Tech Support Pits:

From Maw===
Dear Webby,
I know that my mail works because when I send mail to my
other addresses, I receive it. But when I send mail to other
people, especially if they don't know me, they often don't
get it or claim they didn't. I am not trying to sell anything,
I am just doing research and politely ask for example if
they supply a certain product. It happens so often that I
am beginning to think that it is something I do. What should
I change or watch out for?
Thanks
Maw

Dear Maw
1) Get a respectable address. Even if you are not blocked,
  it's a steep uphill battle to get any respect with an AOL,
  yahoo or hotmail address. Keep in mind that no matter
  what their propaganda says, with those addresses you
  arrive as the masked stranger from the SPAM side of town.

  Even if you have to stay on AOL for religious reasons,
  you CAN get a domain name or a subdomain, and use
  the mail you get with that. You will be surprised how the
  same companies all of a sudden treat you with respect
  when you stop playing the masked stranger from the
  SPAM side of town !

2) Use a short subject line, avoid ALL-CAPS style, and
  word the subject line so that it neatly summarizes your
  letter.

3) Most definitely avoid using Incredimail or similar mails.
  Those peg you instantly as a bored grannie, and a lot of
  companies resent that Incredimail is littering useless
  cutesy stuff into their computer and causes extra work
  to clean up the mess.

  Incredimail is meant for private communication, where
  you will be forgiven for drooling childish clip-art, not for
  writing to companies that deal with 1000 or more mails
  per day.

4) Keep the mail short, and paragraphs shorter. Long
  paragraphs make you appear tedious and make scanning
  your mail a lot more strenuous.

If you follow those four simple tips, your response rate
will jump to nearly 100%.

Have FUN!
DearWebby