Forum Topic

Unbelievable!!!

Has anyone tried sending cards overseas to friends and relatives for Christmas?I was absolutely shocked to be charged a whopping £1.90 to post one small card to my sister-in-law in Australia!No wonder lots of folk say they will be reducing their Christmas Card List this year!

Jean F Fernandez ● 4865d34 Comments

http://www.recyclenow.com/has some wrapping ideasIn our house Father Christmas always used to reuse some of last year's paper to keep the kids guessing what was in the stocking longer  Avoid using sticky tape as much as possible and tie on labels rather than writing on the paperWrapping in newspaper on the diagonal and then using ribbon can look good  I prefer to spend my money on the present and not wrapping that may not be appreciated and just ripped off and thrown away!

Philippa Bond ● 4850d

How can you spend £300 on cards?Cost me £2-15 to send two cards to Europe and one cost more than the other due to size. So next year very small cards will be sent.But I think there is something special about sending cards and if you buy the stamps gradually over the year then you won't notice the cost. And if after Christmas you go card hunting you can often get some decent ones for next year.If you value your friends then do at least spend a little on them each year. Now the great business of wrapping presents starts. Hummm.Was it Philippa last year who said cut up Christmas cards and make tags for presents this year? That was really useful advice as I rummaged today through my ribbons and present ties bag.

George Knox ● 4852d

Well we're trying to keep our elderly relations in contact with us and each other  So if you can get everyone emailing skyping and texting each other that is absolutely brilliant - it's just that not everyone is going to be able to and it is more important to keep in touch  So it is mix and matchWe have cousins in their 90s catching up with each other again  There is nothing like reminiscing to cheer some people up but I don't remember the war!

Philippa Bond ● 4852d

I must admit although I started of with good intentions I am now feeling guilty with each unexpected card which arrives on mt doorstep! So much for trying to keep the costs down!I admit it is all rather difficult snd I don't want friends to think they are not worth the price of a postage stamp!So some friends will receive a card in the post and an e-card from 123 Greetings!

Jean F Fernandez ● 4856d

I agree  I understand that people on certain benefits are eligible for a discount but if I was in that position I don't think I'd be using them for Christmas cardsI gave up sending them several years ago(to people I wasn't going to see)when I had to give up some of the things I was doing  Subsequently in my racing backwards and forwards across the country I have managed to lose my newest address book (some addresses in old one luckily) I do correspond with some friends by email but email addresses change more often than people move house and re-connecting will take time and energyI've recently re-read the last round robin I sent and enjoyed being reminded of life then and I miss the ones I used to get in returnI've also recently looked through my mother-in-law's old address book and understand now why she found it more difficult and depressing as the years passed with all the names crossed out and I would recommend a new address book as a present (and keeping the old one as back-up and reference)!

Philippa Bond ● 4856d

The Post Office is managing its own decline.It knows that the business model is completely destroyed (by email) so is just milking it for as long as it can until the inevitabe end point.It comes to something when even the post office unions recognise the inevitability of this - hence none of the usual heavyhanded strike activity that one would normally expect from them in the face of attempts to downsize the business.

Tony Colliver ● 4856d

I really cannot understand why the Post Office would not reduce the price of sending a simple Christmas card for a short period like they do in some other countries.That way everyone would be happy (or not!).

Jean F Fernandez ● 4856d

I wonder how many Christmas card lists she will be dropped off as a result?Will she make more of an effort to meet up with or contact those friends she won't be sending cards to? It's more time-consuming and can be more expensive telephoning

Philippa Bond ● 4856d

Last year, my young sister announced to our family, that she would no longer send Christmas cards - they cost her about £300 each year. This year she's gonna give £100 of the money she saves to charity - the rest she'll spend on all the kids in the family. She's wise is my sis!

Gerry Tan ● 4857d

When you are ready drop me a PM and I'll send you some links.

Nigel Brooks ● 4857d

Thank you for that Nigel.  I will be having another go at looking for one in the New Year.

Philippa Bond ● 4857d

Don't get ripped-off though by the 'spcialist' big button mobile suppliers who charge £60-80 for a mobile and lock you in to a monthly contract.It is perfectly possible to buy a sim-free big button mobile like the ttfone from Amazon for around £25 (it even has an 'SOS' button, stick £5 credit on it (999 calls are free anyway) and give an elderly person added security and peace of mind.

Nigel Brooks ● 4857d

My friend has her name down at her local library to join a class where they teach you basic computing, now all she needs is a netbook or laptop.I have been trying to get her online for AGES but maybe winning the battle now! ;-)

Jean F Fernandez ● 4857d

That's brilliant  We tried to get my in-laws to use a mobile but failed  When one of them had a fall it was a young boy who called the ambulance on his mobile and they then started to think more favourably about them  More recently we have found them invaluable for communicating from hospitals - hospital systems are not always available and there are never enough staff or from trains to text confirming which one we have caughtSilver surfers clubs are a great idea! Age Concern sometimes run these clubs tooThere are lots more simpler to use mobiles now with big buttons I was up at the RNIB in Judd Street the other day where you can try out equipmentThe kids can also help teach their grandparents to text - It could be a Christmas holiday project

Philippa Bond ● 4857d

My friend was happy to have the mobile when she had a nasty fall and could at least ring for help.

Jean F Fernandez ● 4858d

Well done Jean.We have a small internet cafe at my church and the 'silver surfers' make extensive use of it. You are never too old to learn.

Nigel Brooks ● 4858d

I have just convinced one of my friends to get a netbook so she can do so much on the internet, it took me ages to get her to use a mobile phone, now she sends texts like an expert!

Jean F Fernandez ● 4858d

Every time they went on strike customers were forced into finding alternatives It is a shame because the custom of catching up with friends and family at this time of year will be lost forever and so it will be easier to lose touch with those not living life on the web

Philippa Bond ● 4858d

With so many people on the Internet and on Skype now it is easier to keep in touch with family and friends no matter where they live.The price of posting even a small greeting card at Christmas or for birthdays cannot be justified by our greedy Post Office when cards posted from many countries overseas cost just a fraction of what they do here.The ever increasing price of postage, plus the cost of the card, is the reason why this year and beyond the tradition of sending Christmas Cards will continue to decline.No wonder so many Card Shops have now closed down!I have only 2 friends who actually post letters because they are not currently online. We keep in touch by sending text messages or by telephone calls though.It is obvious that fewer and fewer people will be using the Post Office to buy stamps as a way of communication when there are so many other methods one can use to keep in touch.

Jean F Fernandez ● 4858d

Don't allow yourselves to lose touch with friends just for the price of a stamp!I've noticed that if you are in receipt of some benefits you can get discounted stamps.However much they are sometimes ridiculed round robins are a useful way of communicating once a year.  Trying to write a whole personal message too easily can turn into just a signature.  I know which I'd prefer to receive!

Philippa Bond ● 4858d

Around 50p (using the calculator at postalheritage.org).

Nigel Brooks ● 4863d

Short term resolution is to cut and paste spaces! Full stops are a bit more problematic

Philippa Bond ● 4863d

Just send them to those people who you think will really enjoy them and write more than your signature inside to make it worthwhile!

Philippa Bond ● 4863d

last post meant for SK.Do I think from this thread that you never send letters anymore, which is why at Christmas you are all shocked?In 1840 a letter here cost 1d. how much is that after inflation?

George Knox ● 4864d

horrible things

George Knox ● 4864d

As far as I know a 1st class stamp within the UK is 60p....absolutely outrageous and takes the 'good will ' out of Christmas !!!

Marie Anne OConnell ● 4864d

Then let's say we're saving the planet by using less paper! ;-)

Jean F Fernandez ● 4864d

is that an anagram? Your spacing seems to have gone awry!

Michael Brandt ● 4864d

Acardcanbereadandre-read,-usefulandcomfortingwhenyoudon'thaveaphotographicmemory!

Philippa Bond ● 4864d

Who is running the Post Office - Mr Scrooge??? Surely the least they could do is reduce the price of stamps just for a couple of weeks before Christmas?Can you imagine how must some people look forward to receiving greetings from distant friends and family? The price just keeps going up and up so I have now decided that enough is enough. No more sending cards overseas for me! It is just becoming ridiculous, my husband and I were so shocked we even went to 2 different Post Office branches just to make sure there was no mistake!Then they have the cheek to make people stand for hours in a queue at the Post Office whilst trying to sell insurance to the captive audience!Many card shops have now sadly closed and no doubt more will continue to do so. My newsagent said he will not bother restocking cards in the future as sales are down so much.Those of us who make cards as a hobby will be thinking what is the point when it would cost a fortune to send the card. I still make cards but mostly giving to friends who live nearby.Actually some of my friends and I have even exchanged cards well in advance to avoid having to post them nearer the date. The Post Office must be losing a lot of money in this way.From now on I shall either be chatting on Skyoe or sending overseas card on the internet. Naff I know but at least it is free if you use 123 Greetings and some other websites.

Jean F Fernandez ● 4864d

It's the end of the Xmas card. 20 cards sent is £10 gone and that's without the cost of the card.But there are ways around it. I was on a business trip last week and posted 50 cards from Portugal back to the UK.Total cost £13.55But some countries are even more expensive than Royal MailGiven the huge surge in parcel post from the rise of online shopping- which even Royal Mail are benefitting from, it seems mad that this now highly profitable side cannot subsidise letter post.Amazing too that they have not brought in a 35 day " Xmas post rate" of 30% less for stamps but valid only from Nov 25th till Jan 1st.The fall in use will mean Royal Mail will probably make no more money or even less than before.Charities will be big losers as will British card makers and designers. Demand will slump.Our business has cut cards by 88% this year and no-one is keen on e-cards which you know won't get printed out or read.

Michael Brandt ● 4864d

Ecards?

Susan Kelly ● 4864d

1oz/25 gram airmail letter from UK to the USA £1.901oz/25 gram airmail letter from USA to the UK $1.25 (£0.85)= Royal Mail ridiculously overpriced.

Nigel Brooks ● 4864d

Yes, we sent a dozen Christmas cards to Singapore and was shocked at the cost - thought of taking a second mortgage to cover the cost. Used to cost £2/6d the lot!

Gerry Tan ● 4864d