Do people not send Christmas cards as much anymore?

[happybratpack]

I usually get a ton of Christmas cards, but the last couple years it's really tapered off. I still sent out my usual bundle, but have only gotten maybe a 1/4 of the cards that I usually get.

Just curious.

 

[MinnieM3]

I've wondered about this, too. Was going to do a poll to see how many people send out. We do about 40 each year, but don't get that many back it seems.

 

[RonnieJo66]

I'm glad someone else was thinking the same thing as me....we send out about 40 cards. We have only recieved about 5 so far

 

[MinnieM3]

Poll up

 

[drgnfly30]

I didn't send any this year & I've only received two.. one from my realtor & another from my Direct Sales company that I'm a consultant for...

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I think it has dwindled. I haven't sent any out this year. We moved and I was hoping to keep it to just close friends and family from now on.

 

[simba928]

We didn't send any out, never do, never did. We usually have our whole kitchen door filled with them, but this year we got maybe 6 or 7.

 

[minniecarousel]

I sent around 30. These are to people who we don't usually see, but want to stay in touch with. Plus - our aunts & uncles. I sent a - gasp! - printed note with a few of the cards. We had news this year, with our youngest graduating from college and getting a job, and older son proposing to his GF. I tried to hand-write them, but to make my handwriting readable, I would have had to take my time - & I didn't have any time - they went out in the mail this morning. We've gotten a few cards - but then we didn't mail any last year - we went to Disneyland instead!

 

[Kitty 34]

I haven't gotten very many either this year. I usually get around 20 by Christmas and so far I only have 6. :

 

[mickeyfan2]

We always send out more than we get. There are some that don't send them anymore (cost etc). After a while I may drop them and add on internet friends.

 

[mickeyfan2]

Poll up

I don't see the poll.

 

[zalansky]

We have only received 6 so far. I think less and less people are sending them, or we are just not popular. just kidding!

 

[pearlieq]

It's dropped off a lot. I'm now part of the epidemic, as I will only be sending a few cards this year, rather than the 40+ of years past. Frankly, it's expensive and a hassle and there are several people who haven't reciprocated in years.

I would credit two things for the decline of Christmas cards. The first would be email. Christmas cards used to be a way to keep up and keep in touch, but there doesn't seem to be much need when you trade emails every other week. Some of the urgency is lost.

The second thing I would credit would be the growth of photo and other pre-made cards. I know some people enjoy them, and they certainly are easier than the traditional handwritten cards, but they strike me as very impersonal. They contain no message written specially for me--it feels no more personal than the card I get from my dentist. I don't feel very compelled to respond when I get them since I know the sender didn't spend much effort on my behalf and didn't have anything to say to me other than a pre-printed "Happy Holidays" and a picture of their kid/dog/house.

 

[LVSWL]

Well, at least they did think about you, and address a card to you and print a photo of their child/dog for you and put it in that envelope and put a stamp on it and mail it to you hoping that you would enjoy hearing from them. That is a little bit of effort on their part. I know I have just finished addressing 75 personal cards for our family and friends, and another 126 for my husband's business and no, each one may not have a "personal" note, but some do, and many have a photo of the kids, and all come with our most sincere wishes for a wonderful and safe holiday. I know that when I recieve a card that is unsigned, I try to recognize that at least we were remembered and that the sender is probably just as busy in their life as we are in ours, but wanted to send us a card at this time of the year.

 

[tiggerlover]

I definitely think the trend to send Christmas cards has tapered off a little and I think that has to do with the popularity of the Internet and the rising cost of sending things through the mail. I know for myself I have cut back a little, but I still send out between 30-50 cards. I have a book with my Christmas card list in it and if I find that I don't communicate with people anymore or they haven't recipricated in two years than I take them off of my list.

As for receiving, I have received quite a few already this year, not sure if it is as many as usual, but it seems to be close.

 

[the kabuki]

This is the first year we haven't sent them out, I have noticed a definite decline in the past few years. Too much hassle, work, cost of stamps. Forget the whole thing, I'm done with it

 

[mickeyminnie]

I would much rather get a printed photo card of something that is important to that person than a card where all the person does is sign their name and maybe dash off a quick Merry Christmas. At least the photo shows you a piece of their life, kids for example, or you know they took some time to select a special picture and make up a card. I think that is way more personal than the box set card you grabbed on the way through the store.

By the way I sent out 45 today and most are a photo card with the pre-printed greeting, but then I add a Merry Christmas, or some such in hand writing. There are a few where I hand write a personal note and include it, people I don't get to see. I think/hope people enjoy the picture of my kids, that is why I send them out.

 

[thinkerbell]

Originally posted by pearlieq

The second thing I would credit would be the growth of photo and other pre-made cards. I know some people enjoy them, and they certainly are easier than the traditional handwritten cards, but they strike me as very impersonal. They contain no message written specially for me--it feels no more personal than the card I get from my dentist. I don't feel very compelled to respond when I get them since I know the sender didn't spend much effort on my behalf and didn't have anything to say to me other than a pre-printed "Happy Holidays" and a picture of their kid/dog/house.

These are my favorite kinds. I love to see how other people's children have grown. I always hang these on my refrigerator. I feel more thought has been put into these than the preprinted cards that I send out.

I sent my cards to the post office by my husband the other day and he said he had to go back later because the boxes(3 of those BIG blue boxes) were stuffed so that the mail was sticking out of the slots. Maybe people are sending out cards, just not to us. I sent out about 55 and I have only gotten about 7-8. I did only send mine out this week though. I had decided to not send any out and then changed my mind last weekend.

 

[mickeyboat]

I sent out 100 cards this year - the pre-printed photo cards. This is the first time I have ever heard someone complain about them. Most people really enjoy receiving a picture of my kids.

I used to send personal notes in every card, but it just got too hard once I had kids to take that amount of time for Christmas cards. It's either this or nothing.

Anyway, almost everyone I send to sends one back. I stop sending if I have not gotten one back in about two years, unless I know the person just doesn't send cards.

Denae

 

[Brianne]

We sent out 25 & have only received 3 so far. We've gotten a couple calls from my side of the family thanking us for the pictures of the kids--the in-laws haven't called at all, after whining about wanting pictures. Both families live in the same town, so I know all have received them.