Transactional email — order confirmation, invoice, shipment notification, password reset — is part of the customer contract. When it fails, customers assume the store is broken. This guide covers the four layers where email delivery breaks and how to fix each on a SmartXHosting PrestaShop store.
Email delivery pipeline • Testing the pipeline • SMTP module configuration • SPF, DKIM, DMARC • Email template issues • Spam folder and reputation • FAQ
echo "test" | mail -s "test" [email protected]Under Advanced Parameters › E-mail › Configuration, switch from PHP mail() to SMTP:
yourdomain.co.ukmail.axigen.smartxhosting.uk (Axigen) or smtp.sendgrid.net (SendGrid)For inbox placement, three DNS records on yourdomain.co.uk:
v=spf1 include:_spf.axigen.smartxhosting.uk ~allv=DMARC1; p=quarantine; rua=mailto:[email protected]SmartXHosting support adds these records on request if DNS is managed via Plesk.
Sometimes emails send but look broken. Causes:
If emails send but land in spam:
PrestaShop hosting plus Axigen email on one bill
SmartXHosting PrestaShop pairs with Axigen email for reliable UK transactional delivery — one provider, one support team.
See Axigen emailQ: Gmail shows “via smartxhosting.uk”. Why?
A: SPF alignment issue. Fix SPF record; “via” indicator removes.
Q: Can I use Gmail SMTP?
A: Yes with Workspace account and app password. Limit: 2,000 emails/day. Sufficient for small stores.
Q: Why do only some emails arrive?
A: Likely recipient-domain spam filtering. Corporate Outlook/Microsoft 365 tenants are strict. Build reputation over time.
Q: Does PrestaShop batch emails?
A: No — each email is sent synchronously on trigger. For high volume, route via a transactional provider (SendGrid, Postmark, SES) that handles queuing.
Q: Can I preview an email before sending?
A: Design › Email Theme › Preview. Sends a sample to your admin email.
Q: UK GDPR implications of email logs?
A: Email logs containing customer emails are personal data — covered by UK GDPR. Include in your privacy notice’s data-processing inventory.
Q: Can SmartXHosting help with DNS setup?
A: Yes. Open a support ticket with your SMTP provider and SmartXHosting adds the DNS records for domains managed here.