It's always a pita, but i have just had this one person send her info on 21 separate emails. I explained to her before that I couldn't handle it this way (there were probably like 10 at that time). She said she completely understood then compiled it into 4 more separate emails. And we actually got 5 messages on one of those. But now she's back to her old habits and here we are at 21.

I just sent her an email saying i couldn't do it this way. But is it me? It's not me, right? Maybe there's some button where I can consolidate them and just don't know about it?

Excuse me, I was wrong. Twenty emails is all gmail will show on one page. There were 11 more on the next page, so it's 31. (And I counted the first page wrong)

ALike she is sending IMs but only she sends emails? Google has that IM feature built into Google Mail we use it at work and if you are not an invited participant it converts to an email.

ADo you have a flag option on your email? I set different color flags sometimes, in MS outlook you can organize by flag color. Or create a folder to drop messages and your replies into. If those options aren't available, I would probably forward each email to myself with the customer name in the subject line.

Yes, I can put them in one folder or search and they'll all be together. But one email will say "yes, that color" and another will say "what about this". My poor brain can't keep track of this.

Maybe that's what she's doing - it's exactly like that. But occasionally she'll reply to the same email I responded on. I've had to ask people to respond on the same email thread before and they just do it. She also sometimes writes in text speak.

If her next email isn't clear and concise, I think I'm going to have to cut her loose. I've spoken to her on the phone and she seems perfectly nice and sane.

But this can't all be done over the phone (pictures) and I'm kind of fed up. The only reason I haven't told her to take a hike is out of kindness. That, and I can't think of an excuse.

AI am not a fan of Google mail for that reason. She may not realize what it is like for you. I agree with you though that it is frustrating. Sorry I don't have an answer.

I appreciate the effort.

I shouldn't be using google mail at all. I certainly have better options. My address isn't gmail - it's a .com and forwarded. Ugh - just don't feel like making the switch - will be such a pain. Maybe I'll do it during the holidays when things slow down.

I have someone like that who sends emails a few words at a time, as if we were texting. I paste everything into notepad so I can see a coherent exchange. (I use notepad but you can use anything that's convenient.) 

That's a great idea! I use notepad all the time.

AI would type out each question and add some blank lines after each one, like an actual "fill in the blank" setup. And just reply back with the same set of questions every time until she gets the hint. FILL IN THE BLANKS LADY! Oi, that would drive me nuts.

This drives me nuts too!!

What I do is copy their newest email, open the email it should have been responded to in, paste their email and then write my reply.  I like to keep all the info in one email too.  Too many email threads are confusing.

Fill in the blank! Hahaha!

Thanks, I do that often and they usually get the hint and if they don't, I explain it and that's typically the end of it.

I may not have been clear before. She sends these in spurts all at once. I guess it's not all that much like IMing like I was thinking. Her first inquiry was in about 8 separate emails.

I sent her a message saying i was sorry but I just couldn't do it this way and asked a few questions that no doubt showed how confused I was. I have a feeling i won't hear back from her.

AProbably not the worst thing that could happen, not hearing back from her. :D

That sounds very frustrating!  But let me tell you something else that may be happening - besides what the above posters have written.  She may have 2 email addresses and the one email address you are using forwards to her other email.  Let me explain by using my own as an example.

I do not give my clients (not baking business) my personal email. I give them my business email but it forwards to my personal email.  I don't reply from there (my personal email) so I must start a new email for my reply.  Now as others have said, I copy and paste the chain of emails so hopefully no one is the wiser.  But maybe this person is not as wise as us!!

That doesn't make it right or less of a PITA but there it is!

Good Luck!!

Theresa