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AIBU

Outrageous!

(27 Posts)
CountessFosco Tue 26-Aug-25 15:49:27

We have just received a letter in the post today from friends in France. Cost for them to send to us €2.10 = £1.82.
Cost for a letter from us to them = £3.20 = €3.70
positively outrageous. No wonder RM is losing business.

Mum1959 Tue 02-Sept-25 19:05:00

It seems to me that not only have computers changed our way of life somewhat but have made it unnecessary for us to correspond as we used to. Won't this effect the necessity of teaching written English in schools eventually?

Grantanow Sat 30-Aug-25 10:49:31

I thought the thread was about the TV series on the Mitford sisters.

Witzend Sat 30-Aug-25 10:14:34

Friend in Sweden only ever gets post twice a week, IIRC.
We do at least get post 6 days a week - around here anyway.

Twopence Sat 30-Aug-25 06:27:36

I don't know if I should start this as a new thread or not but I wonder what it is costing Royal Mail to roll out the new solar powered post boxes. We are getting one installed in our village. Apart from the cost we are very disappointed that we will no longer be able to knit postbox toppers as the solar panel is on top. 😢

Doodledog Thu 28-Aug-25 09:13:06

I think in years to come people will look back at the fashion for sending cards and be bewildered.

Cards cost £££ for a bit of folded cardboard with someone else's words written inside, and the cost of posting them adds insult to injury. People complain about the cost, yet get (unreasonably, IMO) upset when others don't send them. The talk is often about how people 'can't be bothered' to send cards, but who wants to be a 'bother' to their nearest and dearest? I know people who send Christmas cards to people they haven't spoken to for years - it's a ritual rather than an expression of friendship, yet so many people seem to equate the number of cards they get with how much they are loved.

Sending a text is at least personal, with your own message instead of someone like Patience Strong's, and shows that you are interested in the recipient other than as part of a Christmas chore, yet there are those who see it as 'not bothering' - it's very odd, and it seems (to me) that there is a lot of emotional blackmail around card-sending.

The more 'niche' cards, such as ones wishing good luck for an interview, or congratulations on passing a driving test are at least personal to the recipient and show that the sender knows a bit about their lives, and thinks about them as individuals rather than as someone on a list who might be offended if they didn't send a card.

Mamo Thu 28-Aug-25 08:35:50

Grandma2002

I hate doing it, sending emails, instead of letters or cards. I think most people understand. Trouble is I don't have everyone's email address. This Christmas I am sending e-cards or messages by Gmail, just cannot afford to send by post. I am going to start phoning round and getting as many email addresses as possible before Christmas. Trouble is if someone doesn't get their usual card they will probably think I have died!!

Grandma2002, perhaps if you’ve WhatsApp it might be easier to send a “Christmas photo” that way, as you might already have their mobile numbers. That’s what I’ve been doing for the last few years. Works well and I often get instant replies from recipients!

Grandma2002 Wed 27-Aug-25 19:48:44

I hate doing it, sending emails, instead of letters or cards. I think most people understand. Trouble is I don't have everyone's email address. This Christmas I am sending e-cards or messages by Gmail, just cannot afford to send by post. I am going to start phoning round and getting as many email addresses as possible before Christmas. Trouble is if someone doesn't get their usual card they will probably think I have died!!

FranP Wed 27-Aug-25 16:38:58

escaped

Aha, I see now! Maybe the words, Did you know this? is the issue. It does sound a bit rude! In my defense, that was actually the title of the previous stamp thread, so I can see how you jumped to the conclusion Ziggy62. The thread will be somewhere in Chat.

And this is labelled Outrageous, so neither mentions postage.

Maggieanne Wed 27-Aug-25 16:33:46

I think that any post to Denmark will just need to be collected!

4allweknow Wed 27-Aug-25 15:58:25

*AuntieE Canada had a pistal strike last year and post offices in UK would not accept any mail for Canada. With Demmark stopping deliveries postal services in other countries will probably just not accept any mail for Denmark.

JennyCee Wed 27-Aug-25 15:51:44

£8.10 to send a card to my daughter in Melbourne?????????
Will NOT be sending another via our Post Office

Maggieanne Wed 27-Aug-25 13:52:14

AuntieE, my son and his family live in Denmark and we are the only ones that send greetings cards, the Danes don't really bother with them, I believe. I can't blame them though, the amount of ridiculous cards available are silly. You can get a card for any occasion, even from your cat or dog and don't get me started on teachers' cards and gifts, unbelievable. Sorry, slightly off topic.

Ziggy62 Tue 26-Aug-25 17:44:29

BlueBelle

Bit nasty Ziggy I was only saying it to save people repeating things I am not and never have been Gransnet Mafia quite mean to say that

Indeed

escaped Tue 26-Aug-25 17:43:39

BlueBelle

Bit nasty Ziggy I was only saying it to save people repeating things I am not and never have been Gransnet Mafia quite mean to say that

👍

escaped Tue 26-Aug-25 17:42:56

Aha, I see now! Maybe the words, Did you know this? is the issue. It does sound a bit rude! In my defense, that was actually the title of the previous stamp thread, so I can see how you jumped to the conclusion Ziggy62. The thread will be somewhere in Chat.

BlueBelle Tue 26-Aug-25 17:40:30

Bit nasty Ziggy I was only saying it to save people repeating things I am not and never have been Gransnet Mafia quite mean to say that

escaped Tue 26-Aug-25 17:39:21

The Gransnet mafia strike again

Is there a rule that grown adults can't start a thread on a topic discussed previously? No one has to contribute if they don't wish to or if they contributed previously.

Eh? My first post was designed to be helpful. I provided a link so people could learn more what had been discussed. But it didn't work somehow when I copied it.

I think mafia is funny! 😆

Ziggy62 Tue 26-Aug-25 17:33:58

The Gransnet mafia strike again

Is there a rule that grown adults can't start a thread on a topic discussed previously? No one has to contribute if they don't wish to or if they contributed previously.

I, personally, hadn't seen a previous thread on the topic, so don't mind the OP posting today.

I agree postage is crazy. All my family live in different countries to me and it costs me a fortune. I speak to them on WhatsApp/Facebook but still like to send cards and presents. The choice of postage when I arrive at our village post office is so confusing but thankfully the lady behind the counter is always very helpful and understanding (unlike alot of posters on her recently lol)
Thank you for the thread OP, you made a good point in my humble opinion

AuntieE Tue 26-Aug-25 17:32:34

Postage has gone up everywhere, as most people no longer write letters but send e-mails or text messages.
,
In Denmark, where I live, letters will no longer be carried or delivered by the Post Office, as so few people send them, that it no longer pays to offer the service.

As yet we have not been informed what will happen to letters to Danish residents sent from another country, or which of the many parcels delivery services we now have will offer a postage rate for letters, if any.

It is easy to say that postage is outrageously dear, but after all, any postal service is a business that has to make a profit if it is to remain in business.

Do we need letters? You can print an e-mail if you want to keep it, or even fax a letter using your computer.

escaped Tue 26-Aug-25 16:31:08

Yes, the OP was on that thread Bluebelle.

BlueBelle Tue 26-Aug-25 16:24:26

I started a thread about Roya Mail prices a short while ago

escaped Tue 26-Aug-25 16:20:43

We discussed this 10 days ago I think.
www.gransnet.com› Forums› Chat› Did youknow this?

Jaxjacky Tue 26-Aug-25 16:18:53

La Poste has had French government subsidies of €531 million between 2023 and 2025, you’re not comparing apples with apples.

Oreo Tue 26-Aug-25 15:55:49

It’s losing business for two reasons, the phone and emails have eliminated a lot of it and they seem to think that making a first class stamp cost £1.70 will improve things!
We might all send more cards for instance if a stamp was a reasonable 75p.

Babs03 Tue 26-Aug-25 15:53:01

Is like everything else, people are being priced out of doing anything these days.