Got an email today from someone with an AOL email address, asking where they could a cheap version of Microsoft Office, and a program to create PDF files.
Well currently Microsoft Office Student and Teacher edition is $150, and Adobe Acrobat (PDF making software) is $299 for the Mere Mortal Edition.
Open Office, is completely free, downloadable, and does both of these things.
No problem. Just reply with these details and links to Best Buy, Adobe.com and Open Office.
Yes problem. According to the great AOL machine, there are issues with the email first time around.
* 554 HVU:B1
http://postmaster.info.aol.com/errors/554hvub1.html
EXPLANATION:
There is at least one URL in your email that is generating substantial complaints from AOL members.
SOLUTION:
If you own all the domains linked to in your e-mail, please contact us to discuss more effective management of your complaint levels. You can start by setting up a free complaint loop through this form. This will allow you to receive AOL member complaints against your domain.
If you do not own the domain, please have the owner of that domain contact us.
Hmm, so I remove all reference to actual costs, and links to Adobe and Best Buy. Instantly the email is returned with the same error. Upon removal of the Open Office link, no worries, it zooms through. I tried resending the older messages but only removing the Open Office links, and it seemed to be accepted.
So let me be clear.
BLOCKED
Email 1, containing links to Best Buy pages, Adobe.com pages, and Open Office.
BLOCKED
Email 2, containing ONE link to the front page of OpenOffice.org.
ACCEPTED
Email 3, containing no links to anything at all.
ACCEPTED
Email 4, with all the links of email 1, but not to OpenOffice.org.
Make of this what you will, but it seems a little nuts NOT to be able to send these types of links to AOL users, who for the most part are just at the start of their online education.
The AOL brainiacs at work once more. Way to go guys!
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