To wonder where all the nice cheap birthday cards are?

[puglife15]

Went to look for a card the other day - 90% of them were hideous/unfunny and even the really small half size ones were £2.50. most of them were £3+ for a bit of mass produced card with a picture on.

Someone must be making lovely cards for under 2 quid a pop, surely?! £3-£4 for a bog standard card is insane.

please no one say Card Factory

Surprised no one has suggested Paperchase. They are expensive but have a lot less tack than Card Factory and Clintons.

I also want to know what is wrong with Card Factory. There's also Card Warehouse that looks the same but I don't know if they have different cards or are the same company.

I don't care if someone gives me a Card Factory card, some of the children's ones especially that are 5 or 7 for a pound don't look cheap and serve the purpose.

No way would I pay Clintons/WH Smith prices for the purposes of the snobbery of others and if someone gives me a Clintons/WH Smith card, I would actually judge them as being a bit stupid for paying that sort of money for a card - £3+ is just such a total rip off - I don't know anyone that is so rich that they don't have to think about money so anyone who regularly shops there is literally throwing money away.

Thanks for the link to whistlefish filofanny, they look fab.

The OP doesn't say there is anything wrong with Card Factory, just that she lIves right near one and people will know where the card comes from... which begs the question how will they know? Card Factory cards aren't stamped "CF" and also what does it matter?

I'm a real cheapskate as I often pick up a pack of nice notecards that are blank - not the matte paper ones, they look like normal cards. Much cheaper than birthday cards and you can get interesting designs at museums etc.

newsagents are nicer and cheaper than supermarkets

Exactly. Why would it matter even if someone knew their card came from card factory?? Is this some new kind of status thing? Surely not?

Next do some nice, cheap(er) cards

pick i live right next to Card Factory so it's blindingly obvious to anyone round here if you give them a Card Factory card.

So what if it is? What a bizarre statement. Or do you mean you feel like you have to go and buy an expensive card from elsewhere and don't want them to think you've been to Card Factory?
It's definitely the place to go if you want nice cards that don't cost a fortune, which is what you asked, If you want to spend more and have them know that it definitely wasn't Card Factory you went to, then there's plenty more places to get more expensive cards.

Just seen all the other posts asking what the hell's wrong with Card Factory. Thank Gawd it's not just me, I thought I was missing something there lol

Oxfam for nice cards (e.g. For family), whistlefish or the market for kids birthday parties.

Tescos do some kids ones for 25p, home bargains I have got some for 50p including kids superhero such as Batman on which are neer identicle to £1.50 ones else where. Home bargains had a good mix for cheap last time I went. Tesco do multi packs which had perfectly nice cards in. I have also found ones around 50p in asda. You do have to search through. Asda have the cheeper ones at the end where we are so you dont neccesarily notice them. To be honest I would go for card factory as well if in town.

Wilkos. The choice is variable but I've had lovely cards from them and they range from £1 to £2.50 usually.
I bought two quite nice cards recently and nearly keeled over when she said £9!

Card Factory

I only discovered Card Factory a few months ago. Brilliant place! After all, most greetings cards are just opened, tenners extracted, message skimmed and then card placed on mantelpiece.

For a card connoisseur I go elsewhere for the handmade craft fair look. For everyone else I definitely seek out Card Factory now. Don't know how I managed before...

Barnardos do nice cards, only 89p and makes me I'm doing a bit for charity. However they have their logo and details all over the back so it's obvious where they are from if you are bothered about that.

I like Card Factory and Home Bargains for cards too. Decent quality and who cars if you can tell where you bought it?! Just can't understand why you would pay ££££ for a card.

Am I the only cheapskate who gets hers from B&M or Home Bargains? (Not for DH or DSS but pretty much everyone else's as their range isn't that great).
I concur with Wilko as a suggestion too

Card Factory do really nice cards at really good prices. No need to be stuffy about it.

Next do loads for £1-£1.50. Never see much for adult males in the selection though.

Oxfam, Next, M&S.

But mostly Oxfam.

Another vote for Next and any of the supermarkets- don't think anyone has mentioned Morrisons. I am also quite happy with Card Factory, especially for kids parties. I do have a cousin who works for a card shop firm though and get gorgeous cards from her (due to discount obvs) so feel like have to be a bit picky with her cards.

How about some quirky postcards? Or Touchnote app? Use your photos and are less that £1 each including postage. I love them.

Home bargains do some really nice cards, I always stock up when I'm in there.

Card Factory.