I recently applied for AWS Simple Email Service (SES) for a customer aiming to send marketing emails to about 1,000 clients who subscribed to their newsletter. They intend to send roughly five messages a year, totaling around 5,000 emails. The client's website clearly outlines their legitimate business activities, so it's not anything dubious or unusual. After detailing everything in the application, I was surprised to face a rejection without any explanation.
Then, I submitted a request for my own company, describing the intentions as transactional rather than marketing. I fabricated reasons for needing SES, claiming I would use it for notification emails related to software that hasn't even been developed yet, and referenced my incomplete landing page. Surprisingly, I got approved with a limit of 50,000 emails per day. This disparity in the approval process feels completely absurd; I really don't understand why I was approved and my customer wasn't.
6 Answers
Been there, done that! I eventually ditched SES for a different SMTP vendor because of all the hassles. If you’re new to email marketing, just be careful; it can be quite a maze!
It really boils down to the credibility of the account requesting SES. If your account is new, they might just be more cautious. A long billing history can really help bolster your case too. Just a tip: if you’re looking for alternatives, services like Mailgun or SendGrid could be worth checking out.
Yeah, I totally get the frustration. I went through something similar. I had my setup all ready with bounce management and automated removals detailed, but my request was still rejected with a generic form letter each time. Eventually, I just let the ticket die out. Interestingly, I provided feedback on their support experience, and shortly after, they approved my SES account. It's almost like they need a nudge to figure things out!
Right? It's like they have to have their metrics met or something.
I had Claude Code request SES for me recently and it was approved almost immediately! Maybe there's something to be said about how you present the application?
That’s interesting! Can you elaborate on how you worded your request or what limits you applied for?
Keep in mind that transactional emails usually perform better in the eyes of AWS since they have higher open rates and lower spam reports. Even with consent, marketing emails have a higher chance of getting flagged. AWS is particularly cautious about maintaining their email reputation, which explains some inconsistencies in the approval process.
It’s definitely tricky! The approval process can be inconsistent. It seems like the key is in how you frame your request. It helps to have a clear and concise explanation of your need, with details that show you understand delivering emails without triggering spam filters.
Haha, I had a similar experience where getting that 3-star feedback prompted someone higher up to take action. It's funny how the system works sometimes.