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Postcrossing

(14 Posts)
lefthanded Thu 06-Feb-14 16:12:04

Has anyone else tried Postcrossing? If you are not familiar with the name, you register with thir website, and they give you the name of a random member somewhere in the world - and you send that person a postcard. A real, live "wish-you-were-here" picture postcard. Your name and address will be added to their list and eventually some random member will send YOU a postcard.

You can send as many (within reason) or as few cards as you like. One every six months or a dozen per week - it's up to you. And you will continue to get back as many as you send. I send about two per month on average.

jinglbellsfrocks Thu 06-Feb-14 17:08:49

Sounds fun! smile

grannyactivist Thu 06-Feb-14 17:29:32

I do like the idea, but it's not for me. I can't keep up with all the people I already know around the world who send me postcards. Wearing my ex-teacher's hat, it would be a good school project though. smile

merlotgran Thu 06-Feb-14 17:33:54

Is it a good idea to be sending your name and address via the internet to random people somewhere in the world?

BlueBelle Thu 06-Feb-14 18:20:00

I have been a post crosser for 2 years 'met' some lovely friendly people all over the world gained 5 penfriends and have built my collection up by the hundreds

I love it as a hobby

Nonu Thu 06-Feb-14 18:59:37

I think sending pc"s is a wee bit old fashioned , send to GC, & maybe couple of others , otherwise bit of a faff & expensive.
Cheaper to email , plus I would not be keen to send my address here there and every where.

BlueBelle Thu 06-Feb-14 19:28:39

Its perfectly safe and works beautifully if you are interested in post cards You can request what type you like I don't collect tourist cards at all but have received some beautiful cards in my themes from far and wide Its definitely not old fashioned and there are thousands of young members far more than older ones

Its a hobby - email doesn't come into it nothing like receiving something lovely from the other side of the world on the mat come a morning I spend less than £5 a week which for a hobby is very cheap and gain a lot of pleasure from it

It is great fun

lefthanded Thu 06-Feb-14 20:58:27

grannyactivist School addresses crop up quite often when I am sending cards out.

merlotgran It's good to be aware of Internet security issues but I don't see a problem with this project. Addresses are only sent to the members who will be sending cards - they are not publicly searchable on the site. And it is only basic information that is sent out, the sort of thing that is easily obtainable from voters' lists, etc.

Icyalittle Thu 06-Feb-14 21:31:55

You can get the best of both worlds with various postcard apps, and it works out cheaper most of the time. Download the app, and buy some credit. Choose one of your own photos, write the message and address it. Then it is printed and posted from the UK so that a proper postcard arrives. I was forever buying postcards on holiday, then not being able to buy stamps so never sent them.

BlueBelle Thu 06-Feb-14 21:57:40

Many people on Post Crossing don't like self printed cards icyalittle they don't consider them the 'real thing'

Icyalittle Sat 08-Feb-14 23:24:24

I know they are not the real thing - but if the alternative is no postcard, they are a good way round the problem when you are on holiday. And I'm not sure that postcards from people I don't know would be the 'real thing' for me.

BlueBelle Sun 09-Feb-14 12:53:46

No it might not be right for you Icy I was just saying if you belonged to an organisation like Postcrossing (as the OP was talking about iPostcrossig) they wouldn't be very welcome by most members because its really for lovers of the postcard/ real mail/ and on the same level as penfriendship without all the writing Of course to send personally to your own family or friends you can use what ever floats your boat

yogagran Sun 09-Feb-14 18:58:28

I had a look at one of the apps for sending postcards from your own phone using a photo from your gallery. I think it's a great idea. I often send cards to DGD who lives in Canada so I have done one using this app. Very easy to create a postcard, much nicer to use one of your own photos, you can put a message on the back and even sign your name. All for £1.76 which I consider to be very reasonable
Thank you Icyalittle for letting me know about it flowers

Icyalittle Mon 10-Feb-14 07:35:36

Oh good, glad to be useful, yogagran. That is exactly what I like about those apps too. It confuses my mother to bits though when she gets postcards with us on them grin. I do see the appeal of the Postcrossing for others though, particularly for schools.