postmaster troubles

colak · 2017-04-04 09:16:20

I know I should be posting in that thread but this is to hopefully start a discussion here which might hopefully lead to the plugin’s update.

We have yesterday posted one of our infrequent newsletters and for the 1st time it was not delivered. Although postmaster indicated no errors and its interface went smoothly, the error logs at webfaction showed:

[Mon Apr 03 04:38:50.269351 2017] [cgi:error] [pid 118214] [client 1.1.1.1:43656] AH01215: sendmail: recipient address email@domain.tld not accepted by the server, referer: http://news.domain.tld/textpattern/index.php?event=postmaster&step=initialize_mail&radio=1&list=default&artID=1815.

To say that this was an important newsletter for us is a lie as we only send emails out whenever we want to promote an event or a call. As such for us, the newsletter is our only way of reaching out!!! With over 2700 subscribers which includes museums, curators, theorists, artists and art lovers, it is the only way we have for a targeted audience.

I already wrote to webfaction and as I am waiting for an answer could someone indicate as to what might have gone wrong?

Here are the specs of the server

Textpattern version: 4.4.1 (r3575)
Last update: 2016-10-09 14:12:47/2016-10-09 09:02:35
Document root: /home/me/webapps/news
$path_to_site: /home/me/webapps/news
Textpattern path: /home/me/webapps/news/textpattern
Article URL pattern: id_title
Temporary directory path: /home/me/tmp
Site URL: news.domain.tld
PHP version: 5.4.45
GD Graphics Library: bundled (2.1.0 compatible); supported formats: GIF, JPG, PNG.
Server TZ: Europe/London
Server local time: 2017-04-04 10:10:21
Daylight Saving Time enabled?: 1
Automatically adjust Daylight Saving Time setting?: 0
Time zone (GMT offset in seconds): Europe/London (0)
MySQL: 5.6.35-81.0
Locale: en_GB.UTF-8
Server: Apache
PHP server API: cgi-fcgi
RFC 2616 headers: 0
Server OS: Linux 3.10.0-514.6.2.el7.x86_64
Active plugins: zem_redirect-1.2.1m, fha_time_diff-0.23m, mdn_count-2.1.1, glx_countdown-0.1m, glx_admin_ping-0.1m, wet_slimpattern-0.4.1m, wet_opensearch-0.1, ike_slideshow-0.02m, wlk_qt-0.9.7, the_video-0.7, rvm_privileged-0.4, yab_image-0.3, act_if_mobile-0.1.2m, zem_contact_lang-4.0.3.6, zem_contact_reborn-4.0.3.20, rah_repeat-0.8.1, smd_countdown-0.1, aks_article-0.2.4, abc_feed-0.1m, rss_admin_db_manager-4.3m, upm_savenew-0.4.2, bas_locate_me-0.1, rvm_css-0.7, rah_sitemap-0.9, rah_external_output-1.0, rah_unlog_me-0.1, mem_postmaster-1.0.10, adi_matrix-1.1, adi_notes-1.1.1, spf_js-0.3, mem_postmaster_library-1.0.10, ied_plugin_composer-0.83, smd_where_used-0.2, msd_textile_link-0.1
Admin-side theme: remora 4.4.1

maniqui · 2017-04-04 13:53:21

recipient address email@domain.tld not accepted by the server

This seems like the email address doesn’t exist anymore. But I highly doubt this message repeated for each of your 2700 subscribers.

What about using some email sending service like Mailchimp or Campaign Monitor? The free tier won’t serve you, as it’s for email lists below 2000 subscribers, but they have some “pay-as-you-go” options.

Alternatively, I’ve started using Sendy, which is self-hosted software (bought at $59) and uses AWS (more precisely, Amazon SES) at a fraction of the cost of any SaaS provider. Last week, I’ve sent +5500 emails for just $0.57 total. Even if it’s a tool more limited that it SaaS counterparts (Sendy is more a “DIY” newsletter tool), so far it seems an incredible tool to manage subscriber lists and send newsletters.

colak · 2017-04-04 19:06:10

Thanks so much for the reply Julián. I’m really trying to avoid 3rd party services!!! I mean…. I am reeeeeeeealy trying!!!

Just received a response from webfaction: “The issue was caused by an outgoing header block that we added to help reduce outbound spam.” I’m currently sending the email again to see how it will react.

In between I am checking this option which if, it works, our problem will be solved long term.

maniqui · 2017-04-04 22:17:58

colak wrote #305215:

Thanks so much for the reply Julián. I’m really trying to avoid 3rd party services!!! I mean…. I am reeeeeeeealy trying!!!

Yeah, I know that’s noble goal… but then, you are already hosting with a 3rd party service ;)
The reason I went with Sendy is it is self-hosted (OK, it’s not open source, but it felt good to pay for this one), and relying on AWS for the email sending with such an incredible low cost was a no-brainer. A great thing about Sendy is that it marks which mails bounced (hard), and won’t send emails again to those address, so it will cost you less next time you send an email.

In between I am checking this option which if, it works, our problem will be solved long term.

Mmmm, I’d be wary of sending +2700 in one batch from your own ISP. I’m not an expert, but it may quickly get you into some blacklists if there are a lot of bounces and/or users marks your email as SPAM. It might hurt your email “deliverability” and/or reputation.

jstubbs · 2017-04-05 03:35:02

colak wrote #305215:

Just received a response from webfaction: “The issue was caused by an outgoing header block that we added to help reduce outbound spam.” I’m currently sending the email again to see how it will react.

Just for info, I had a similar error with WebFaction using the ZCR contact form, now solved.

colak · 2017-04-05 05:15:43

maniqui wrote #305216:

Mmmm, I’d be wary of sending +2700 in one batch from your own ISP. I’m not an expert, but it may quickly get you into some blacklists if there are a lot of bounces and/or users marks your email as SPAM. It might hurt your email “deliverability” and/or reputation.

Although I’m told that gmail marks some of our emails as spam, we do not send them often enough to be penalised and – at least for the subscribers we know, we tell them what to do so as to white-list us. Sendy does look good! I’m looking into it.

For now the problem is solved and the emails were sent.

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#1 2017-04-04 09:16:20