If you’re reading this, you’re probably either running a campaign or trying to send out a bunch of emails through Cheapinboxes, and things aren’t going as planned. Maybe you’re staring at error messages, or maybe your emails are just vanishing into the abyss (aka spam folders). Whatever’s tripping you up, this guide cuts through the noise and gets to what actually solves problems. No fluff, no sales pitch. Just what works.
Who this is for
If you’re sending bulk emails—whether it’s cold outreach, newsletters, or notifications—and using Cheapinboxes as your sending platform or SMTP provider, but you’re stuck on deliverability, bounces, errors, or just plain confusion, you’re in the right place.
1. First: Know What Cheapinboxes Can and Can’t Do
Before you start poking around settings, make sure you’re clear on what Cheapinboxes is. It’s a no-frills, low-cost email sending service. It’s not Mailchimp, and it doesn’t hold your hand. If you want fancy automation or drag-and-drop builders, look elsewhere. If you want to send a lot of emails cheaply, it does the job—if you set it up right.
What it does well: - Sending email in bulk, especially plain-text or simple HTML - No-nonsense SMTP relay for transactional or outbound messages
Where it struggles: - Deliverability isn’t automatic—if you ignore setup, you’ll land in spam - No campaign analytics or fancy reporting - Support is basic, so self-reliance is key
Pro tip: If you’re sending to purchased lists or scraping emails, expect issues. Cheapinboxes is cheap, not magical.
2. The Usual Suspects: Common Problems and Quick Fixes
2.1. Email Goes to Spam or Promotions
Why it happens: - Missing or misconfigured DNS records (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) - Content looks spammy (lots of links, all caps, generic templates) - Sending too many emails too fast (especially from a new domain or IP)
How to fix: - Set up SPF, DKIM, and DMARC properly. These are non-negotiable. Check with your DNS host—Cheapinboxes provides the records, but you have to add them. - Warm up your sending domain. Don’t blast 10,000 emails on day one. Start small (a few dozen a day), and ramp up over 2-3 weeks. - Edit your content. Avoid spam trigger words, don’t use URL shorteners, and personalize your emails. - Check your sender reputation. Tools like Google Postmaster Tools can help, but honestly, if you’re on a shared IP (which Cheapinboxes often uses), your neighbors may affect you.
What to ignore: “Deliverability hacks” like adding random images or fake unsubscribe links. Focus on the basics first.
2.2. High Bounce Rates
Why it happens: - Sending to old, scraped, or low-quality lists - Syntax errors in email addresses - Domain or IP blacklisted
How to fix: - Clean your list. Use a list cleaning tool before uploading. Don’t trust that old CSV. - Validate addresses. Even a quick regex check for typos can save you headaches. - Check blacklists. Use MXToolbox or similar to see if your sending IP/domain is blacklisted. If you’re on a shared IP, open a ticket with Cheapinboxes—they might move you.
What to ignore: Don’t waste time blaming the email content if you’re getting hard bounces; that’s almost always a list or blacklist problem.
2.3. Sending Limits or Throttling
Why it happens: - Cheapinboxes caps sending for new accounts or suspicious activity - Your SMTP client (or software) is trying to send too much, too fast
How to fix: - Check your account limits. Log in to Cheapinboxes and see your quota. - Slow down your sends. Use your sending tool’s rate-limit features. 1 email per second is a safe start. - Contact support if you’re legit. If you’re following the rules and still throttled, open a ticket.
Pro tip: If you try to game the limits (multiple accounts, etc.), expect suspension. Cheapinboxes isn’t clueless.
2.4. Authentication or SMTP Errors
Why it happens: - Wrong SMTP credentials (typos, copy-paste mistakes) - Using the wrong SMTP port (usually 587 or 465) - Two-factor authentication or security blocks
How to fix: - Double-check credentials. Don’t just copy and paste—retype if you have to. - Try alternate ports. If 587 fails, try 465 (SSL) or vice versa. - Whitelist your sending IP. If your network has firewalls, make sure outbound SMTP is allowed. - Check for account holds. Sometimes Cheapinboxes flags accounts for review after big sends.
What to ignore: Changing your password repeatedly won’t help if you’re using the wrong SMTP host or port.
2.5. Emails Not Showing Up (Lost in the Void)
Why it happens: - Your emails are flagged as spam and silently dropped - Sending fails, but you’re not checking the right log or error message - Emails are delayed (queued) due to server load
How to fix: - Check your sending logs. Cheapinboxes provides basic logs—read them. - Send test emails to different providers. Gmail, Outlook, and Yahoo may all behave differently. - Inspect spam folders. Sometimes the email is there, just not where you expected. - Wait it out. If there’s a known outage or server delay, sometimes you just have to be patient (rare, but it happens).
Pro tip: If logs show “accepted” but nothing arrives, it’s a deliverability issue, not a technical one.
3. Step-by-Step: Diagnosing a Failed Bulk Send
If your campaign flopped—nothing delivered, or everything bounced—here’s a straightforward checklist.
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Check Your DNS Records
- Log into your domain host.
- Confirm SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are exactly as Cheapinboxes recommends.
- Use online tools like MXToolbox to verify propagation.
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Look at Sending Logs
- Cheapinboxes has basic logs—start there. Are there errors? Bounces?
- Note any error codes (e.g., 550, 554) and look them up.
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Review Your List
- Was it new, old, or scraped?
- Run a quick validation or sampling—bad lists cause most problems.
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Send a Test Email
- Send a plain-text test to a personal Gmail account.
- If it lands in spam, the issue is likely domain reputation or content.
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Check Your Sending Volume
- Did you try to send thousands all at once? Scale back and ramp up slower.
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Reach Out to Support (if needed)
- Be specific: include error messages, steps tried, and your sending domain.
What usually works: Fixing DNS/auth, cleaning your list, and slowing down.
What rarely works: Yelling at support or switching providers every time something goes wrong.
4. Keeping Deliverability Healthy
This isn’t a “set it and forget it” deal. Keep these habits:
- Warm up new domains and IPs. Always ramp up volume over weeks, not days.
- Monitor bounces and complaints. If they spike, pause and reassess.
- Keep lists fresh. Regularly prune inactive or bouncing addresses.
- Watch for blacklists. Check every few weeks, especially if you notice a drop in opens.
Skip: Overcomplicating things with endless tools and hacks. The basics cover 90% of problems.
5. When to Cut Your Losses
Sometimes, the problem isn’t you—it’s the shared IP or even Cheapinboxes itself (hey, it’s cheap for a reason). If you’ve done everything right (good lists, setup, warmup) and still land in spam, consider:
- Upgrading to a dedicated IP (if Cheapinboxes offers it).
- Trying a more reputable provider for critical sends.
- Splitting your volume across multiple platforms as a hedge.
Don’t get sentimental about a $5/month provider if your business depends on inbox placement.
Wrap-up: Keep It Simple, Iterate Fast
Bulk email isn’t magic, and even budget platforms like Cheapinboxes can work if you get the basics right. Don’t get hung up on obscure tricks—focus on authentication, good lists, and gradual sending. If you hit a wall, check the fundamentals, tweak, and try again. Most problems have boring, practical fixes. Keep it simple, and you’ll spend less time troubleshooting and more time reaching real people.