Respond to all emails, most emails or depends? An email etiquette question.

[Disney Darling]

I tried googling my question but couldn't find an answer so I'm looking for your opinions on email etiquette. Specifically, do you respond to all emails, or at least most as long as they aren't spam or advertisements?

I personally do not feel it is necessary nor do I need a response to all of my emails. For instance, if you ask me something via email and I respond with an answer via email I, personally, don't need a Thank You response back. To me, the thank you response back is a bit annoying when it's piled onto the 30 or 40 emails I already get in a day.

However, many times you learn about how people think and feel about things by what they say and do. I know several people who will send me a thank you, that's it, just a simple thank you back for things I've done for them or whatever. So, this got me to thinking that maybe they expect the same back from me?

Recently, I've had to be in contact with my doctor via email. Her time is valuable. When I send her an email I try to get right to the point with the information she needs. Today I needed her to call in an order for me for a test that she has requested. She just sent me an email stating that she is having her nurse take care of it. Now I'm wondering, do I send back a "Thank You"? Would it be annoying for me to send it or more annoying to her if I don't?

Does this make sense? Anyway, thanks for your help!!

 

[brockash]

I tried googling my question but couldn't find an answer so I'm looking for your opinions on email etiquette. Specifically, do you respond to all emails, or at least most as long as they aren't spam or advertisements?

I personally do not feel it is necessary nor do I need a response to all of my emails. For instance, if you ask me something via email and I respond with an answer via email I, personally, don't need a Thank You response back. To me, the thank you response back is a bit annoying when it's piled onto the 30 or 40 emails I already get in a day.

However, many times you learn about how people think and feel about things by what they say and do. I know several people who will send me a thank you, that's it, just a simple thank you back for things I've done for them or whatever. So, this got me to thinking that maybe they expect the same back from me?

Recently, I've had to be in contact with my doctor via email. Her time is valuable. When I send her an email I try to get right to the point with the information she needs. Today I needed her to call in an order for me for a test that she has requested. She just sent me an email stating that she is having her nurse take care of it. Now I'm wondering, do I send back a "Thank You"? Would it be annoying for me to send it or more annoying to her if I don't?

Does this make sense? Anyway, thanks for your help!!

I usually do. We do it a lot at work. I get what you're saying though. It is kinda a waste, but it does only take a second to read and delete, and there's no question of if the other person got it ect.
For me, if I'm asking someone to do something for me, like if I ask one of our secretaries to do something, they'll send a response back that they're on it or it's done, and then I'll send a reply back of thanks ect. I do the same thing if my supervisor asks something to be done of me, and I get the same response from them. I just like that there's nothing to question (whether it's being done or not) and I think it's just nice to say thanks.

 

[sbell111]

I typically do not respond to an email unless it requires a response. I never respond simply to say 'thank you' or in some other way communicate that I received their message as I find these emails (to me) to be a waste of my time.

 

[Rora]

I typically always answer work emails with a follow up thank you. I usually don't write back a "You're Welcome" but I think it's appropriate to always send a separate "Thank You" email. IMO- it takes two seconds to write and even less time to delete if you're on the receiving end.

When it comes to personal emails I usually respond but if someone sends me a chain email or a joke, etc I won't usually answer unless I have something important to say. Otherwise, I email my friends, family, etc very casually.

 

[purpletiger]

You are basically asking do you reply a "Thank You" to a doctor for ordering your test you requested. My answere would be No for the simple fact that if you were communicating via phone you would not call her back and say "Thanks for ordering my test". Ya get my point.

Now if you are asking a co-worker to do a task for you and you communicate via email to office task then Yes a simple "Thanks" would be appropriate.

For the personal email you receive from friends (jokes and so forth) then use your best judgement. I generally do not respond only if asked a question or response needed.

I guess what I'm saying it all depends on your particular circumstance.

 

[C.Ann]

Email is not on my "Top 20 fun things to do" list.. LOL..

Spam, advertising, and all forwards (even from family and friends - including photos) are deleted without opening.. I've picked up too many viruses this way and just don't want to deal with the hassles..

I will open confirmations for purchases I have made online - and the emails that state when the items have shipped.. Also, emails from my banks..

Very few people have my new personal email address (as of 2005), so it really cuts down on having to respond.. If I request something from someone (ask a question) and they email me back, I will fire off a quick thank you..

Other than that, most everything gets deleted without ever being opened.. Not a big email fan here..

 

[OK!]

I answer the ones that are specifically directed to me or that request a response. If it's something forwarded that was funny or I feel like commenting on, I'll respond to those, too. But the random informational-type emails usually don't warrant a response.

 

[Disney Darling]

You are basically asking do you reply a "Thank You" to a doctor for ordering your test you requested. My answere would be No for the simple fact that if you were communicating via phone you would not call her back and say "Thanks for ordering my test". Ya get my point.

Now if you are asking a co-worker to do a task for you and you communicate via email to office task then Yes a simple "Thanks" would be appropriate.

For the personal email you receive from friends (jokes and so forth) then use your best judgement. I generally do not respond only if asked a question or response needed.

I guess what I'm saying it all depends on your particular circumstance.

Thank you all for your responses! Also, thank you purpletiger! You hit the nail on the head for me. I was especially faced with the dilemma of what I should do when yesterday my doctor let me know, via email, that she had called in a test order for me. I then thought about how my colleagues all send me thank yous when I let them know information or know that I've completed a task via email. Then I started worrying myself thinking, well if all these people do it and I don't because I personally think it's annoying then maybe I'm the one who's wrong and I should send them and especially the doctor a thank you. Your analogy of the phone makes perfect sense! Thanks for taking the time to respond.

And thank you for the other responses as well.

 

[mickey&minnie04]

I tried googling my question but couldn't find an answer so I'm looking for your opinions on email etiquette. Specifically, do you respond to all emails, or at least most as long as they aren't spam or advertisements?

I personally do not feel it is necessary nor do I need a response to all of my emails. For instance, if you ask me something via email and I respond with an answer via email I, personally, don't need a Thank You response back. To me, the thank you response back is a bit annoying when it's piled onto the 30 or 40 emails I already get in a day.

However, many times you learn about how people think and feel about things by what they say and do. I know several people who will send me a thank you, that's it, just a simple thank you back for things I've done for them or whatever. So, this got me to thinking that maybe they expect the same back from me?

Recently, I've had to be in contact with my doctor via email. Her time is valuable. When I send her an email I try to get right to the point with the information she needs. Today I needed her to call in an order for me for a test that she has requested. She just sent me an email stating that she is having her nurse take care of it. Now I'm wondering, do I send back a "Thank You"? Would it be annoying for me to send it or more annoying to her if I don't?

Does this make sense? Anyway, thanks for your help!!

It depends.....I go back and forth with this. On one hand I get annoyed that I go sooo many emails, but yet I get annoyed because how do I know that they really did see that email I sent them if the recipient doesn't respond?