Birthday Cards

[poliphilo]

Would I be right in thinking birthday cards are on the way out?

In my family the old folks set great store by choosing the right one and making sure it arrives on time and the kids mostly don't send them at all. My generation- somewhere in the middle- sends cards in a spirit of conformity but wishes it didn't have to.

Am I generalizing from too small a data base or have I spotted a trend?

Comments

[idahoswede.livejournal.com]

MY family can't be arsed, but Ray's family do cards for everything and from and to everybody.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

It would be interesting to know what the sales figures are- whether they're going up or down.

[basefinder.livejournal.com]

My observations agree with yours. The only cards I buy are for Debbie, and the only ones I receive are from her.

She still enjoys the tradition, and will occasionally put a stack of birthday/holiday/get well cards in front of me to add my signature.

Same thing with postcards. I have two friends who still send postcards from their travels, and they seem like an anachronism.

[resonant.livejournal.com]

That's exactly why I send postcards - they're a strange experience that puzzles my friends.

[lblanchard.livejournal.com]

I still send sympathy cards (and as I get older I tend to buy in bulk and keep them handy), but that's about it.

[pondhopper.livejournal.com]

I love sending cards, for birthdays and Christmas mostly. It's not a tradition here in Spain so I tend to stock up on cards (keeping who I am buying them for in mind as I have a list of birthdays on my phone) when I'm in the US or the UK.
I don't know what's going on with card-sending statistically, though. That's just my personal preference.

[athenais.livejournal.com]

I was puzzled to discover a major office supply store here no longer carries packets of blank notecards. "No one buys them," said the clerk when I asked where they were. I do! I print my own covers on them for my business and leave them for my clients.

I think paper greetings are on the way out. I still give them for birthdays, baby congratulations, sympathy and Christmas.

[sovay]

Am I generalizing from too small a data base or have I spotted a trend?

My family still selects, sends, and presents cards at birthdays and other occasions, but I have no idea how mainstream it is.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I'd happily see birthday cards disappear but I have a certain affection for postcards- though it's ages since I last sent one

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Ailz makes most of the cards we send out

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Blank notecards are useful. I always like to have some to hand.

[davesmusictank.livejournal.com]

I think there is a trend but i feel it is now more prevalent with cards around Xmas due to the fact that postal costs have soared so high.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Good point. The Royal Mail is pricing itself out of business.