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Original poster

Do you need to thank someone for a birthday card?

30 replies

goaskmum · 06/04/2022 00:12

If someone sends you a birthday card, just a card alone with no gift, is it necessary to text or ring them to say thanks? Or just not acknowledge it at all?

I got sent one from a family member and I was going to say thanks but I don’t know if it’s a bit silly seeing as it was just a card

OP posts:
Newsanchor · 06/04/2022 00:13

I always send a message to say thank you. To me it isn’t ‘just’ a card it’s their thought, time and money.

moonbedazzled · 06/04/2022 00:15

I always contact them for a catch up and then thank them during the chat.

moonbedazzled · 06/04/2022 00:16

But people don't always thank me and I'm not bothered.

Kite22 · 06/04/2022 00:18

No, you don't need to, but it is often a reminder to have a catch up with someone if you've not spoken for a little while.

Kanaloa · 06/04/2022 01:33

Yes of course? I would expect someone to text me and let me know they’d received their card, and I’d always text ‘thanks for the card, had a great bday’ or something similar. Why would you not? It literally takes a minute to text a thank you.

AnneButNotHathaway · 06/04/2022 11:20

I'd send a message to say thank you or email back is it was a digital smartshow 3d video card. It's just something I do but it never bothers me if someone doesn't say it.

MrsSkylerWhite · 06/04/2022 11:22

I usually text.

girlmom21 · 06/04/2022 11:23

Yes you should.
It's not 'just' a card. It's the thought and effort.

DifferentDrum · 06/04/2022 12:32

I don't think it matters either way. I don't think it's weird to say thanks, especially if you're sending a general text anyway, but on the other hand if I send a card I definitely don't expect a thanks.

BradleyCooperwillbemine · 06/04/2022 12:58

I've never thanked anyone for a card (other than if I was speaking to them anyway) and I've never received a thankyou from anyone else. I feel it is a bit weird to have to say thankyou for a card.

HunterHearstHelmsley · 06/04/2022 13:00

I'd send a message to say thanks. I think I'd be a bit Hmm if someone didn't do the same. Sending a text takes seconds.

CandyCaneLane0 · 06/04/2022 13:02

Of course

Tabitha789 · 06/04/2022 13:03

It's common courtesy, they thought about you, show the same respect back

DownNative · 06/04/2022 13:04

Yes, it's good manners to acknowledge you've received the card even if there's nothing in it.

I find young people today in their 20s just don't bother. Including three siblings and it really grinds my gears.

strawberrystrawberry · 06/04/2022 13:05

Yes I tend to send a message to say thank you, and it's a nice way to have a catch up too!

Wouldn't be offended though if someone didn't say thank you, probably wouldn't even notice.

sillysmiles · 06/04/2022 13:11

You would have been faster just texting them to say thanks for the card and for thinking of me on my birthday than coming on here and posting.
What possible downside is there of texting to say thanks.

Considering so few people send cards these days - it's nice to acknowledge they thought of you.

girlmom21 · 06/04/2022 13:13

I find young people today in their 20s just don't bother.

Why do people always pop up with this ageist nonsense?

My best friend and I are in our 20s. We have manners.
I have relatives in their 40s with no manners.

You don't suddenly start being polite when your age starts with a 3.

IstayedForTheFeminism · 06/04/2022 13:16

I do think it depends on age in some ways. Not because young people are rude, but they just don't (generally) see the need for a 'thanks for the card', if they send a card at all.

My Grandad OTOH phones my mum to make sure we got the card if he doesn't get a 'thank you for the card' message/phone call by about 8.30am Grin

bananaboats · 06/04/2022 13:27

I would always text and say thank you and always receive a thank you text to cards I've sent its just good manners. I am only early 30s and have always done this so don't think its an age thing!

DownNative · 06/04/2022 14:11

@girlmom21

I find young people today in their 20s just don't bother.

Why do people always pop up with this ageist nonsense?

My best friend and I are in our 20s. We have manners.
I have relatives in their 40s with no manners.

You don't suddenly start being polite when your age starts with a 3.

It's not ageist whatsoever. Most young people I know don't thank others for sending cards and most don't send cards either.
Livpool · 06/04/2022 14:21

I always thank people for cards. They have still made an effort

RandomUsernameHere · 06/04/2022 14:30

If it was sent in the post yes I would say thank you, so they know it's arrived. If given in person I'd just say thank you at the time.

Kite22 · 06/04/2022 20:24

Am beginning to feel I must be a young person then, according to this thread despite having 3 dc all in their 20s as it would never occur to me to phone or thank someone for sending me a card. Grin
I've never had anyone thank me for sending them a card in all my life, and it wouldn't occur to me to thank someone who I wasn't coincidently talking to anyway.

I mean, in truth, I get cards from my siblings - who would phone me to sing Happy Birthday, my in-laws (ditto), my elderly Aunt (who doesn't text), and one, possibly two friends, through the post, so the only people not 'thanked' are the couple of friends. These are friends of 45 years standing, and none of us have ever phoned or texted one another on receipt of our birthday cards.

SomethingNastyInTheBallPool · 06/04/2022 21:12

No, because where does it end? Do you then have to thank someone for their thank you? And do they then thank you back? It’s a spiral to insanity.

merryhouse · 06/04/2022 21:32

Yeah, I'm 52 and I don't send thank-you messages for cards.