Difficulty contacting Bintel by email?

citivolus (Ric) · #1 26-05-2009, 05:26 AM

First off, this isn't a lack of them responding. This is a mail server issue that they are likely completely unaware of.

I tried to send a stock check request for a $5400 item to Bintel a few minutes ago, but it got bounced by their email server:
554 Sending address not accepted due to spam filter

Some checking showed that this was due to their mail hosting provider attempting to real time verify my address against my mail server, however a check of my server logs shows no incoming connection from them despite several other active SMTP sessions at that time. Packet capture on the external interface of my firewall verfied this. Additionally, I did an RBL check of my IP just to make sure I was kosher, and came up negative on all RBL lists checked (around 50). I also have valid spf records for the sending domain in question.

Is anyone else having difficulty in sending Bintel email? I suspect that their email host, Postini (psmtp.com) is either having issues with a server or needs a swift kick to the nether regions.

It is costing Bintel money, so it is really in their best interest to look into it.

I guess I'll just have to fall back to using the telephone if I can be bothered. Ick

Hagar (Doug) · #2 26-05-2009, 06:49 AM

I suppose it will depend on how much you want the item in the end and perhaps how much you are prepared to pay. 25c for a call and a few minutes of your life against a lifetime of enjoyment. I know which way I would go.

dpastern (Dave Pastern) · #3 26-05-2009, 07:08 AM

Well, you've checked RBL and SPF's, that's a good start. I'd say that they're employing a commercial SPAM filter and either your IP, or the IP address block range of your provider has been marked as a SPAM sender.

I take it that you can connect via telnet to their MX record address, so it's not an outright rejection.

It's probably only a SPAM filter and nothing more serious. Give them a call and ask them to follow it up with their mail provider.

Dave

AdrianF (Adrian) · #4 26-05-2009, 07:32 AM

I sent Bintel 3 emails which were not responded to not even a bounce message.
Spent my money at Andrews instead.

Adrian

citivolus (Ric) · #5 26-05-2009, 07:42 AM

I should probably mention that for the past 13 years I've been a system administrator at various size organisations, responsible for up to 150K mailboxes and the infrastructure to support them. It frustrates me greatly when I see misbehaving spam filters. If Postini (Google) are going to issue a 550 permanent failure, they could at least reference a web site that explains why the failure is occuring. Even a search using their own search engine comes up empty...

citivolus (Ric) · #6 26-05-2009, 07:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AdrianF

I sent Bintel 3 emails which were not responded to not even a bounce message.
Spent my money at Andrews instead.

Adrian

Hmm, it is quite possible that they didn't even receive the messages, if their mail hosting is improperly configured. I wouldn't pin the blame on Bintel quite yet

Omaroo (Chris Malikoff) · #7 26-05-2009, 07:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AdrianF

I sent Bintel 3 emails which were not responded to not even a bounce message.
Spent my money at Andrews instead.

Adrian

I think that's a bit harsh Adrian. Why not just call them? Email is so unbelievably wieldy and unreliable in modern times that my business (getting incredibly expensive advertising material from advertiser/agency to publisher/press via our private network) is built and justified upon this fact. Try sending your $50,000 full page ad to the Telegraph for the next edition by deadline and hope it gets there via email....

Email is rubbish. If it works - that's a bonus for you, but don't rely on it. There are too many variables well outside of your control - and that of your recipients.

Phone calls take a few minutes and you speak to the people you want to. Bintel are always VERY helpful and their service level is so far above the average that its just wrong to dismiss them as poor performers. They are the keenest real astronomers in business here in Oz and only want to help. No - I'm not affiliated with them in any way. The fact that they've also all been at SPSP these past few days may also contribute to the confusion - maybe someone forgot to set them to "Sorry - we're out of the office".

bloodhound31 · #8 26-05-2009, 09:13 AM

I hear your frustration Ric. One would think technology has advanced far enough now that communication problems would be ironed out.

I am a very big fan of phone calls mate. You are guaranteed to get what you are after when the guy on the other end picks up.

Bintel themselves, in all my experiences with them, provides the best service I have ever known. Even if their gear happened to be a couple of bucks more, I am prepared to spend it for their professionalism. There have been a couple of occasions when Michael there has even talked me OUT of buying something, looking after my interests and goals. What retailer does that if not an honest one?

Yeah, give 'em a call mate.

Baz.

Stuart78 (Stuart) · #9 26-05-2009, 10:50 AM

I find this weird i have never had any issues emailing Bintel they always respond within a short time, always helpfull and if i make orders on their site without even speaking to anyone it rocks up either the next day or the day after,very fast postage, very awesome service in my opinion.

Stu>>

dpastern (Dave Pastern) · #10 26-05-2009, 12:56 PM

I sent them an EMail towards the beginning of this year without issue. Response was very fast. Give them a tingle and let them know - they're possibly unaware of the issue I suspect.

Dave

citivolus (Ric) · #11 26-05-2009, 03:05 PM

I was able to reach them via a gmail account, and they responded quite quickly to my quote request.

I also made them aware of the email issue, so hopefully someone there will look into it.

AdrianF (Adrian) · #12 26-05-2009, 04:33 PM

OK I didnt blame them or push them aside as bad performers. I have also had good dealings with them when I bought the adaptors for my canon 350D. They were quick to post I was just pointing out the fact that I did have some problem with email recently, by the way I was quoted and I ordered via email from Bintel for the adaptors.

Adrian

anthony2302749 · #13 26-05-2009, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by citivolus

First off, this isn't a lack of them responding. This is a mail server issue that they are likely completely unaware of.

I tried to send a stock check request for a $5400 item to Bintel a few minutes ago, but it got bounced by their email server:
554 Sending address not accepted due to spam filter

Some checking showed that this was due to their mail hosting provider attempting to real time verify my address against my mail server, however a check of my server logs shows no incoming connection from them despite several other active SMTP sessions at that time. Packet capture on the external interface of my firewall verfied this. Additionally, I did an RBL check of my IP just to make sure I was kosher, and came up negative on all RBL lists checked (around 50). I also have valid spf records for the sending domain in question.

Is anyone else having difficulty in sending Bintel email? I suspect that their email host, Postini (psmtp.com) is either having issues with a server or needs a swift kick to the nether regions.

It is costing Bintel money, so it is really in their best interest to look into it.

I guess I'll just have to fall back to using the telephone if I can be bothered. Ick

We will have a look at our server, but in the mean time let your fingers do the walking and give us a ring.

Anthony
BINTEL Melbourne

citivolus (Ric) · #14 26-05-2009, 09:52 PM

After hearing back from Don so quickly, I went ahead and placed my order. 12" LX200-ACF OTA incoming

Just to confirm, I've never had a non-positive interaction with Bintel, and even my wife has recommended them to friends!

Now if only their online shopping cart would work in Firefox

Tandum (Robin) · #15 26-05-2009, 10:28 PM

Ric,
Is that a B1.1.1 error coming back? I get that from fatcow to TPG.

TPG resonds to incoming mail by connecting to the sender with a mail from: <>
Then a rcpt to: <xxxx@xxxx.com>

Fatcow doesn't recognise mail from: <> so the check fails error: B1.1.1

From your description bintels server doesn't even connect back to you. Damn pain in the arse for me and neither fatcow or tpg will fix it my problem. Blame it on the spam problem I guess.
robin

mswhin63 (Malcolm) · #16 26-05-2009, 11:17 PM

Voice calling gets my vote. Using VoIP has made it so easy and cheap.

Typing emails to get a responce is just not worth it, with so many spammers out there making life difficult. Also for the time that you type the message would take the same time as 10 phone calls.

Generally when an email server have specific spam rejection software they usually detect where it comes from by IP address. So if someone sent loads of spam to a server that is used by a number of business's they usually reject any more message from that IP address. Unfortunately a lot of other people use the SMTP server as well and they get restricted as well. Found this out the hard way some time ago. I now use google SMTP now as they seem to be the least restricted.

Apart from that general enquiries should be done via phone even ordering if possible. (Use VoIP)

dpastern (Dave Pastern) · #17 27-05-2009, 07:24 AM

You think EMail SPAM is bad, another 5 years and voice SPAM will be just as bad. Don't call register? Forget it, they'll all be overseas based companies and avoid that register easily enough. What we're seeing now is the tip of the iceberg.

Dave

mswhin63 (Malcolm) · #18 27-05-2009, 10:53 AM

A bit off topic again Dave, talking about the best way for customers contacting business's not the other way around.

dpastern (Dave Pastern) · #19 28-05-2009, 09:06 PM

I was in essence replying to your earlier post Malcolm - complaining about EMail SPAM. At least you can filter that, it's impossible to filter voice SPAM. If voice SPAM goes on the increase it'll cause issues with being able to contact people for starters, and then, with so much voice traffic going over a network connection these days, rather than a traditional PSTN (at least for a lot of businesses these days), it'll create network/Internet congestion - causing issues with IP voice networks, and Internet connection/bandwidth.

But I'll digress - EMail is a fine way to contact businesses, as is fax or voice. All of them work, all of them have pitfalls. It's very much a personal choice.

Dave

dannat (Daniel) · #20 28-05-2009, 09:15 PM

let me sayI'm very happy with Bintel also - bought an observing chair off Anthony & got great service - as well as many photo& 2" access for my WO66.they even encourage me to bring the scope in so all was correct before i left. I have sent a few email's to melb - but usually addressed to the individual staff (sorry roger) - got good prompt replies

Email is a must for doing business these days i reckon - i do not have a landline anymore - totally dependent on wireless/mobile & email is cheaper/easier