How to fix Gmail blocking emails after users request a quote and receive marketing emails?
Matthew Whittaker
Co-founder & CTO, Suped
Published 23 Jul 2025
Updated 17 Aug 2025
7 min read
It can be incredibly frustrating when your emails start getting blocked by Gmail, especially after users have explicitly requested information, like a quote. You've ensured your SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records are correctly configured, checked various blocklists (or blacklists) to confirm your domain and IP aren't listed, and even maintained a clean, active subscriber list of opted-in users.
Despite these efforts, if your marketing emails are still being blocked, it points to a deeper issue beyond technical configuration. The problem often lies in a mismatch between user expectation and the email content being delivered, which leads to high complaint rates. This signals to Gmail's filters that your emails are unwanted, regardless of their technical authenticity.
Understanding the real reason for Gmail blocks
The core of the issue often stems from a simple misunderstanding of what the user signed up for. When someone requests a quote, their immediate expectation is to receive that specific quote, not necessarily to be added to a regular marketing mailing list. While they have technically opted in, their perception of consent might be narrower than your interpretation.
This disconnect frequently leads recipients to mark subsequent marketing emails as spam, even if the content is relevant to their initial interest. Gmail's algorithm is designed to bounce back messages if it detects suspicious sender behavior or spammy content, and a high volume of user complaints is a significant indicator. For more insights on this, you can review common reasons why Gmail blocks emails.
The critical lesson here is that consent isn't a one-size-fits-all concept. While you might have explicit permission for general marketing, the context of a quote request creates a very specific initial expectation. Deviating from this too quickly, or too often, erodes trust and prompts adverse reactions from recipients, leading to Gmail blocking your emails.
Diagnostic steps and data insights
The first step in diagnosing why your emails are blocked is to understand the exact bounce messages Gmail is returning. Your Email Service Provider (ESP) (for example, SF Marketing Cloud) will have access to these. Requesting raw bounce data is crucial for pinpointing the specific reason for rejection. This data can provide valuable clues, such as whether it's an IP reputation issue, domain reputation, or content-related filtering.
Even with perfect authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), Gmail prioritizes user engagement and complaint rates. If Gmail users are consistently marking your emails as spam after requesting a quote, that will override positive technical signals. Therefore, it's vital to focus on metrics beyond just opens, as opens can be misleading due to privacy features and bots.
Accessing tools like Google Postmaster Tools is critical. If you're not getting enough volume to generate data there, it indicates a significant blocking problem. This data would show your spam complaint rates, IP and domain reputation, and DMARC failures, all of which are crucial for Gmail's filtering decisions. For a deeper understanding of reputation, refer to our guide on understanding your email domain reputation.
Realigning audience expectations
The importance of bounce messages
Bounce messages are like diagnostic reports for your emails. They provide the precise reason why an email couldn't be delivered, directly from the recipient's mail server. Ignoring these is akin to trying to fix a car without knowing what error codes it's throwing. Many ESPs, like Salesforce Marketing Cloud, record these, and you should request access to them.
Even if your authentication records (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) are perfect, a consistent pattern of bounce messages, especially those indicating Google deferrals or rejections due to perceived spam, can highlight the user complaint issue. This helps you figure out how to fix bounced or rejected emails.
To stop Gmail from blocking your emails, you must realign your sending practices with recipient expectations. This involves clearly communicating what types of emails subscribers will receive. One immediate action is to separate your transactional emails (like the quote itself) from your marketing emails.
Consider implementing a double opt-in process specifically for marketing communications, even if it feels redundant after a quote request. This extra step ensures explicit consent for promotional content and significantly reduces complaint rates, which are a major factor in emails landing in the spam folder. Make sure users can easily unsubscribe from unwanted emails as well.
If you're using a private IP that's been in use for a long time with a high complaint rate, it may be burned and potentially on internal Gmail blocklists (or blacklists). In such cases, switching to a new IP or subdomain might be necessary, but only if accompanied by fundamental changes to your sending strategy. Otherwise, you'll find yourself in the same predicament again.
Rebuilding and maintaining trust
Old approach
Subscribers opt-in for a quote, then automatically receive ongoing marketing emails.
Consent: Single opt-in for quote implies consent for marketing.
Sending: High volume of mixed content (transactional and marketing) from one domain/IP.
Engagement Metrics: Primarily tracks opens, which are less reliable.
Result: High spam complaints, low engagement, leading to Gmail blocks.
New approach
Users receive the requested quote, then are given a clear, separate option to subscribe to marketing content.
Consent: Clear, granular opt-in. A separate, unchecked checkbox for marketing emails.
Sending: Separate domains/IPs for transactional vs. marketing emails if possible. Tailored content.
Engagement Metrics: Focus on clicks and conversions, not just opens.
Rebuilding trust with Gmail after a long period of blocking is a marathon, not a sprint. It starts with a comprehensive review of your lead generation and email acquisition processes. If your privacy policy allows for data sharing with third parties, this significantly impacts recipient trust and, consequently, your sender reputation. For instance, if you’re using Google is blocking emails due to poor domain reputation, this could be a major contributing factor.
Actively cleaning your list and removing unengaged subscribers is paramount. While you're only emailing those who've opened in the last 60 days, even that can be problematic if those opens are merely automated bot activity rather than genuine engagement. Shifting your focus to clicks as a primary engagement metric will give you a more accurate picture of recipient interest. You can also explore how to improve your domain reputation to mitigate Gmail blocks (or blacklists).
Finally, be prepared that if your domain or IP has been severely impacted by spam complaints over a long period, recovering its reputation with Gmail may be exceptionally difficult, if not impossible for existing assets. Consider a complete refresh of your sending infrastructure, along with a revised strategy that emphasizes explicit consent and segmented sending for different email types. This proactive approach will help you rebuild your Gmail email deliverability and sender reputation.
Views from the trenches
Best practices
Clearly differentiate between quote-related emails and marketing emails.
Implement separate, unchecked opt-in checkboxes for marketing communication.
Focus on active clicks, not just opens, as a true measure of engagement.
Regularly clean your email lists of inactive or unengaged subscribers.
Continuously monitor bounce messages from your ESP for diagnostic insights.
Common pitfalls
Assuming broad consent from a single quote request opt-in.
Sharing email addresses with third parties without explicit, granular consent.
Relying solely on open rates, which can be inflated by bots or privacy features.
Ignoring bounce messages and other negative feedback loops.
Continuing to use a burned IP or domain without significant strategy changes.
Expert tips
Consider a new sending domain and IP if previous ones are heavily burned due to high complaint rates.
Segment your audience based on their explicit consent for different types of emails.
Use display ads or lookalike audiences to reach those who prefer not to receive ongoing emails.
Be transparent in your privacy policy about data usage and sharing practices.
Communicate the types of emails subscribers will receive immediately after opt-in.
Expert view
Expert from Email Geeks says if someone requests a quote, receiving multiple marketing emails afterward is a quick way to get marked as spam, which is a common behavior among recipients.
May 15, 2024 - Email Geeks
Expert view
Expert from Email Geeks says that sending raw bounce messages to your ESP provides useful information for troubleshooting deliverability issues.
May 15, 2024 - Email Geeks
Summary of solutions
Dealing with Gmail blocking emails after quote requests and subsequent marketing emails requires a strategic shift. While technical configurations are foundational, they cannot overcome negative user feedback. The core of the problem lies in managing recipient expectations and obtaining clear, granular consent for all types of communication.
By understanding bounce messages, scrutinizing your opt-in process, and focusing on genuine engagement (clicks over opens), you can begin to rebuild your sender reputation and restore your Gmail deliverability. This commitment to user-centric sending practices is key to long-term success in the inbox. You can learn more in our comprehensive guide on email deliverability issues.
Gmail, especially after users have explicitly requested information, like a quote. You've ensured your SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records are correctly configured, checked various blocklists (or blacklists) to confirm your domain and IP aren't listed, and even maintained a clean, active subscriber list of opted-in users.
SF Marketing Cloud) will have access to these. Requesting raw bounce data is crucial for pinpointing the specific reason for rejection. This data can provide valuable clues, such as whether it's an IP reputation issue, domain reputation, or content-related filtering.
