Member Problems identifying Exchange Offers

Question:

When you get a response from someone you have sent a request to, is there any way of identifying their listing? The system doesn't seem to carry an ID...not mine or theirs. Is there a way of fixing this?

Mostly I use the email link and most people who approach me seem to also. That way, it comes and goes ID-less.

Hello people!

When I email someone on the site, and they hit reply, i have no way of knowing which listing they hail from. There should be an automatic system that includes the listing ID# in the email.

thanks Anne HE16226

Reply:

Thank you for your email and for the feedback concerning the web-site.

As I'm sure you know, there are two methods provided on the web-page for contacting the member by email. One is to use the Email this Member hyperlink, and the other is to use the Email Form provided at the bottom of the listing. Referring to the first question, it would seem that the Member is referring to the Email this Member link and not the Email Form.

If you are using the email link, you are actually opening up a new message in your own email programme and sending it from your computer, not from the website, and we obviously have no control over this. In the subject line a should Member indicate that their message is an exchange offer; otherwise, if it is left blank, many people won't open it when they don't know the source of the message. Just make sure that you include in the subject line something like, Exchange offer from memberHEXXXXX for member HE00000 (filling in the member's User ID). Then, as most people will reply to a message leaving the subject line as it is, you shouldhave no trouble in identifying the listing - you can log on to your member area and search on the member's User ID to view the full listing again.

It is also a good idea to repeat both yours and the member's User IDs within the body of your message too as, again, most will leave your message intact when replying so that, even if they don't include their User ID within their reply, you will be able to see it in the message you had sent to them. Also,as some members may delete your original message, ask, within your exchange offer message that they include their User ID when replying to help you quickly locate their listing again.

We do, of course, have more control over the content of the form which is provided for Member Enquiries. We very much appreciate member suggestions and feedback, and will look into whether or not it is possible to incorporate an automatic system that includes the listing ID# in the Form email. We do, of course, have more control over the content of the form which is provided for Member Enquiries. We very much appreciate member suggestions, and will look into whether or not it is possible to incorporate an automatic system that includes the listing ID# in the email.

I hope that this helps.

Kath Botterill