When an email is “not delivered,” it usually falls into one of two categories:

• Spam (delivered, but filtered)
• Bounce (rejected and not delivered)

These two outcomes are very different, have different causes, and require different solutions.

Understanding this difference is critical for diagnosing email issues correctly.

1. Quick Summary (At a Glance)

If an email appears in the spam folder, it was successfully delivered.
If an email bounces, it was rejected and never delivered.

2. What Does “Spam” Mean?

Spam means the email WAS delivered

When an email goes to spam:

• The receiving server accepted the message
• The recipient’s mail system filtered it
• The email exists in the mailbox (spam/junk folder)

This is not a server failure.

Who decides spam placement?

Spam placement is decided by:

• Gmail
• Outlook
• Yahoo
• Corporate mail systems

A7 Host does not control spam filtering decisions.

Common reasons emails go to spam

• New domain with no reputation
• Weak or missing SPF / DKIM / DMARC
• Suspicious email content
• Low recipient engagement
• Bulk or repetitive messages
• Shared IP reputation factors

Key point

???? Spam is a trust issue, not a delivery failure.

3. What Does “Bounce” Mean?

Bounce means the email was NOT delivered

A bounce occurs when:

• The receiving server rejects the email
• The recipient never receives the message
• A bounce-back message is generated

This is a hard failure, not filtering.

Who generates a bounce?

Bounces are generated by:

• Receiving mail servers
• Security gateways
• Policy enforcement systems

Types of bounces

Hard Bounce

Permanent failure:

• Invalid email address
• Non-existent domain
• Blocked sender
• Policy rejection

Hard bounces will continue until fixed.

Soft Bounce

Temporary failure:

• Mailbox full
• Server temporarily unavailable
• Rate limits exceeded

Soft bounces may resolve on their own.

4. Why Spam Is NOT a Support Emergency

Spam issues:

• Do not indicate server downtime
• Do not mean email is “blocked”
• Do not mean something is broken

Because the email is delivered, hosting support:

• Cannot force inbox placement
• Cannot override spam filters
• Cannot “whitelist” your domain globally

Spam resolution requires configuration, reputation, and time.

5. Why Bounces ARE a Support Concern

Bounces may indicate:

• Misconfigured DNS
• Authentication failures
• Blacklisting
• Policy violations
• Invalid recipients

These can sometimes be resolved with support assistance.

6. How to Tell if It’s Spam or a Bounce

If the sender sees NO error

And the recipient says:

• “I don’t see it in inbox”
• “Check spam folder”

This is spam, not bounce.

If the sender receives an error email

Containing:

• “Delivery Status Notification”
• “Message not delivered”
• Error codes (5xx / 4xx)

This is a bounce.

7. Reading a Bounce Message (Important)

Bounce messages often include:

• Error code (example: 550, 554)
• Short explanation
• Receiving server name

Example:

This tells you:

• The email was rejected
• Why it was rejected
• Whether it’s permanent or temporary

Always include the full bounce message when contacting support.

8. Common Spam vs Bounce Scenarios

“My email went to spam”

• Email delivered successfully
• Spam filtering applied
• Not a delivery error

Action:
Improve authentication, content, and reputation.

“My email bounced back”

• Email rejected
• Delivery failed

Action:
Review bounce message and contact support if needed.

“It worked yesterday, now it doesn’t”

• Reputation-based systems change constantly
• A single bad signal can affect delivery

This is normal behavior in modern email systems.

9. What You Should Do for Spam Issues

✔ Configure SPF, DKIM, DMARC
✔ Send low volume initially
✔ Avoid spammy content
✔ Use professional signatures
✔ Avoid bulk sending from hosting email
✔ Allow time for reputation to build

Spam issues improve gradually, not instantly.

10. What You Should Do for Bounce Issues

✔ Save the full bounce message
✔ Identify error code
✔ Confirm recipient address is valid
✔ Check authentication records
✔ Contact support if bounce persists

Bounce issues often require technical correction.

11. When to Contact Support

Contact support for:

• Repeated bounces
• Authentication failures
• Rejections with error codes
• Sudden complete delivery failure

Do NOT contact support for:

• Emails landing in spam folders only
• “Inbox vs spam” complaints without bounces
• Expectation of guaranteed inbox placement

Support portal:
https://www.a7host.com/billing

12. Final Takeaway

Spam and bounce are not the same problem.

• Spam = delivered, filtered
• Bounce = rejected, failed

Understanding this distinction saves time, reduces frustration, and leads to faster resolution.