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Unnecessary Business Email Thank Yous?

ByJudith Hours Posted on Hours Updated: Reading Time: 2 minutes

What’s with all the complaining about “Thank You” emails? I can’t believe the emails I receive on the topic that claim they are a waste of time, annoying, and shouldn’t be sent.

I’ve previously posted on the topic of Thank You curmudgeons and have also been receiving “thank you” emails. Yet, not once was I annoyed. Instead, I smile and then hit Delete. So, where is the angst coming from?

I received a site visitor email about this topic with a slightly different twist, so I thought I would share our conversation with you.

It drives me CRAZY when those I work with fill up my inbox with a reply that only says, “Thanks.”
BEE Site Visitor

Hmmm… With the amount of help I offer, from experience, the thank you emails are infrequent. So, to be so special that you get so many “thanks” and then state that is annoying?

Thank Yous are Uncommon

Since so few take that extra step to send gratitude (in my experience anyway), I think sending a thank you is a nice gesture we should always appreciate. I cannot imagine ever becoming tired of emails that thank me.

To continue…

When I mentioned this to a co-worker and asked her to stop it, she said that it is proper etiquette to always respond with a “Thank You” to let the sender know that the message was received and appreciated. Is that true?
BEE Site Visitor

Okay, this may not be an issue of one showing sincere gratitude, but a co-worker acknowledging receipt of emails. Then, why not just hit the Delete button and move on?

Since your sanity is at stake, kindly tell them that not every email requires a response. Therefore, there is no need to send a “Thanks” to confirm receipt.

Thank You = Acknowledgement?

No response is necessary unless there is something that specifically needs to be confirmed or responded to because you asked them to. However, if they asked you a question or for some information and you obliged, they thanked you for your time and efforts.

What is wrong with that? Some folks are natural “thankers.”

She goes on…

I think that if I wanted to know if you read my message, I would turn the tracking option on to send me a confirmation when the message was read.
BEE Site Visitor

Tracking or Return Receipts is not something you can rely on. Remember that the RR/Return Receipt only acknowledges that an email was received/opened but not read. Or what if she has her settings, as I do, to ignore RRs?

If you think thank-you emails are crazy, imagine having to acknowledge every RR. So, requiring an RR with every email is not an option.

What is the appropriate response?
BEE Site Visitor

Be grateful for the thank you and move on. Even if done for reasons one disagrees with, it is still a nice gesture from someone making an extra effort.

Everyone should be concerned if human beings ever get to a point where being thanked is considered annoying. Very concerned.

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