Contact owner mail is not sent from unregistered users

[vertyal +]

Hi,

I am
- using v4.1.4 Developer version;
- using the Default template;
- hosted at Hostgator at a shared server;
- not using SMTP so far.

My problem is the following:
- Private Message is enabled on my site, but users that are not logged in can not send PM to the listing owner by using the contact the owner box below the listing. Although it seems that the message is sent, because error message is not shown, but when I log in to the recipient's account, I do not see the message;
- In the same time, a logged in user can perfectly contact other members;
- Contact us does not work either.

What do you think the problem can be? Do you guys think using SMTP would solve my problem? If yes, then do you recommend my SMTP at Hostgator, or do you think using gmail SMTP is better?

Thanks for your help.

Kind Regards,
Vertyal

[Eric Barnes]

By default we include several ways to contact the owner.

1. Is a standard contact form which sends them an email.
2. Is the private message system.

The private message system requires people to be registered and logged in to send messages. That may be where the problem lies.

[vertyal +]

OK, so the contact the owner box below the listing (which does not require a login) actually sends an e-mail to the listing owner's e-mail address. The weird thing is that it does not arrive either. I suppose there is something wrong with Hostgator then.
Thanks for the clarification.

[Mike-N-Tosh +]

Originally Posted by vertyal

OK, so the contact the owner box below the listing (which does not require a login) actually sends an e-mail to the listing owner's e-mail address. The weird thing is that it does not arrive either. I suppose there is something wrong with Hostgator then.
Thanks for the clarification.

There is nothing wrong with hostgator. I use them and I have several clients that use them with 68 Classifieds just fine in both email setups of SMTP or sendmail.

[vertyal +]

Well, I am very satisfied with Hostgator too, but I have just set up my site with gmail SMTP and the problem is solved. All mail is sent perfectly.

I heard it earlier, that when using shared hosts, there maybe quite big delays in sending mails. Probably this is the case now too. Anyway, I will stick with gmail SMTP now. By the way, is there any hidden disadventage of using gmail SMTP (any quota, or other restrictions)? I am not expert, so it might be a stupid question.

[Eric Barnes]

I use gmail smtp on a few of my personal sites and haven't had any issues. I think it is a great system and very nice spam filtering too.