playframework - Amazon AWS Simple Email Service: some email addresses NEVER receive emails -

i have posted question on amazon aws forums, figured might quicker, better answer here. apologize if see twice.

my company uses amazon aws smtp server send emails via java-based web interface. small part of our application, intended allow users invite other users our application.

we have discovered on few number of occasions email addresses not receiving invitations. thought related hyphens in email addresses, i've determined isn't case. have been troubleshooting time using own email domains, , have determined following 2 email addresses never receive emails sent using aws smtp server (email-smtp.us-east-1.amazonaws.com), there no errors reported during sending process -- emails never arrive. second list shows similar email addresses receive invitations sent using our system. note addresses on first list never receive emails, have tried of our deployed instances many, many times.

addresses not receive email:

• jeremygoodell@jeremygoodell.com
• jeremy-goodell@jeremygoodell.com

addresses do receive email:

• test@jeremygoodell.com
• jeremy-goodell@pinkymcberry.com
• jeremy-goodell@hotmail.com
• jeremygoodelk@jeremygoodell.com

there very, few email addresses end problem. lucky find 2 in own domain exhibiting problem. have of course verified has nothing spam filtering.

the application written in java using play framework. play uses apache commons email library under hood. can read more here: http://www.playframework.com/documentation/1.1/emails.

here of steps have taken during troubleshooting efforts:

1) try different smtp server (using personal isp smtp -- smtp.gvtc.com) -- addresses do receive emails when use smtp server. seem isolate problem being specific aws smtp server.

2) set own aws account , use smtp settings account (after verifying addresses in question) -- have exact same issues using own aws smtp account settings. seem indicate problem not specific our company's aws account.

3) turn on play email debug setting (mail.debug=true in configuration file). great deal of information shown in console each email sent system, there absolutely no difference between emails sent addresses , sent bad addresses. there no indication whatsoever of errors.

here contents of log 1 of emails never arrived. note using aws server set myself. looks same when use our company's aws smtp server except email address different. have removed actual email content, since it's in html, confidential, , not relevant problem.

may 15, 2013 8:44:47 play.logger info debug: getprovider() returning javax.mail.provider[transport,smtp,com.sun.mail.smtp.smtptransport,sun microsystems,  inc] debug smtp: useehlo true, useauth true debug smtp: useehlo true, useauth true debug smtp: trying connect host "email-smtp.us-east-1.amazonaws.com", port 465, isssl false 220 email-smtp.amazonaws.com esmtp simpleemailservice-376766033 debug smtp: connected host "email-smtp.us-east-1.amazonaws.com", port: 465  ehlo 0.1.0.5 250-email-smtp.amazonaws.com 250-8bitmime 250-size 10485760 250-auth plain login 250 ok debug smtp: found extension "8bitmime", arg "" debug smtp: found extension "size", arg "10485760" debug smtp: found extension "auth", arg "plain login" debug smtp: found extension "ok", arg "" debug smtp: attempt authenticate debug smtp: check mechanisms: login plain digest-md5 ntlm auth login 334 vxnlcm5hbwu6 qutjquk3wdnurui0nevknlrsu1e= 334 ugfzc3dvcmq6 qxjwzjl4eu1ftvc1wfnfr3zxvxvpodnhrjfkcg8xmfpseurxy0zsngvhqxm= 235 authentication successful. debug smtp: use8bit false mail from:<jeremy-goodell@hotmail.com> 250 ok rcpt to:<jeremygoodell@jeremygoodell.com> 250 ok debug smtp: verified addresses debug smtp:   "jeremygoodell@jeremygoodell.com" <jeremygoodell@jeremygoodell.com> data 354 end data <cr><lf>.<cr><lf> date: wed, 15 may 2013 08:44:47 -0500 (cdt) from: "jeremy-goodell@hotmail.com" <jeremy-goodell@hotmail.com> reply-to: "jeremy-goodell@hotmail.com" <jeremy-goodell@hotmail.com> to: "jeremygoodell@jeremygoodell.com" <jeremygoodell@jeremygoodell.com> message-id: <2322287.7.1368625487826.javamail.ugoodj3@saotxwl-9x913m1> subject: please join act aspire hari av test delivery portal mime-version: 1.0 content-type: multipart/mixed;         boundary="----=_part_6_16196755.1368625487826"  ------=_part_6_16196755.1368625487826 content-type: text/html; charset=utf-8 content-transfer-encoding: 7bit      >>>> html email body removed <<<<  ------=_part_6_16196755.1368625487826-- . 250 ok 0000013ea86fb2de-0bd70205-8e9a-4042-972f-ad94b28c3101-000000 quit 221 bye 

i'm going follow here turned out solution problem. amazon aws smtp service maintains "14-day suppression list" list of email addresses have bounced during last 14 days. email sent via amazon smtp service fail when attempting send address on suppression list. unfortunately, don't report error, instead, send "undeliverable" reply sender. so, if have automating sending service, you'll never know.

i happened find because when set own aws smtp server, put in 1 of own email addresses sender of automated email. when logged email account, saw undeliverable messages, explained target email on supression list.

amazon allow log email service console , remove email addresses suppression list. put in email address, click remove, , address removed list. have no way see email addresses on suppression list, can remove address want.

so, in case of email failures, believe happened tried email them before email creation complete, resulting in bounce. once email address bounces, goes on supression list. next 14 days email sent via aws smtp server (not mine) fail. after 14 days (apparently) email address removed suppression list until next bounce encountered.

this amazon software new, announced suppression list service in may. may still need work out few kinks. particular issue seems present serious issue automated senders ours. after bounces occur on occasion reasons beyond our control.