how to respond to a rude email?

[JenniferAlisonPhilipaSue]

How would you respond to a rude email from a colleague?

Said colleague has basically implied I'm thick, and haven't tried everything I actually have tried to solve the problem arising.

It just got my back up. There was no need for his tone.

I thought about replying "Thank you for your input" but not sure if that adequately conveys I think he's a cunt. I could ignore his email but that also lets him know that he can speak to me like that.

I'm just pissed off. What can I say or do?

Thank you for your email, just to clarify I have already tried XYZ.

If you have any further suggestions, please reply accordingly.

Apologies, you appear to have misunderstood my email. As I previously stated I have already attempted xyz to no avail.
If you have any further suggestions please let me know.

Don't respond.

Professional, polite, factual. State exactly what you have done and when and ask him to clarify what else you have missed

You could politely, cheerfully and matter-of-factly explain why you found his email rude and tell him that you would appreciate him not being so rude in future.

Getting into some cryptic passive-aggressive battle of euphemism sounds exhausting and pointless.

I would sleep on it! Or draft a reply and send it tomorrow when you’ve cooled down. Does sound frustrating though.

I wouldn't email him. I'd go round to his office and speak to him.

How much have you read into the implication and the tone? Both are very subjective. If you got the same email from someone you either didn't know or someone you admired would you read it differently?

I'd be irritated regardless of who it came from. The tone is clear.

We are all still WFH so no office to go and speak with him. I've never actually met the guy yet he feels happy to patronise me.

Don't apologise and don't thank him - he's being a twat.

I'd go for something along the lines of this:

Hi X,

As would be expected, I have tried x, y and z already at x dates and times with x results. I am happy to arrange a call/meeting if you feel you have some additional experience that would be helpful in mitigating the issue?

Regards,

@JenniferAlisonPhilipaSue

You've nothing to apologise for so don't go down the "can I just" / "sorry but" route. Frankly I'd ignore it and not reply. If he does it again that's different but actually sometimes not replying sends more of a message.

Sounds like he doesn't have any additional experience so then he'll either have to awkwardly backtrack and refuse your "kind" offer of a call, or he'll take you up on it and you can shoot his suggestions of things you've already done down to his face.

Can you give us a snippet of the rudeness...

Without knowing what he wrote or how he phrased it it is hard to advise.

I would probably just write
As per my previous email I have already tried XYZ without success. If you have no alternative solutions then perhaps you could advise me on who might be better positioned to help resolve the issue.

I'd go with "as my initial email stated, I have tried a b & c & was looking for any alternative , workable strategies. Thank you for your input.

If you can give us the wording I'm sure we can come up with some sarcasm however, people like this will never ever get it.

Or reply but copy in someone more senior and say “cunty colleague is unable to advise on this is this something you may be able to help with”

He was rude. You don't need to justify if you tried the things he's suggested.

I would put something like

To
Dispute of the tone of your email I have already tried x, y and z. Therefore your suggestions are most unhelpful.
Regards

Ask the question of somebody else (line manager? IT manager?) whilst forwarding the response as part of the chain.

So what's seen is something along the lines of

Dear Manager,

This is the problem
These are the things I have already done with x result
Could you assist with a solution/advice? as this prick isn't being any help

Twat's email to you
Your original contact

At the same time, reply to twat separately with the original universal statement of office contempt;

'Noted'.

By the way, I clearly need a new pair of glasses, as I was sure the thread title was 'How to respond to a rude snail'. Does visualising twat as a shell carrying gastropod make you feel any better?

Reply "you feeling ok hun?"

We have a techie who I swear only switches access on when I cc him in on to the boss.

Tone is really tricky on email. I would normally suggest you call them out on it but I think a lack of meeting and getting to know them can add to miscommunication on both ends which normally could be addressed via a conversation. Could you get on a call with him to get a better read on him?

Hi X,

Yes, those are the obvious solutions. Unfortunately none of them worked, or we wouldn’t be emailing about it.

Best,

snippet of his email:

"if you had asked your manager [name], he would have told you....'

Said manager, and numerous other people said to ask rude guy.

Manager now on leave though.

Dear X
Something along the lines of:
There appears to have been a breakdown in/ mis-communication .
As previously stated I have already followed xyz process(es) with no success.
I welcome any further suggestions or solutions I have not already attempted.

Regards