diff --git a/src/internal/common/str/str.go b/src/internal/common/str/str.go
index 59f36933d..ac9caf7d3 100644
--- a/src/internal/common/str/str.go
+++ b/src/internal/common/str/str.go
@@ -80,3 +80,13 @@ func Preview(s string, size int) string {
 
 	return ss
 }
+
+func SliceToMap(ss []string) map[string]struct{} {
+	m := map[string]struct{}{}
+
+	for _, s := range ss {
+		m[s] = struct{}{}
+	}
+
+	return m
+}
diff --git a/src/internal/m365/collection/groups/backup.go b/src/internal/m365/collection/groups/backup.go
index 82ab67daa..864bed697 100644
--- a/src/internal/m365/collection/groups/backup.go
+++ b/src/internal/m365/collection/groups/backup.go
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/alcionai/corso/src/internal/common/pii"
 	"github.com/alcionai/corso/src/internal/common/ptr"
+	"github.com/alcionai/corso/src/internal/common/str"
 	"github.com/alcionai/corso/src/internal/data"
 	"github.com/alcionai/corso/src/internal/m365/graph"
 	"github.com/alcionai/corso/src/internal/m365/support"
@@ -154,12 +155,19 @@ func populateCollections(
 
 		ictx = clues.Add(ictx, "previous_path", prevPath)
 
-		added, removed, du, err := bh.getChannelMessageIDsDelta(ctx, cID, prevDelta)
+		// if the channel has no email property, it is unable to process delta tokens
+		// and will return an error if a delta token is queried.
+		canMakeDeltaQueries := len(ptr.Val(c.GetEmail())) > 0
+
+		add, rem, du, err := bh.getChannelMessageIDs(ctx, cID, prevDelta, canMakeDeltaQueries)
 		if err != nil {
 			el.AddRecoverable(ctx, clues.Stack(err))
 			continue
 		}
 
+		added := str.SliceToMap(add)
+		removed := str.SliceToMap(rem)
+
 		if len(du.URL) > 0 {
 			deltaURLs[cID] = du.URL
 		} else if !du.Reset {
diff --git a/src/internal/m365/collection/groups/backup_test.go b/src/internal/m365/collection/groups/backup_test.go
index 8492abb06..60c6b4bf3 100644
--- a/src/internal/m365/collection/groups/backup_test.go
+++ b/src/internal/m365/collection/groups/backup_test.go
@@ -40,8 +40,8 @@ var _ backupHandler = &mockBackupHandler{}
 type mockBackupHandler struct {
 	channels      []models.Channelable
 	channelsErr   error
-	messageIDs    map[string]struct{}
-	deletedMsgIDs map[string]struct{}
+	messageIDs    []string
+	deletedMsgIDs []string
 	messagesErr   error
 	messages      map[string]models.ChatMessageable
 	info          map[string]*details.GroupsInfo
@@ -53,10 +53,11 @@ func (bh mockBackupHandler) getChannels(context.Context) ([]models.Channelable,
 	return bh.channels, bh.channelsErr
 }
 
-func (bh mockBackupHandler) getChannelMessageIDsDelta(
+func (bh mockBackupHandler) getChannelMessageIDs(
 	_ context.Context,
 	_, _ string,
-) (map[string]struct{}, map[string]struct{}, api.DeltaUpdate, error) {
+	_ bool,
+) ([]string, []string, api.DeltaUpdate, error) {
 	return bh.messageIDs, bh.deletedMsgIDs, api.DeltaUpdate{}, bh.messagesErr
 }
 
@@ -131,7 +132,7 @@ func (suite *BackupUnitSuite) TestPopulateCollections() {
 			name: "happy path, one container",
 			mock: mockBackupHandler{
 				channels:   testdata.StubChannels("one"),
-				messageIDs: map[string]struct{}{"msg-one": {}},
+				messageIDs: []string{"msg-one"},
 			},
 			expectErr:           require.NoError,
 			expectColls:         2,
@@ -142,7 +143,7 @@ func (suite *BackupUnitSuite) TestPopulateCollections() {
 			name: "happy path, one container, only deleted messages",
 			mock: mockBackupHandler{
 				channels:      testdata.StubChannels("one"),
-				deletedMsgIDs: map[string]struct{}{"msg-one": {}},
+				deletedMsgIDs: []string{"msg-one"},
 			},
 			expectErr:           require.NoError,
 			expectColls:         2,
@@ -153,7 +154,7 @@ func (suite *BackupUnitSuite) TestPopulateCollections() {
 			name: "happy path, many containers",
 			mock: mockBackupHandler{
 				channels:   testdata.StubChannels("one", "two"),
-				messageIDs: map[string]struct{}{"msg-one": {}},
+				messageIDs: []string{"msg-one"},
 			},
 			expectErr:           require.NoError,
 			expectColls:         3,
@@ -291,7 +292,7 @@ func (suite *BackupUnitSuite) TestPopulateCollections_incremental() {
 			name: "non incremental",
 			mock: mockBackupHandler{
 				channels:   testdata.StubChannels("chan"),
-				messageIDs: map[string]struct{}{"msg": {}},
+				messageIDs: []string{"msg"},
 			},
 			deltaPaths:          metadata.DeltaPaths{},
 			expectErr:           require.NoError,
@@ -304,7 +305,7 @@ func (suite *BackupUnitSuite) TestPopulateCollections_incremental() {
 			name: "incremental",
 			mock: mockBackupHandler{
 				channels:      testdata.StubChannels("chan"),
-				deletedMsgIDs: map[string]struct{}{"msg": {}},
+				deletedMsgIDs: []string{"msg"},
 			},
 			deltaPaths: metadata.DeltaPaths{
 				"chan": {
@@ -356,7 +357,7 @@ func (suite *BackupUnitSuite) TestPopulateCollections_incremental() {
 			name: "incremental new and deleted channel",
 			mock: mockBackupHandler{
 				channels:   testdata.StubChannels("chan2"),
-				messageIDs: map[string]struct{}{"msg": {}},
+				messageIDs: []string{"msg"},
 			},
 			deltaPaths: metadata.DeltaPaths{
 				"chan": {
diff --git a/src/internal/m365/collection/groups/channel_handler.go b/src/internal/m365/collection/groups/channel_handler.go
index 895f57baa..1512e2dbf 100644
--- a/src/internal/m365/collection/groups/channel_handler.go
+++ b/src/internal/m365/collection/groups/channel_handler.go
@@ -36,11 +36,12 @@ func (bh channelsBackupHandler) getChannels(
 	return bh.ac.GetChannels(ctx, bh.protectedResource)
 }
 
-func (bh channelsBackupHandler) getChannelMessageIDsDelta(
+func (bh channelsBackupHandler) getChannelMessageIDs(
 	ctx context.Context,
 	channelID, prevDelta string,
-) (map[string]struct{}, map[string]struct{}, api.DeltaUpdate, error) {
-	return bh.ac.GetChannelMessageIDsDelta(ctx, bh.protectedResource, channelID, prevDelta)
+	canMakeDeltaQueries bool,
+) ([]string, []string, api.DeltaUpdate, error) {
+	return bh.ac.GetChannelMessageIDs(ctx, bh.protectedResource, channelID, prevDelta, canMakeDeltaQueries)
 }
 
 func (bh channelsBackupHandler) includeContainer(
diff --git a/src/internal/m365/collection/groups/handlers.go b/src/internal/m365/collection/groups/handlers.go
index de00dca66..f46b3a099 100644
--- a/src/internal/m365/collection/groups/handlers.go
+++ b/src/internal/m365/collection/groups/handlers.go
@@ -20,11 +20,12 @@ type backupHandler interface {
 		ctx context.Context,
 	) ([]models.Channelable, error)
 
-	// gets all message IDs by delta in the channel
-	getChannelMessageIDsDelta(
+	// gets all message IDs (by delta, if possible) in the channel
+	getChannelMessageIDs(
 		ctx context.Context,
 		channelID, prevDelta string,
-	) (map[string]struct{}, map[string]struct{}, api.DeltaUpdate, error)
+		canMakeDeltaQueries bool,
+	) ([]string, []string, api.DeltaUpdate, error)
 
 	// includeContainer evaluates whether the channel is included
 	// in the provided scope.
diff --git a/src/pkg/services/m365/api/channels_pager.go b/src/pkg/services/m365/api/channels_pager.go
index 1e26c458f..ae6b0ee19 100644
--- a/src/pkg/services/m365/api/channels_pager.go
+++ b/src/pkg/services/m365/api/channels_pager.go
@@ -3,18 +3,72 @@ package api
 import (
 	"context"
 
+	"github.com/alcionai/clues"
 	"github.com/microsoftgraph/msgraph-sdk-go/models"
 	"github.com/microsoftgraph/msgraph-sdk-go/teams"
 
 	"github.com/alcionai/corso/src/internal/common/ptr"
 	"github.com/alcionai/corso/src/internal/m365/graph"
-	"github.com/alcionai/corso/src/pkg/logger"
 )
 
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // channel message pager
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
+var _ Pager[models.ChatMessageable] = &channelMessagePageCtrl{}
+
+type channelMessagePageCtrl struct {
+	resourceID, channelID string
+	gs                    graph.Servicer
+	builder               *teams.ItemChannelsItemMessagesRequestBuilder
+	options               *teams.ItemChannelsItemMessagesRequestBuilderGetRequestConfiguration
+}
+
+func (p *channelMessagePageCtrl) SetNextLink(nextLink string) {
+	p.builder = teams.NewItemChannelsItemMessagesRequestBuilder(nextLink, p.gs.Adapter())
+}
+
+func (p *channelMessagePageCtrl) GetPage(
+	ctx context.Context,
+) (NextLinkValuer[models.ChatMessageable], error) {
+	resp, err := p.builder.Get(ctx, p.options)
+	return resp, graph.Stack(ctx, err).OrNil()
+}
+
+func (c Channels) NewChannelMessagePager(
+	teamID, channelID string,
+	selectProps ...string,
+) *channelMessagePageCtrl {
+	builder := c.Stable.
+		Client().
+		Teams().
+		ByTeamIdString(teamID).
+		Channels().
+		ByChannelIdString(channelID).
+		Messages()
+
+	options := &teams.ItemChannelsItemMessagesRequestBuilderGetRequestConfiguration{
+		QueryParameters: &teams.ItemChannelsItemMessagesRequestBuilderGetQueryParameters{},
+		Headers:         newPreferHeaders(preferPageSize(maxNonDeltaPageSize)),
+	}
+
+	if len(selectProps) > 0 {
+		options.QueryParameters.Select = selectProps
+	}
+
+	return &channelMessagePageCtrl{
+		resourceID: teamID,
+		channelID:  channelID,
+		builder:    builder,
+		gs:         c.Stable,
+		options:    options,
+	}
+}
+
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// channel message delta pager
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
 var _ DeltaPager[models.ChatMessageable] = &channelMessageDeltaPageCtrl{}
 
 type channelMessageDeltaPageCtrl struct {
@@ -65,7 +119,7 @@ func (c Channels) NewChannelMessageDeltaPager(
 
 	options := &teams.ItemChannelsItemMessagesDeltaRequestBuilderGetRequestConfiguration{
 		QueryParameters: &teams.ItemChannelsItemMessagesDeltaRequestBuilderGetQueryParameters{},
-		Headers:         newPreferHeaders(preferPageSize(maxNonDeltaPageSize)),
+		Headers:         newPreferHeaders(preferPageSize(maxDeltaPageSize)),
 	}
 
 	if len(selectProps) > 0 {
@@ -83,44 +137,20 @@ func (c Channels) NewChannelMessageDeltaPager(
 
 // GetChannelMessageIDsDelta fetches a delta of all messages in the channel.
 // returns two maps: addedItems, deletedItems
-func (c Channels) GetChannelMessageIDsDelta(
+func (c Channels) GetChannelMessageIDs(
 	ctx context.Context,
-	teamID, channelID, prevDelta string,
-) (map[string]struct{}, map[string]struct{}, DeltaUpdate, error) {
-	var (
-		added   = map[string]struct{}{}
-		deleted = map[string]struct{}{}
-		// select is not currently allowed on messages
-		// this func will still isolate to the ID, however,
-		// because we need the follow-up get request to gather
-		// all replies to the message.
-		// selectProps      = idAnd()
-		pager = c.NewChannelMessageDeltaPager(teamID, channelID, prevDelta)
-	)
+	teamID, channelID, prevDeltaLink string,
+	canMakeDeltaQueries bool,
+) ([]string, []string, DeltaUpdate, error) {
+	added, removed, du, err := getAddedAndRemovedItemIDs(
+		ctx,
+		c.NewChannelMessagePager(teamID, channelID),
+		c.NewChannelMessageDeltaPager(teamID, channelID, prevDeltaLink),
+		prevDeltaLink,
+		canMakeDeltaQueries,
+		addedAndRemovedByDeletedDateTime)
 
-	results, du, err := deltaEnumerateItems[models.ChatMessageable](ctx, pager, prevDelta)
-	if graph.IsErrInvalidDelta(err) {
-		logger.Ctx(ctx).Infow("delta token not supported", "delta_link", prevDelta)
-
-		added = map[string]struct{}{}
-		deleted = map[string]struct{}{}
-
-		return added, deleted, du, nil
-	}
-
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, nil, DeltaUpdate{}, graph.Wrap(ctx, err, "extracting channel messages from response")
-	}
-
-	for _, r := range results {
-		if r.GetAdditionalData()[graph.AddtlDataRemoved] == nil {
-			added[ptr.Val(r.GetId())] = struct{}{}
-		} else {
-			deleted[ptr.Val(r.GetId())] = struct{}{}
-		}
-	}
-
-	return added, deleted, du, nil
+	return added, removed, du, clues.Stack(err).OrNil()
 }
 
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/src/pkg/services/m365/api/channels_pager_test.go b/src/pkg/services/m365/api/channels_pager_test.go
index b0bbc0bf5..488ac8e0d 100644
--- a/src/pkg/services/m365/api/channels_pager_test.go
+++ b/src/pkg/services/m365/api/channels_pager_test.go
@@ -56,28 +56,30 @@ func (suite *ChannelsPagerIntgSuite) TestEnumerateChannelMessages() {
 	ctx, flush := tester.NewContext(t)
 	defer flush()
 
-	addedIDs, _, du, err := ac.GetChannelMessageIDsDelta(
+	addedIDs, _, du, err := ac.GetChannelMessageIDs(
 		ctx,
 		suite.its.group.id,
 		suite.its.group.testContainerID,
-		"")
+		"",
+		true)
 	require.NoError(t, err, clues.ToCore(err))
 	require.NotEmpty(t, addedIDs)
 	require.NotZero(t, du.URL, "delta link")
 	require.True(t, du.Reset, "reset due to empty prev delta link")
 
-	addedIDs, deletedIDs, du, err := ac.GetChannelMessageIDsDelta(
+	addedIDs, deletedIDs, du, err := ac.GetChannelMessageIDs(
 		ctx,
 		suite.its.group.id,
 		suite.its.group.testContainerID,
-		du.URL)
+		du.URL,
+		true)
 	require.NoError(t, err, clues.ToCore(err))
 	require.Empty(t, addedIDs, "should have no new messages from delta")
 	require.Empty(t, deletedIDs, "should have no deleted messages from delta")
 	require.NotZero(t, du.URL, "delta link")
 	require.False(t, du.Reset, "prev delta link should be valid")
 
-	for id := range addedIDs {
+	for _, id := range addedIDs {
 		suite.Run(id+"-replies", func() {
 			testEnumerateChannelMessageReplies(
 				suite.T(),
diff --git a/src/pkg/services/m365/api/contacts_pager.go b/src/pkg/services/m365/api/contacts_pager.go
index 33b83db6e..711cb6948 100644
--- a/src/pkg/services/m365/api/contacts_pager.go
+++ b/src/pkg/services/m365/api/contacts_pager.go
@@ -278,5 +278,6 @@ func (c Contacts) GetAddedAndRemovedItemIDs(
 		pager,
 		deltaPager,
 		prevDeltaLink,
-		canMakeDeltaQueries)
+		canMakeDeltaQueries,
+		addedAndRemovedByAddtlData)
 }
diff --git a/src/pkg/services/m365/api/events_pager.go b/src/pkg/services/m365/api/events_pager.go
index 542479add..4a2f1adaf 100644
--- a/src/pkg/services/m365/api/events_pager.go
+++ b/src/pkg/services/m365/api/events_pager.go
@@ -277,5 +277,6 @@ func (c Events) GetAddedAndRemovedItemIDs(
 		pager,
 		deltaPager,
 		prevDeltaLink,
-		canMakeDeltaQueries)
+		canMakeDeltaQueries,
+		addedAndRemovedByAddtlData)
 }
diff --git a/src/pkg/services/m365/api/item_pager.go b/src/pkg/services/m365/api/item_pager.go
index 4182b3c99..1f0ac17b2 100644
--- a/src/pkg/services/m365/api/item_pager.go
+++ b/src/pkg/services/m365/api/item_pager.go
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"fmt"
 	"strings"
+	"time"
 
 	"github.com/alcionai/clues"
 
@@ -172,12 +173,15 @@ func deltaEnumerateItems[T any](
 // shared enumeration runner funcs
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
+type addedAndRemovedHandler[T any] func(items []T) ([]string, []string, error)
+
 func getAddedAndRemovedItemIDs[T any](
 	ctx context.Context,
 	pager Pager[T],
 	deltaPager DeltaPager[T],
 	prevDeltaLink string,
 	canMakeDeltaQueries bool,
+	aarh addedAndRemovedHandler[T],
 ) ([]string, []string, DeltaUpdate, error) {
 	if canMakeDeltaQueries {
 		ts, du, err := deltaEnumerateItems[T](ctx, deltaPager, prevDeltaLink)
@@ -186,7 +190,7 @@ func getAddedAndRemovedItemIDs[T any](
 		}
 
 		if err == nil {
-			a, r, err := addedAndRemovedByAddtlData(ts)
+			a, r, err := aarh(ts)
 			return a, r, du, graph.Stack(ctx, err).OrNil()
 		}
 	}
@@ -198,13 +202,19 @@ func getAddedAndRemovedItemIDs[T any](
 		return nil, nil, DeltaUpdate{}, graph.Stack(ctx, err)
 	}
 
-	a, r, err := addedAndRemovedByAddtlData[T](ts)
+	a, r, err := aarh(ts)
 
 	return a, r, du, graph.Stack(ctx, err).OrNil()
 }
 
-type getIDAndAddtler interface {
+type getIDer interface {
 	GetId() *string
+}
+
+// for added and removed by additionalData[@removed]
+
+type getIDAndAddtler interface {
+	getIDer
 	GetAdditionalData() map[string]any
 }
 
@@ -230,3 +240,30 @@ func addedAndRemovedByAddtlData[T any](items []T) ([]string, []string, error) {
 
 	return added, removed, nil
 }
+
+// for added and removed by GetDeletedDateTime()
+
+type getIDAndDeletedDateTimer interface {
+	getIDer
+	GetDeletedDateTime() *time.Time
+}
+
+func addedAndRemovedByDeletedDateTime[T any](items []T) ([]string, []string, error) {
+	added, removed := []string{}, []string{}
+
+	for _, item := range items {
+		giaddt, ok := any(item).(getIDAndDeletedDateTimer)
+		if !ok {
+			return nil, nil, clues.New("item does not provide id and deleted date time getters").
+				With("item_type", fmt.Sprintf("%T", item))
+		}
+
+		if giaddt.GetDeletedDateTime() == nil {
+			added = append(added, ptr.Val(giaddt.GetId()))
+		} else {
+			removed = append(removed, ptr.Val(giaddt.GetId()))
+		}
+	}
+
+	return added, removed, nil
+}
diff --git a/src/pkg/services/m365/api/item_pager_test.go b/src/pkg/services/m365/api/item_pager_test.go
index f7f053c33..e072e1b85 100644
--- a/src/pkg/services/m365/api/item_pager_test.go
+++ b/src/pkg/services/m365/api/item_pager_test.go
@@ -363,7 +363,8 @@ func (suite *PagerUnitSuite) TestGetAddedAndRemovedItemIDs() {
 				test.pagerGetter(t),
 				test.deltaPagerGetter(t),
 				test.prevDelta,
-				test.canDelta)
+				test.canDelta,
+				addedAndRemovedByAddtlData)
 
 			require.NoErrorf(t, err, "getting added and removed item IDs: %+v", clues.ToCore(err))
 			require.EqualValues(t, test.expect.added, added, "added item IDs")
diff --git a/src/pkg/services/m365/api/mail_pager.go b/src/pkg/services/m365/api/mail_pager.go
index c15e89dd1..1b4263b88 100644
--- a/src/pkg/services/m365/api/mail_pager.go
+++ b/src/pkg/services/m365/api/mail_pager.go
@@ -308,5 +308,6 @@ func (c Mail) GetAddedAndRemovedItemIDs(
 		pager,
 		deltaPager,
 		prevDeltaLink,
-		canMakeDeltaQueries)
+		canMakeDeltaQueries,
+		addedAndRemovedByAddtlData)
 }