Frequency of retrieving email

[Chocolate Cake]

How frequently do you look at your email?   I check mine several times a day since we have direct internet access and its so easy to do.   My Mom probably checks hers twice a day. My SIL and MIL check maybe once a day in the evening. 

I sent some email recently regarding a project to someone that has volunteered to help with the project.  It's been 6 days and no response (I tagged the email so I would know when it's been opened).   Now I'm going to have to call him.  This is so frustrating:  Why have an email address if you don't actually use email? 

[DottyG]

Why have an email address if you don't actually use email? 

Because sometimes real life incidents take precidence over checking emails?  I can think of many times when I haven't been able to get online, because something in my life was taking up time to do so.

If it's an urgent matter, most people know to use the phone.  Don't always rely on email as your main source of contact for someone.

[fklwmn]

I check my email CONSTANTLY. If I'm at work or home I'm pretty close to the computer and I get a new email notification. If I'm gone for a long period of time I usually check it on my cell phone.

My brother on the other hand NEVER checks his so we email his girlfriend who passes messages to him. She must be perfect for him, b/c I would tell my BF to check his own dingdangity email! LOL

[Cyndi]

I have a few yahoo accounts and I mostly use them to sign up for message boards and stuff. Otherwise I never check unless I get a PM or IM(in the event I'm on AIM) saying to check my email.

This is mostly because the people I'm in contact with go to the same places I do, so we just talk by the PM or IM services. If someone IRL has an emergency they can just call me.

[Chocolate Cake]

Don't always rely on email as your main source of contact for someone.

FYI -- He volunteered to help with the project by email.

[Olivia]

Perhaps he's on vacation? 

[Ki]

I usually check my email several times a day.  There was a recent instance where I didn't check it at all for a week, but that was because I was injured and ordered to total bedrest for that week.  I'll usually try to follow up if an email hasn't been replied to after 3 days - most people have gotten to it by then. 

I don't know if there are etiquette rules about this, but I'd send another email, wait a day or two, then try a different method of communication, e.g. phone, if I had that information.

[T'Mar of Vulcan]

How frequently do you look at your email? 

I check mine in the morning before I go to work, when I get home (after 3 sometime) and in the night. I got into that habit when I was on quite a lot of mailing lists and I got a lot of email. Now I'm only on about three low-traffic lists and it's not necessary, but I still do it because now I also come here and check for new postings, and three times a day is barely enough to keep up with the volume that this forum generates!

[Lisbeth]

I check mine several times a day for two reasons:
1) Because I have my own business and need to stay on top of things, and a lot of it gets done through E-mail.
2) My family is scattered throughout the world, and they use E-mail to stay in touch with each other.

[MerryRaven]

If I am at work I check my work e-mail several times a day.  

At work I expect my staff to check their e-mail once a day to get any memos or changes in procedure as quickly as possible.   I hate it when someone says "When did we change this procedure.  I never heard about it" and I had sent out an e-mail the week before."

Honestly I do not have the time to walk around the building and making sure everyone is personally informed.  I also leave memos in a daybook that temps can check.  So can staff.  People at work who do not check their e-mail once a day drive me crazy.

I am more erratic with home e-mail.  Anything from obessively every hour to never checking it for a week.

[DottyG]

I think this is a double question.  How often do I check my email AT WORK?  Constantly, because I work on the computer, and I know when something's come through.  Plus, email is the way to communicate in this office.

At home, it varies.  I may not check it as often.  Like I said, anyone who has urgent info for me knows to call me.  I guess my initial reaction in this thread (sorry for sounding snarky before, CC,  but maybe this will help explain it a bit) comes from the people in my life (ie, internet friends that I have) that get really upset when I don't get an email from them as soon as they send it.  Well, these particular people don't work.  And, from what I can tell, they really don't do much of anything besides sit on the computer all day.  So, they have time to email people and play.  I can't do that.  And, at the end of the day, I'm exhausted and not always willing to log BACK onto the computer at home having been on one all day.  When I get home, I want to eat, play with my kitty and get to bed.  Getting into email every day isn't one of my priorities.  Yet, these people are offended that I can't do that.  I try to get into my personal email at least once a week, but I can't always make that promise.

So, it depends on what kind of email you're referring to, CC.

[Scritzy]

I check mine all the time I'm at the computer, because I have a little sound that alerts me (and it doesn't say, "You've got mail!" either). I get some of my freelance work via e-mail, so I want to stay on top of things.

I am bad about not checking my Yahoo accounts, though (I use those on message boards and other places). In fact, I think I better go check them now.

[goblue2539]

I'm with Dotty on this one.  My work email is always open and nearly always read immediately.  My home email is very sporadic, although I try to check it twice a week.  That being said, if I had given you my home email address as the primary method for you to contact me, I'd make an effort to check it more often. 

[magicdomino]

I try to check my personal accounts two or three times a day on weekdays, usually less on weekends.  Of course, if I'm expecting an e-mail, I'll check more often.

The firewall on the network at my office doesn't get along with Yahoo Mail.  While I can read my mail, I often can't reply to it.

[VorFemme]

When I worked for (major car insurance carrier) as a claims adjuster - I had a two hour goal.  If I was at work when the email was received - I was supposed to have set up the claim, sent a replay email, and phoned the customer with the claim number while trying to schedule an appointment for the vehicle's damage to be seen by an assessor. 

Since I worked about six hours a day and there was a gap between when I got off work and the next shift came on (I was part time and they were full time but did Internet "when they weren't busy on the phone") - the two hour goal was not always met.

At home - I may check the family account once or twice a day (DeHubby checks it less than once a week - but checks his work mailbox twice a day, when he is in his office instead of in front of a class).  My personal account probably gets checked six or eight times a day at home - less often when traveling (depends on if I have access in the hotel room, have to go to a wireless point & buy coffee, or what......).