Ask HN: Have you had trouble with using alternative email providers?

#1

Post by tmoaad » Mon, Dec 21, 2020, 6:56 PM UTC

A year ago I finally said most of my goodbyes to gmail and moved over to a more private email provider (Hushmail).

Yesterday, I went to go signup for Repl.it and for the first time I was told to go grovel via email to prove that my email is valid and that I'm actually a human. Sure, I stop what I'm doing and send an email. I get a reply back saying (summed up with the anger of watching the internet burn down around you) "go to our support forum and grovel publicly but if you're actually trying to reach someone send another email and we might take it seriously".

...is this really what awaits those of us who choose not to be with the largest email providers (Gmail/Hotmail/Yahoo) or refuse to use SSO (Google/Github/FB Login)?

Re: Ask HN: Have you had trouble with using alternative email providers?

#2

Post by mistermithras » Mon, Dec 21, 2020, 7:18 PM UTC

May I suggest https://www.cotse.net/ ? They don't do this kind of stuff. I'm a long-time user/fan of them.

Re: Ask HN: Have you had trouble with using alternative email providers?

#3

Post by amasad » Mon, Dec 21, 2020, 11:28 PM UTC

Hi, Repl.it CEO/founder here. Are you saying we asked you to send us an email? You should only have gotten a "Verify your email" link.

Re: Ask HN: Have you had trouble with using alternative email providers?

#4

Post by replwoacause » Tue, Dec 22, 2020, 2:30 AM UTC

I recently switched to Fastmail after finally getting paranoid enough about Google arbitrarily snuffing out my account access. I have been very happy with the switch 4 months in.

Re: Ask HN: Have you had trouble with using alternative email providers?

#5

Post by torqu3e » Tue, Dec 22, 2020, 1:06 PM UTC

Fastmail does email for my personal domain which is what I've been primarily using for not sure how many years and literally not once have I had any issues. Know at least a few other users in the same boat and never heard a complain.

Re: Ask HN: Have you had trouble with using alternative email providers?

#6

Post by tmoaad » Tue, Dec 22, 2020, 8:34 PM UTC

amasad wrote: post #3

Hi, Repl.it CEO/founder here. Are you saying we asked you to send us an email? You should only have gotten a "Verify your email" link.

Hi! Yes, attempting to create an account with my email results in an error telling me to contact support.

Support told me my provider isn't supported. I guess back to cloud9 it is.

P.S I also followed up via email.

Re: Ask HN: Have you had trouble with using alternative email providers?

#7

Post by amasad » Tue, Dec 22, 2020, 9:42 PM UTC

tmoaad wrote: post #6

amasad wrote: post #3

Hi, Repl.it CEO/founder here. Are you saying we asked you to send us an email? You should only have gotten a "Verify your email" link.

Hi! Yes, attempting to create an account with my email results in an error telling me to contact support. Support told me my provider isn't supported. I guess back to cloud9 it is. P.S I also followed up via email.

I'll fix it.

Re: Ask HN: Have you had trouble with using alternative email providers?

#8

Post by amasad » Tue, Dec 22, 2020, 10:23 PM UTC

tmoaad wrote: post #6

amasad wrote: post #3

Hi, Repl.it CEO/founder here. Are you saying we asked you to send us an email? You should only have gotten a "Verify your email" link.

Hi! Yes, attempting to create an account with my email results in an error telling me to contact support. Support told me my provider isn't supported. I guess back to cloud9 it is. P.S I also followed up via email.

Just tested and it works. I also searched our support email and couldn't find any mentions of hushmail. Try again, and if it doesn't work feel free to email me directly: amjad@repl.it

Re: Ask HN: Have you had trouble with using alternative email providers?

#9

Post by tmoaad » Tue, Dec 22, 2020, 11:01 PM UTC

amasad wrote: post #8

tmoaad wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hi! Yes, attempting to create an account with my email results in an error telling me to contact support. Support told me my provider isn't supported. I guess back to cloud9 it is. P.S I also followed up via email.

Just tested and it works. I also searched our support email and couldn't find any mentions of hushmail. Try again, and if it doesn't work feel free to email me directly: amjad@repl.it

Sent an email earlier in the day :), feel free to try and create an account with testamjad@nym.hush.com (Created this alias just for you)

Re: Ask HN: Have you had trouble with using alternative email providers?

#10

Post by HomeDeLaPot » Wed, Dec 23, 2020, 12:19 AM UTC

I've been happy with Fastmail so far. Very smooth experience with their web and Android apps. Want to try using them with my own domain soon.