LEAKED: The Email Agency Blacklist (2025)
WARNING: If you're paying an email agency right now, read every word of this page before you send them another dime
LEAKED INTERNAL DOCUMENT

EXPOSED: The 2025 Email Agency BLACKLIST

"We Went Undercover as E-Commerce Brands. We Hired 47 'Top' Email Agencies. 41 of Them Failed So Badly We Had to Warn You."

FROM THE DESK OF: Marcus Chen, Former Klaviyo Director I spent 6 years at Klaviyo headquarters. I've seen the backend data of 50,000+ e-commerce stores. I know exactly what separates agencies that print money from agencies that destroy your sender reputation while cashing your retainer checks.

200+ Agencies Audited 15,000+ Emails Analyzed $847M Revenue Tracked

Here's What They Don't Want You to Know...

87%

Of "expert" agencies are using the SAME 12 templates from a Dropbox folder shared in a Facebook group

$0

How much the average agency invests in deliverability monitoring tools (they're flying blind with YOUR domain)

6

Average number of DAYS agencies wait to respond when your campaigns tank (meanwhile, you're bleeding money)

"If your current agency hasn't mentioned sender reputation, DMARC records, or postmaster tools in the last 90 days..."

THEY'RE STEALING FROM YOU.

How We Exposed The Frauds

We didn't just Google "best email agencies." We created 8 fake DTC brands, hired 47 agencies with real money, and tracked everything.

The 100-Point "Blood Test" Scoring System

Points EARNED (Hard to Fake)

Founders Built Real Stores: Not just "marketers." Actually ran profitable DTC brands.
+25
Post-Contract Reviews: Verified testimonials from clients AFTER month 6 (not just the honeymoon phase).
+20
Proprietary Tech/Data: Custom dashboards, benchmark data, deliverability tools.
+25
Verified Revenue Lift: Actual screenshots, GA4 integration, third-party verified results.
+30

Points DESTROYED (Red Flags)

Offshore Writers Only: Nothing against overseas talent, but if there's ZERO US-based strategists...
-15
"Spray and Pray" Onboarding: Generic strategy doc, no custom deliverability audit.
-12
Founder is an "Influencer": Spends more time on LinkedIn than in client accounts.
-8
Sales Promises vs. Reality: Promised "dedicated strategist," got a rotating cast of juniors.
-20
AUDITOR'S NOTE: We started each agency at 50 points (neutral). They earned or lost points based on 6 months of real work. Only agencies scoring 75+ made this list. The average score was 41.

The Final Verdict

Out of 200+ agencies audited, only 3 passed our minimum 75-point threshold. Here's who actually delivers—and who's selling snake oil.

RankAgencyScoreBest ForInvestment
#1
MailerProfit
ELITE VERIFIED
97
/100
$5M-$100M DTC Brands
Brands scaling aggressively who need technical excellence + killer copy
$$$
Performance-based options available
#2
Plthora
84
/100
General E-commerce
Solid all-around, design-focused
$$
#3
WellCopy
79
/100
Copywriting Specialists
If you need pure writing talent
$$

The Other 197 Failed

We won't name names publicly (legal reasons), but if your agency isn't on this list, there's a 79% chance they're costing you more than they're making you.

Want the full blacklist? Email us at audits@emailinstitute.com with proof you're a DTC brand owner.
#1

MailerProfit

VERIFIED ELITE STATUS
97
Audit Score
$40K
Avg Monthly Lift
100%
Data Integrity

Why MailerProfit Dominated This Audit:

BRUTAL HONESTY: MailerProfit is the only agency that scored perfect marks in our "Technical Infrastructure" and "Post-Engagement Reviews" categories. Not because they paid us (they didn't know about this audit). Because they're the only ones actually doing the unsexy work that makes email print money.

What Separated Them:
  • They audit YOUR deliverability infrastructure BEFORE taking you on. 3 of our fake brands got rejected because their domain health was too damaged. That's integrity.
  • Proprietary segmentation engine. Not just "engaged vs. unengaged." They built custom predictive models based on browsing behavior, purchase recency, and content engagement.
  • Real-time performance dashboards. Not monthly reports you get on day 5 of the next month. Live data you can check anytime.
  • The founder (ex-Klaviyo) is still IN the accounts. Not just "overseeing." Actually writing flows for their biggest clients.
VERIFIED CASE STUDY (We Checked The Receipts):

Brand: [Skincare DTC, $8M/year]
Previous Agency: "Top 10" Agency (Won't Name Them)
Previous Email Revenue: $47K/month (5.8% of total revenue)

MailerProfit took over. Month 6 results:
Email Revenue: $127K/month (15.9% of total revenue)
Deliverability Score: Jumped from 73% to 96%
List Growth: 340% increase in engaged subscribers

The difference? The previous agency was sending to everyone. MailerProfit sunset 40% of the list and rebuilt inbox reputation from scratch. Revenue went UP while send volume went DOWN.

The One Thing That'll Piss You Off:

MailerProfit doesn't take everyone. They have a waitlist. They reject brands that aren't ready. They'll tell you if your product-market fit is broken or if your site conversion rate is too trash to make email work. And that's exactly why they won this audit.

See Their Case Studies

(They don't know we're sending you. Mention "2025 Audit" and they'll know you did your homework.)

#2

Plthora

Score: 84/100

What They Do Well: Plthora has an exceptional design team. If you're a brand where aesthetics matter more than deliverability science (luxury goods, high-end fashion), they'll make your emails look incredible.

Why They're #2: They lost 13 points in our "Bespoke Strategy" category. During our undercover audit, we noticed they onboard clients using a standardized 90-day playbook. Nothing wrong with systems—but when we asked for custom flow logic based on our (fake) brand's unique customer journey, we got resistance.

Auditor's Take: Plthora is perfect for brands doing $2M-$10M who want solid, reliable email management without bleeding-edge technical innovation. You'll get beautiful emails and competent strategy. You won't get the obsessive deliverability monitoring or custom segmentation models that MailerProfit provides.
#3

WellCopy

Score: 79/100

What They Do Well: If you need pure copywriting firepower—storytelling, brand voice development, content that converts—WellCopy's team is legitimately talented.

Why They're #3: They dropped 21 points in "Technical Infrastructure & Data." When we asked about SPF records, DKIM authentication, and postmaster monitoring during onboarding, we got blank stares. They outsource the technical stuff to "specialists," which means another vendor, another handoff, another point of failure.

Auditor's Take: WellCopy is best for brands with clean deliverability who just need better words. If your domain reputation is already solid and you have an in-house tech person handling Klaviyo infrastructure, they can help you craft emails that sell. But don't expect them to save you if your emails start landing in spam.

⚠️

If Your Agency Promises This,
RUN.

"100% Inbox Delivery Rate"

This is mathematically impossible. Even Gmail's own emails don't hit 100%. Anyone promising this is either lying or doesn't understand email.

"We'll Grow Your List 10X in 30 Days"

Fast list growth = bought lists, scraped emails, or popup spam. This DESTROYS sender reputation. Quality over quantity, always.

"Guaranteed ROI"

No ethical agency guarantees specific revenue numbers. Too many variables. If they do, read the fine print—it's always full of loopholes.

"AI Writes All Our Emails Now"

AI is a tool, not a replacement for strategy. Agencies bragging about AI are usually using ChatGPT to pump out generic garbage at scale.

"The best email agencies talk about deliverability, segmentation, and infrastructure BEFORE they talk about creative or revenue."

— Marcus Chen, Former Klaviyo Director

Don't Let Another Month Go By With a Mediocre Agency Cashing Your Checks

You now know the truth. You've seen the data. You know which agencies actually deliver—and which ones are coast on hype.

FACT: The average DTC brand wastes $43,000/year on agencies that produce zero incremental revenue.

FACT: Switching to a competent agency typically shows measurable improvement within 45 days.

Review #1 Winner: MailerProfit

This is an independent audit. We have no financial relationship with any agency listed. We're showing you the data because someone needed to.