Users registered to email services on Yahoo! Inc. (NASDAQ:YHOO) have been complaining that the company is preventing them from viewing their mail if they have activated AdBlock.
Some users claim that they have been unable to access their email through Firefox, desktop or Chrome. Anytime they try to gain access, an error message appears requesting them to deactivate AdBlock feature so they can regain full access. Yahoo confirmed that it is test-running the features on some of its customers in the US.
The access denial complaints initially discovered by Digiday and later brought into the Ad Block forum held on Thursday. Former Yahoo designer Andrei Herasimchuk also reported that he has been blocked from his inbox. Users can, however, find a way around the block by using a different browser though it might involve tweaking the settings from “full featured” to “basic.”
Some users have gone to social networks to express their dissatisfaction with Yahoo! Inc. for blocking their mail. Some of them have threatened to move to other email services from other firms. The move could be detrimental to the company because it provides a reason for users to move to other alternatives. The firm has not confirmed whether it plans to extend the access restriction to all users registered with its email service.
Even though the company claims that it is a test on a few users, the firm is probably trying to see if users will abandon the AdBlock service. The overall goal of the company is to make sure ads reach a wider audience so that it can boost its ad revenue. The AdBlock feature is one of the features that set Yahoo! Inc. Apart from other email services. The unique features have been an important factor in retaining clients and attracting more users on board.
Nonetheless, the firm will still be faced with a dilemma, risk losing users or risk losing ad revenue. Either way, the firm will still lose if users migrate to other services. The feedback received from the small number of users whose mail has been blocked should be enough for the company to make a decision on which direction to follow.
Sources: Venturebeat, pcworld
