Thank you notes via e-mail?

[TimeforMe]

Is this appropriate? I work in a school and received gifts from many parents and teachers -- some just token gifts, like baked goods, candy, etc. Is it OK to thank them via e-mail?

 

[Carly_Roach]

If it were me I'd be using this as a teaching moment and send out hand-written thank you notes. Your students will learn that this is proper ettiquette for thanking someone for a gift. But that's just me.

 

[Pluto 2]

no email is not appropiate in thankyou notes.

 

[Sugardimples]

I see nothing wrong with an e-mail thank you note. The important thing is to say "thank you", not the medium used.

FYI, I'm not a young person, but I think it's important to adjust with the times and the use of e-mail is just one example of how things are changing.

 

[Pigeon]

No.

 

[TimeforMe]

If it were me I'd be using this as a teaching moment and send out hand-written thank you notes. Your students will learn that this is proper ettiquette for thanking someone for a gift. But that's just me.

I actually work in the office--not a teacher. Most of the gifts were from the parents themselves--kids didn't even know they gave them to me. Others were from teachers that I've helped throughout the year.

Hmmm. Not sure what to do.

 

[Christine]

If it were me I'd be using this as a teaching moment and send out hand-written thank you notes. Your students will learn that this is proper ettiquette for thanking someone for a gift. But that's just me.

First of all, let me say that if I give a gift, it totally does not matter to me how I'm thanked: in person, phonecall, e-mail, or regular mail.

But I agree with Carly Roach that this is a good time to do something like this when young kids are involved. It will be a big deal (especially these days) for them to receive a handwritten thank you note/card from you. It makes an impression on a child and shows them how important thank you's are. Not that an e-mail thank you is horrible, but it probably won't have the same effect that a card would.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I actually work in the office--not a teacher. Most of the gifts were from the parents themselves--kids didn't even know they gave them to me. Others were from teachers that I've helped throughout the year.

Hmmm. Not sure what to do.

Eh, I wouldn't be so sure the kids don't know their parents gave you gifts. That said, I think - despite the extra effort - handwritten thank you notes are appropriate. The parent is more likely to share that with the child, than an e-mail: "Oh, look - we got a thank you note from Ms TimeForMe for the cookies we made her for Christmas. How polite of her to take the time to let us know how much she enjoyed them!"

 

[MM27]

I wrote out thank you cards for any student that brought me anything on the last day of school before vacation, from gift to handmade card. I wrote it in a Christmas card and put a candycane on the outside. I always write 'To the xxxx family" on the outside because I don't want the kids just shoving it in their desk and the parents never seeing it. A couple of kids thought they were in trouble when I handed them the envelope and asked why there was a candycane on the note to their parent.

 

[NewDCLGuy]

Remember that etiquette never ever changes. So no email. Handwritten only. And no ballpoint pens either. That would be horribly tacky. Inkwell only. On papyrus. It would be a horrible lesson for those kids if you used the newfangled "paper" stuff.

 

[TimeforMe]

Remember that etiquette never ever changes. So no email. Handwritten only. And no ballpoint pens either. That would be horribly tacky. Inkwell only. On papyrus. It would be a horrible lesson for those kids if you used the newfangled "paper" stuff.

 

[aml3679]

I am old fashioned and write thank you notes and appreciate when I get one.

There are so many people who do not write thank you notes. It it came down to not sending a thank you note, then e-mail would be better than nothing.

 

[nancytoby]

I vote no on the email. Email is slightly better than no thank-you at all, though. Handwritten note is best.

 

[LuvCuteBoys]

I see nothing wrong with an e-mail thank you note. The important thing is to say "thank you", not the medium used.

FYI, I'm not a young person, but I think it's important to adjust with the times and the use of e-mail is just one example of how things are changing.

I agree completely. Except that I consider myself to be young. My family members might disagree

Remember that etiquette never ever changes. So no email. Handwritten only. And no ballpoint pens either. That would be horribly tacky. Inkwell only. On papyrus. It would be a horrible lesson for those kids if you used the newfangled "paper" stuff.

I love it.

 

[Northstar]

Personally, I would prefer to receive thank yous by email or personal communication (phone conversation).

If you're happy to receive thank yous by email, I think you can follow the "do unto others" rule and feel that you've properly acknowledged their generosity. If you cherish handwritten notes and value them above an emailed acknowledgment, then you should send out handwritten notes yourself to help keep a tradition you value alive.

 

[kirstenb1]

As a parent, I'd be fine with email.

 

[LisaR]

Remember that etiquette never ever changes. So no email. Handwritten only. And no ballpoint pens either. That would be horribly tacky. Inkwell only. On papyrus. It would be a horrible lesson for those kids if you used the newfangled "paper" stuff.

My son emailed all of his thank you notes today to his aunts and uncles. He was able to thank most of them in person so the email thank you was just an extra. There were two people that he doesn't see so they received only the email thank you. We send a gift to one of the two and they already sent their email thank you to us so I know they won't mind.

 

[pospisil]

I would love an email thank you note! I always feel slightly guilty throwing out the handwritten ones, since someone spent money on the card. But does anyone actually keep them? I know I don't. Email conveys the sentiment just as well, and it's guilt-free.

 

[ICF]

I say an email is fine and wouldnt think twice if my kids teacher sent an email thank you note.

 

[MIGrandma]

I think e-mail thank you notes are just fine. Much better than no thank-you at all, and you're saving paper and a stamp.