Not sure if it’s etiquette, but yes it would have been good to acknowledge receipt of the information. Often emails go straight to ‘trash’ and he was checking that his didn’t.

He’s a salesman doing what salesmen do, follow up.

Yes, I think I would have acknowledged receipt of the email and let him know when he might hear back on my decision.

I let people know I have received an email and when to expect action, as well.

I try to send an email acknowledging receipt, but I don't think you were rude to not do so. Stuff happens in email, e.g., inadvertent deletion, routing to graymail, high volume inbox. By acknowledging theirs it hopefully keeps them at bay while you figure out what want to do about their recommendation. Thank you for your estimate/recommendation. I'm reviewing it and will get back to you in x days. Extend it if you need more time.

Nope, not rude at all.

I don’t think you were rude. However, when I ask for info from someone and they send me a link or whatever, I usually respond with a quick line giving them an idea when I’ll get a chance to respond. Mostly just to buy myself time and not get hounded.

Life gets away from us. I know sometimes I plan on responding to something and didn’t realize how much time has passed.

Since this is a salesman, I think he was okay with following up.

For me, a personal email is different.

I use Gmail, and I love the "Snooze" feature for emails like this. I usually set it for the next day or so - the email then disappears from my view (or I can find it under Snoozed emails) then pops up at the time I have chosen. I do try to at least acknowledge receipt of emails like this within about 36 hours.

Well I learned something today and that is that I should acknowledge an email if I've asked to have some information sent to me. Because you're right - it could wind up in trash and neither of us would know. Thanks.

For me, it would depend on whether I had initiated the contact or he had. If he cold-called me and then sent the information, I wouldn't necessarily feel obliged. If I had requested a quote, I usually would responded within 2 days to let them know I had rec'd it. Two days is the time frame I'm expected to respond to emails at work, so it's just become a standard for me. Not sure if that's a general rule or just with our organization.

Hello! Still working, can't read, dropped in to say will read all tonight.

I wouldn't call it rudeness either, but OTOH, it is courteous to acknowledge receipt of info one has requested as promptly as possible. Maybe negligence would be a more apt word for it.

Not sure what email server you're using, but mine even offers a quick reply feature that you only have to click and send, no composing necessary.

After having spent several months hunting a painter, I emailed back immediately the one who responded.

When I was working, it was standard practice to acknowledge all emails ASAP, even if to say "I will get back to you."

I’ve been in sales most of my career. Every sales person knows their close ratio. Way back in the day I would do 25 cold calls for 5 appointments for one deal. I hated that job.

The salesperson in me says c’est la vie. We have low expectations.

The human in me says you should always try and respond when you were expecting something.

The realist in me says the right thing sits somewhere in the middle.

Without reading the replies, I say yes. It's called good manners. He took the time to give you an estimate for your house and told you he'd email a link to windows. Salesman or not, he's human and you left him hanging. Bad girl!! lol

I don't think you were rude. I agree that it would've been a courtesy to let him know you had received his link and would get back to him, but I don't think you committed a faux pas by not doing so. It's not like you planned to ignore him.

I swim in emails in the workplace. It's a nonstop barrage, and most of my day is spent answering or delegating them. I think it all depends on the particular organizational culture, but most folks seem to know that an email sent means it's in the queue and they'll receive a response within a reasonable amount of time. There are one or two individuals I've worked with who sometimes completely disregard emails from their colleagues that request a response or action, and I find that inexcusable. I truly don't know how people who don't grasp the cultural expectation of a place manage to retain their jobs. But I digress.

@Indigo Rose I don't think you were rude. I think you just didn't think about responding or realize that it would be the courteous thing to do. I agree with Ida - most people are bombarded with emails and senders probably realize it might take some time to be answered. Don't worry yourself over it. :)

You weren't rude. I think the bar is different with salesmen. Sure, you could have responded, but life is upside down these days and we all know that salespeople expect crickets. You are a good and kind person so please don't let this episode become a reason to question your good-personess.

Also, don't feel like you are hurting his feelings by telling him that you are going another route with the windows. Again, he's in sales.

Hello! Still working, can't read, dropped in to say will read all tonight.

Haha! See you are polite!

Thank you everyone. I really was taken aback this morning to hear my lack of response was rude, and from the majority of responses, I really have been less than thoughtful or courteous, albeit not intentionally. I've learned a valuable lesson here and will be more mindful in the future, but I'm not going to focus on any other possible past. transgressions as generally I do reply. (just not always!)...thank you also to those with kind words which helped soften the blow(s). And LOL daisychain! Backing out now with head down....

This is a timely thread for me. I have been looking for flooring and just this week received 2 estimates from the 2 places I have been looking at. I glanced at them and was thinking I would print them out to compare and evaluate........but I did not acknowledge receipt. As soon as I am done with this post I will thank them to acknowledge and say I need to look it over .Good reminder thank you.

FWIW, awhile back, when I was dealing with multiple service co.s' estimates for a job, I created a reply that I could copy and paste with just a tweak or two...

What does your family member do? Guessing he is sending a ton of emails and has no idea if people get them. For me, well not a salesperson but I don't need email to tell me they got mine...I would rather they respond in total when they are ready and not have to wade through a bunch of "acknowledging what you sent". Who wants to waste that sort of time!! I suppose it's about what side of a transaction you are on. Rude --no but if the salesperson tells you he no longer has time when you do get back to him then it will yours to own because he has no way of knowing you were still interested.