Has the cost of Stamps killed off the Xmas Cards?

[girlfriend44]

I don't send cards anymore anyway, but wondered will they die out with the cost of stamps now?

I think as a custom it's been dying out slowly for ages . I haven't sent any for about 5 years. The cost of stamps might accelerate the process.

Hmm was wondering about this. I got about 200 stamps I’d had for years swapped over when they got the barcodes so I’ll be sending about 30 this year as usual.

I’ll always send to family (about 10)

I have a few I use as Xmas decorations that I received from my mum years ago, so I think I’ll always send a few whatever the cost.

I cut right down last year, only sending about 5-6 to elderly relatives who still really appreciate them. Stamps are incredibly expensive and you can't even be sure they will be delivered.

I thought about starting to send cards last year as I loved getting cards when younger and wanted to start the tradition with friends kids. The cost of stamps put me off sending many! I was shocked to be honest.

Hopefully

I think it is a custom that has been dying out for years . I think social media has probably played a big part in this .

Texts/Whatsapp with gifs or pictures of family now. The Christmas card era is all but over for most of the current generation.

No it's been slowly dying out for years.

I only ever really get them from elderly relatives and the elderly volunteers I work with.

I only send cards to relatives/friends that I don’t see & will be shortening my list even more this year. Stamps are astronomical!

I've included a Christmas card in with birthday cards I've sent since I found out the cost of a stamp recently!

I believe the cost of stamps has definitely, contributed to people not sending out christmas cards and actually birthday cards etc. Such a shame, I used to love receiving a lovely card on special occasions. A text message or similar just doesn't cut it.

Haven’t bought stamps for ages. Was amazed at the price when I bought one yesterday.
Will be trimming the list right down and sending earlier by second class this year.

Yes it's sad .Even letters are a very rare treat .I love seeing old letters and postcards such a snap shot of society. Getting a love letter when younger .

In Singapore they do a cheap Xmas card stamp (it was about 50p) for December. Royal Mail should do that here.

My card sending has gone down year on year and considering stopping all but hand delivered. Some friends send ecards but I don’t really like them. I would instead donate the money to the charity I get them from apart from DC’s as the school and nursery get kids to design and they would be sad if I didn’t buy them. I sent 2 cards to DB from us and DM in one envelope (silly me I realise) and he had to pay extra at PO to get them! Was so embarrassed 🙈

We definitely get fewer and fewer cards. I think the price of stamps definitely has an impact.

It's not the cost of stamps, its that nobody sends any post now that email, whatsapp and social media exist. Why spend a few quid on a card, plus postage, plus going to the post office when there are far easier ways of reminding someone you exist once a year.

They used to do a postcard rate for cards, you had to leave the envelope unsealed, just tucked in. It's the only industry where there are fewer customers so they put the prices up!

@girlfriend44 social media / facebook is the new ways for most of the public

I do think it is a factor - both the cost and the difficulty finding an open post office, queuing to get all the different stamps...in the end you think "fuck it, this is ridiculous".

It will play a part but I think it’s an old tradition younger generations haven’t seen the need to keep up with. The internet has probably killed them more than anything, people just send a merry Christmas text now instead.

Why? They’re so unbelievably wasteful and ultimately end up as something else to recycle.

Haven’t sent any for well over 20 years and any that arrive (thankfully few these days) go straight in the recycling bin.

I think so too . People sent them before the internet with a small round robin letter or a message as telephone calls were expensive. They were also part of the decorations . People just put a tree up now .

I don't send cards unless I can hand them over or hand deliver with a couple of exceptions. I can't afford the cost of postage now, it's utterly outrageous.

I was thinking that but I still think with the internet people won't bother .