Trouble with Yahoo domain mail server

[RandySmith]

I've been experiencing some really bad problems with the Yahoo mail server. I purchased a domain name through Yahoo 3+ years ago, which provides me with an email account. Recently I have been experiencing trouble "receiving" emails from customers. They are reporting to me that the emails are being returned "no such user" .... since I'm not a software guru by any means, this is becoming a problem. I don't know if I can switch to another provider and keep the same domain name and email address that I have established through Yahoo. I've contacted Yahoo three times, and their responses were "Our Engineers are looking into the problem" ... no comittment on date of resolution, etc., or overwhelming concern for the problem.

If anyone has any suggestions that will enable me to KEEP my domain name, and email account active so mail and searches for WWW that will help is sincerely appreciated. I really don't want to change domain name or email account, too many folks know how to get a hold of me that way now.

Thanks.
Randy Smith

[markfh]

What's your domain name?

[Aric C. Hoek]

I can't even begin to imagine how many emails go through yahoo every second.

[RandySmith]

Mark: Domain name: photosmithy.com

Aric - I realize that the traffic is huge, and delays are understandable I suppose. However, I don't understand why my customers are getting "no such user" ... and their emails are being returned. However, SPAM seems to have no trouble getting through. This particular account does not allow for any SPAM filtering software apps.

Thanks.
Randy

[srwatters]

What Yahoo! plan are you on? Two reasons for asking. Not so long ago, yahoo web hosting moved into Yahoo Small Business Services and the old users sort of got left behind on older not so well maintained system (call it planned obsolescence). I was forced to move to the newer service. In fact I couldn't actually move. I had to close my old account and open a new one. I've had my personal domain (watters.org) with Yahoo since 2002. I've had it even longer than that, but I was hosted on my employers servers (being the IT manager has it's benefits).

Check into the plan you have now. You might be able to save some $ too. The newer plans are cheaper.

[RandySmith]

Thanks Scott,

The service I have is: Yahoo! Domains .... $35.00 / year

They have an upgrade option but I'm a little reluctant. Can domain names email account names be moved to another provider then like a UNIX alias, can the email address and domain name be redirected to another site, or am I kinda stuck with these folks ?

Any thoughts appreciated. Thanks for your time.
Randy

[srwatters]

I have the standard business web hosting account with them that gives me my web site, email, and domain registration all for $12 a month. That's a lot more than what you are paying, but it works for my needs. If you are just getting domain name service with email, then you can move your email to another host by updating your name server records with Yahoo pointing your MX record(s) at your new (or other) hosting company.

What hosting service do you use for the website? (FotoTime?)
Will they support email for you?
Do you have any other domains?

At the moment your MX record points to Yahoo (as it should), but you can change that once you enable mail services at another isp. Just watch out for the mail-relay issue. Some servers will reject outbound mail (SMTP) if it doesn't originate from the domain source.

I know this doesn't help you much, but that's the only option I see unless you upgrade at Yahoo. Good luck.

[RandySmith]

Scott -

No other domains. Yes, fototime is where I'm forwarding the domain name to (I think thats what you mean by MX) ... fototime will provide some email services, but like you said the daisy chain forwarding email might get messy and finger pointing between services blaming one or the other for problems .... which may really compicate any future problems. Looks like the upgrade route is a way for me to consider. Strange that the Yahoo customer service doesn't recognize that this might be a solution for me ... cust svc probably "off shore" ....

thanks again for your time.
Randy

[srwatters]

CNAME and or A records are how your web hosting gets pointed at fototime. The MX record is a mail exchanger. That's what you change if you want your email processed by fototime. Ask them if they support pop and smtp for your domain. If they do, then you can tell Yahoo to change your MX record to point at the fototime mail server(s). This is really simple stuff. You just need to make sure that fototime will support both POP and SMTP so you can receive and send your mail.

Feel free to send me a PM and I'll give you my cell number. I'll be happy to help you if I can.