[thelist]

[Erik Bennett]

Hi Evolters!

I have a request for some PHP software for a direct mail list (don't worry, 
not SPAM :-)) But I think it's kind of specialized, so I'll put the 
question to the general populace. Here's the current setup:

8 billion (ok, more like 500+) "groups" in Microsoft Outlook Express. Each 
of these groups are broken up into regions of the country, some with as 
many as 100+ groups for one region. When a new seminar (my client develops 
and produces seminars for lawyers) is ready for a certain location, an 
email goes out to the region. When the inevitable "take me off your list" 
comes back they are dutifully deleted by hand from the group. Bounces 
aren't even seen because of the setup of the server, which is a problem as 
well. If the head guy decides they want more people in one seminar, a $50 
discount email is sent to the group again, but before that is done, the 
email marketer goes in and manually deletes those who've already registered 
so they don't receive the notice again. One last attempt will be made with 
a $100 discount email, once again, removing those who've already 
registered. Once over, all the registration deletes are readded by hand.

Holy waste of time, right? That's what I thought. So is there anything out 
there that would allow me to handle this situation, or will I have to roll 
my own? I'd definitely prefer PHP (Linux) since that's what's on our 
hosting box but we are in the process of installing the company's first 
actual server, which is a Win2K Small Business Server box. Doing something 
on that box would be my last resort.

It's critical to have the ability to filter people out for the discount 
emails. Otherwise this is just another PHP listserv solution (which I 
originally thought it was, until someone pointed out the discount thing). 
Or is this not something with special cirumstances?

TIA, and if you need any more info just let me know!

Erik