Warp2Search.net » News » July 2002 » Hotmail Uses Scare Tactics To Get You To PAY!

Ok people, here are the short sharp facts. I have been a Hotmail user since 1998 and generally find the service good. I like the fact it is free, who doesn?t? I like the fact I can access it anywhere! Generally I can live with the 2 MB and 512kb space/file limit since I have personal email client on my computer. And I particularly like how it can be tided in with an online messenger program, but I think this shock tactic has got to be over the top.

Today I just got this email in my Hotmail inbox which almost says, you better sign up for this or else. Please press the read more to see what it said in the email.




"First, you must log in at least once every 30 days. If you don?t, your account will be deemed inactive and closed, and all your messages and contacts will be deleted.*

Second, don?t let your account go over the 2MB storage limit. Inboxes have a way of filling up fast, so be sure to check every so often and delete unwanted or large messages. If you don?t, the Hotmail Janitor will randomly delete messages until your account is reduced to 2MB.

You can avoid the potential pitfalls of leaving your account unattended by signing up for MSN Extra Storage. For only £19.99** a year, you can take a holiday from your e-mail account, and know that all your messages will be there when you get back." So the choice is to stick to your defined boundaries, play nice with our rules, and come back to pappa and mamma MS Hotmail every 30 days, otherwise you pay $19.99 and we leave you alone. Well obviously you have heard all this before and this nothing new. But did you know Microsoft would go to any length to secure you allegiance?

I got this in what meant to a reminder email for when you go on holiday, with the subject heading saying:-

"Protect your Hotmail account this summer " And then with this little scenario:-

"If you?re taking a holiday this summer, you?re probably going to stop your newspaper delivery and make sure your mailbox doesn?t overflow. But don?t forget there are also a few things you need to do to safeguard your e-mail account while you?re away."
Well, they first did this type of shock tactic with X-Box commercial and now wish to have a go again in a milder form. Personally now I think after this I might now go and look else where, because I think this email from Microsoft Hotmail has gone over the top with the rubbing it in and treating their loyal users like this. Guess loyalty mean nothing. What do you think?

Digital Oracle Unregistered

#37501 Posted on: 07/04/2002 01:22 AM I know this post seems kind of strong and obvious in places, but they way Microsoft goes about marketing things like this, I think is wrong. The products they create are excellent and generally does what I need from it, but this style of advertising is just don't seem to sit right. What do you guys and gals thing?

exedanni Unregistered

#37503 Posted on: 07/04/2002 02:10 AM I don't really mind. Considering the fact that so many people create spamming or 1-time accounts the 30-day policy is reasonable. Its been like that for a long time, at least a year or more. Also the only thing that happens after 30 days is the messages disappear, the account still remains. I suppose the fact they want to make money is understandable, and thats why they need to spam like that, but I think Hotmail should remain true to its roots and free. If it doesn't M$ will lose 99% at least of the Hotmail users. Its quite funny when you sign up for Hotmail these days, it is really hard to find the place to click for the free service, and VERY easy to get to the page where you enter your CC number for the premium service.

Sparkesy Senior Member Posts: 195 Joined: 2002-12-16

#37508 Posted on: 07/04/2002 03:39 AM I'm sorry but this is so obviously a hoax. Why is it that some people will do anything to make a dig at MS. I understand that they're the great software giant that makes all the descisions for the industry etc but tell me this exactly what OS are all you people who complain about 'em using??? cos I can garantee that a majority of you moaners ain't using MAC's or linux!

Chicken Senior Member Posts: 311 Joined: 2002-02-11

#37509 Posted on: 07/04/2002 04:12 AM Check out www.myrealbox.com it's Novell's email beta test server but it's open to the public for free accounts, with 10meg of space and no advertising, it includes webmail, POP and IMAP access. A warning though, it is a beta-test server for them to check out thier latest servers, so there's usually a couple of hours downtime once a week or so for updates and Novell will ban your account for life and if possible fine you for any mass-spam sent from your account.

exedanni Unregistered

#37510 Posted on: 07/04/2002 05:22 AM A hoax? What on Earth are you talking about? If you even read the post, or used Hotmail I think you would realize what it is about. You do realise that the "or else" were the words of the poster, not Microsoft?

topher Unregistered

#37511 Posted on: 07/04/2002 09:25 AM This is not a hoax and I got the same mail, but I don't really care. Everything is becoming a pay service these days, and it's your choice if you wan't to pay or not.

Faust Unregistered

#37519 Posted on: 07/05/2002 12:44 AM Right on the money Chicken. I've had a realbox.com account for close to a year now and it is by far the best out there. It intergrades with Outlook with ease or you can use it as a web based mail browser.

rtz Member Posts: 30 Joined: 2004-09-28

#37522 Posted on: 07/05/2002 05:48 AM Thanks.

modem Unregistered

#37523 Posted on: 07/05/2002 06:10 AM That was one thing that bothered me from the beginning with Hotmail and Yahoo. I used to use both of those for email dedicatedly for years. Heck I can remember as far back as using Geocities when it first came out. First it was the spam problem slowly growing from those accounts and then it got to be that the interface was really annoying. I agree with what the one post said above about the free links being almost non-existant. After a while I got tired of that, and decided to put my money where my mouth is. Two years ago I began creating my own business and webmail site. Over those two years I've tried to keep everything simple as I or any other dedicated user would like it. Right now I have my own webmail setup through my own businesses's webpage. You can check it out at www.modemnet.net. I offer free webmail with the choice of purchasing an "advanced" account but it's not forced upon you. It allows for a 6mb inbox as well as unlimited checking of POP3 accounts, and server side spam filters. As long as people don't use their account for every magazine signup under the sun spam is non-existant. I know this may be redundant to most of you all advanced users, but for any home non-tech user who wants that basic go anywhere webmail account they can signup on my page and not have to worry about some 512k file sending limit or a 2mb inbox that gets cleaned every 30 days or such. www.modemnet.net is the address and if anyone has any questions please contact me cause I'd love to address any questions or concerns anyone would have regarding it.

Warp2Search.net » News » July 2002 » Hotmail Uses Scare Tactics To Get You To PAY!