABLE_CUSTOMERS where customers_newsletter = ''1'' LIMIT 400 , 399', '

INSERT INTO query_builder (
query_id ,
query_category ,
query_name ,
query_description ,
query_string ,
query_keys_list
)
VALUES (
NULL , 'email,newsletters', 'All Newsletter Subscribers Batch #03', 'Returns name and email address of newsletter Subscribers. Results 800-1199.', 'select customers_firstname, customers_lastname, customers_email_address from TABLE_CUSTOMERS where customers_newsletter = ''1'' LIMIT 800 , 399', '

INSERT INTO query_builder (
query_id ,
query_category ,
query_name ,
query_description ,
query_string ,
query_keys_list
)
VALUES (
NULL , 'email,newsletters', 'All Newsletter Subscribers Batch #04', 'Returns name and email address of newsletter Subscribers. Results 1200-1599.', 'select customers_firstname, customers_lastname, customers_email_address from TABLE_CUSTOMERS where customers_newsletter = ''1'' LIMIT 1200 , 399', '

INSERT INTO query_builder (
query_id ,
query_category ,
query_name ,
query_description ,
query_string ,
query_keys_list
)
VALUES (
NULL , 'email,newsletters', 'All Newsletter Subscribers Batch #05', 'Returns name and email address of newsletter Subscribers. Results 1600-1999.', 'select customers_firstname, customers_lastname, customers_email_address from TABLE_CUSTOMERS where customers_newsletter = ''1'' LIMIT 1600 , 399', '

INSERT INTO query_builder (
query_id ,
query_category ,
query_name ,
query_description ,
query_string ,
query_keys_list
)
VALUES (
NULL , 'email,newsletters', 'All Newsletter Subscribers Batch #06', 'Returns name and email address of newsletter Subscribers. Results 2000-2399.', 'select customers_firstname, customers_lastname, customers_email_address from TABLE_CUSTOMERS where customers_newsletter = ''1'' LIMIT 2000 , 399', '

INSERT INTO query_builder (
query_id ,
query_category ,
query_name ,
query_description ,
query_string ,
query_keys_list
)
VALUES (
NULL , 'email,newsletters', 'All Newsletter Subscribers Batch #07', 'Returns name and email address of newsletter Subscribers. Results 2400-2799.', 'select customers_firstname, customers_lastname, customers_email_address from TABLE_CUSTOMERS where customers_newsletter = ''1'' LIMIT 2400 , 399', '

INSERT INTO query_builder (
query_id ,
query_category ,
query_name ,
query_description ,
query_string ,
query_keys_list
)
VALUES (
NULL , 'email,newsletters', 'All Newsletter Subscribers Batch #08', 'Returns name and email address of newsletter Subscribers. Results 2800-3199.', 'select customers_firstname, customers_lastname, customers_email_address from TABLE_CUSTOMERS where customers_newsletter = ''1'' LIMIT 2800 , 399', '

INSERT INTO query_builder (
query_id ,
query_category ,
query_name ,
query_description ,
query_string ,
query_keys_list
)
VALUES (
NULL , 'email,newsletters', 'All Newsletter Subscribers Batch #09', 'Returns name and email address of newsletter Subscribers. Results 3200-3599.', 'select customers_firstname, customers_lastname, customers_email_address from TABLE_CUSTOMERS where customers_newsletter = ''1'' LIMIT 3200 , 399', '

INSERT INTO query_builder (
query_id ,
query_category ,
query_name ,
query_description ,
query_string ,
query_keys_list
)
VALUES (
NULL , 'email,newsletters', 'All Newsletter Subscribers Batch #10', 'Returns name and email address of newsletter Subscribers. Results 3600-3999.', 'select customers_firstname, customers_lastname, customers_email_address from TABLE_CUSTOMERS where customers_newsletter = ''1'' LIMIT 3600 , 399', '

Bumping after 10 days in hope of someone answering that may have implemented his code successfully?

I'm looking for a good email throttle that can be used with Zencart rather than a standalone solution too.

Anyone got such a snippet?

Peter

I gave up on the 14 sets of 200 emails I had to send. I now pay a monthly fee to Campaign Monitor. Two good things from this... they track how many people opened/clicked the email and it forces me to send a monthly newsletter or I feel that I am waiting my money. They do also have per email campaign price.

My hosting company wouldn't lift the 200 an hour unless I could show them live logs for subscribes and unsubscribes.

Good luck!

I'm gutted that I have still not managed to get this to work. I now have 1,000 email limit per hour, which is very generous from our hosts, but we have just under 3,000 subscribers, and I would like to send them newsletters in batches of 900 at a time, wait an hour, then send the second batch etc. This code would be perfect for me therefore if I could get it to work - as I could contact all of the subscribers within 3 hours - but unfortunately I get a 'failed' message each time I paste the code into 'SQL Query Executor' in the Admin section of Zencart.

I have looked into Mailchimp etc, but as we only send out three or four newsletters a year, we do not believe that it is worth the cost, especially as we have a 1,000 limit per hour with our hosts that we already pay for as part of the package.

Can anyone please help me to implement this by having a look at the code above to see what is wrong with it, and why it is failing all of the time?

bunyip:

I've just completed a small modification to the newsletter page for a client.

What the mod does is throttle the email sending rate to 80% of your server limit (which you input manually as a new key on the email configuration page). So if you set a value of 1000 for the server limit, it will send emails at the rate of one every 4.5 seconds, giving an overall rate of 800/hr. That leaves a reasonable percentage of the server allowance for normal store emails to proceed unimpeded.

The script progress is shown on the admin page, and it shouldn't tie up a lot of server CPU resources (on linux servers) because the mod uses the php sleep function as the throttle. I don't think it's suitable for Windows servers though - I believe the php sleep function doesn't work the same on those.

Just been going through my messages, and Neville had responded to me back in 2009 regarding this! I don't know how I missed it the first time, but it looks very promising. I will try it out today and let you know how it goes. I have the link where the MOD can be downloaded if anyone is interested.