Cards

[Caran]

With the postage increase I was wondering about cards online. Does the recipient actually receive a card in their hand or does it get emailed to them?
What if they do not have an email address?
I do not understand how they work, please help.

[bednobs]

it depends what you mean - if you are talking of free ecards, they have to have an email address and they get it as an email, usually they can't print it out. If you mean funky pigeon, moonpig and other card sites that you can personalize cards and send them, they get the actual card thru the post. However, i expect the prices will go up to reflect postage costs

[chaptazbru]

I much prefer getting cards through the post rather than online. I had an ecard (not sure if that's the right expression) for my recent birthday from one friend and although it was very pretty, I'd far rather have had one I could put up on display and hold in my hand!

[Caran]

Thanks Bednobs, it was the moonpig type I was thinking about. I will have a look at their site now I know the recipients actually get a card in their hands.

[commoner]

Assuming the recipient has a printer then he/she can do as I do and print out the ecard and display it with the snail mail ones.....

[Bumpkin_Clumber]

Strangely enough I had a sympathy card today from an aquainance in Cape Town.. a Funky Pigeon one... Post mark on envelope was Guernsey.. Signatory was printed by computer though which, somehow didn't feel the same as a handwritten one...Nice card though and quick, and the sentiment was there.

[lankeela]

I suppose its a sign of the times but I think a card sent by a computer or one of those online firms is so impersonal - half the fun of sending cards is choosing the right one for the person and signing it with a personal message. I think its just the lazy way of doing it. Bit like a boss asking his secretary to get a present for his wife!

[FredPuli43]

Ah, Lankeela, but you don't get a couple of minutes of jokey animation and some synthetic music with a ordinary card!
(I prefer an ordinary card, in spite of those benefits of technology!)

[starone]

I have sent several via Funky Pigeon which I believe is a subsidiary of W. H. Smith. You pick your card from the assortment they have on line (quite a lot) and write your message in them. This is quite easy, the pages turn over for you. Very clever! Then you put the details of where you want the card to be sent and your own details including your credit card number and when you want the card to arrive. The cost of postage is included in the price of the card so that it seems as if you are getting the postage free (not very likely). It is more expensive, I reckon, than going to the Card Market and sending it yourself, although very convenient if you cannot get to a shop. Personally I think the cards are not so good, but there you are, if you have no alternative, it's okay. So they do not have to have an email address - it's just ordinary mail.