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Posting Christmas Cards

(76 Posts)
CraftyGranny Tue 20-Dec-22 12:46:46

I have just been to the post office to buy stamps for my cards. It won't open until this afternoon due to an armed robbery there on Saturday.
Whilst I was there the person behind the counter (not the usual Postmaster) told me that the last day for posting 2nd class cards was Monday last week and Friday last week for 1st class, because of the strikes.
I was not aware of the early postal dates and now wonder whether it will be worth taking the chance to post the cards or not bother.
Is anybody else in the same position?

Theoddbird Thu 22-Dec-22 16:28:25

I posted mine on Monday last week. None have arrived yet 🙁

HannahLoisLuke Thu 22-Dec-22 15:24:43

I posted mine second class on 12th as it was on the news that date was the last for second class. Postage was around £25 and friends Ive seen in the last few days say they still haven’t received mine. What a complete waste of money!

jocork Thu 22-Dec-22 15:17:34

I did the ones I don't have email addresses for first, with printed newsletter, then emailed the letter to those I could. After that I posted cards to the email people. All were posted after the dates but that isn't unusual for me. I take the attitude that my friends know I'm not efficient but still seem pleased to hear from me when they eventually do. I love hearing from them however late it is.

rowyn Thu 22-Dec-22 15:00:42

Quit3 ironically I couldn't post early for Christmas because the charity cards I ordered at the end of November didn't arrive until about a week ago, I risked posting some but resorted to sending Jacqui Lawson 'e' cards to about 20 people.
They're lovely cards - and much cheaper now postage is so expensive, but it's not the same, even though you can add a personal message.

knspol Thu 22-Dec-22 14:26:40

When you see the piles of mail left outside sorting offices in the rain and snow and some being eaten by rats and foxes then I don't hold out much hope of deliveries being made at all even in the New Year.

CraftyGranny Thu 22-Dec-22 13:59:20

I have posted my cards. They will just arrive later than usual, but they will arrive.

That's a lesson learned for next year!!!

Merry Christmas everybody.

Supergranuation Thu 22-Dec-22 13:57:22

I only send cards to close family and friends these days. There is no way I'm buying stamps. Instead I use the Don't Send Me A Card charity website. You can choose your charity and pay as little as £2.50 and email more cards than people I know, about 100 I think with a personalised message. Happy Christmas to all Gransnetters! 🎄

grannyro Thu 22-Dec-22 13:54:11

I would still post them. I have hardly had any cards this year, but, when Xmas is over and the Xmas tree begins to look tatty, I am hoping receiving wishes from friends (albeit late) will cheer me up!

Helenlouise3 Thu 22-Dec-22 13:45:27

It's very late to be posting cards, even if there wasn't a strike. I would still post them. People understand that there's delays because of the strikes. I think many people have donated to charities in lieu of cards this year. We usually have just over 50. This year we've had 16, but many messages by text or on Facebook

Nannashirlz Thu 22-Dec-22 13:41:46

I also forgot about the strikes I posted yesterday and my friend just said it arrived today lol phew first class

HeavenLeigh Thu 22-Dec-22 13:32:44

I sent one last night well actually handed it to post office worker getting out of van. I doubt very much it will arrive locally in time for Christmas, I wasn’t actually expecting one from the said person. Posted others week ago

Knittynatter Thu 22-Dec-22 13:25:21

I posted cards on Monday and I have heard that some of them arrived today!

oldeman Thu 22-Dec-22 13:06:44

CraftyGranny, you should still post your cards. Most people would love to get them even if they are a few days late. A lot of people will get cards late anyway, due to the postal strikes. I would rather receive a card in early January than not at all as it's nice to know someone thought about you. You can also text or email good wishes on the day with a note that cards in post.

b1zzle Thu 22-Dec-22 12:50:00

Spent just under £40 on 7th December for postage on parcels and cards - as of today, haven't heard that anything has arrived at its destination ...

Ladyfungi59a Thu 22-Dec-22 12:42:50

my brother who lives in Hampshire posted cards to me and my family (East Midlands) on 7th but they only arrived today. I often found in the past that cards posted late would still arrive in time for Christmas but, of course, it's different this year.

cc Thu 22-Dec-22 12:40:15

And I received a package via the 48 hour parcel service yesterday, less than 24 hours after my order. We're luckly to live in an urban area I suspect, other people seem to be having a lot more trouble.

cc Thu 22-Dec-22 12:37:44

Because of the strike we'd decided not to send cards other than to family this year. However we realised at the weekend that the post is actually fine here at the moment so sent them on Monday. Obviously they've reached their destinations because people have mentioned hearing from us in their own cards.

sandwichgeneration Thu 22-Dec-22 12:29:01

Haven't bothered this year. In my part of the world the Post Office managers (not posties) have stopped any delivery of letters. We've had nothing for six weeks other than packages. Complained to Royal Mail who sent back a generic letter to apologise for us not receiving mail for "a few days". It's been 40 days.

Alioop Thu 22-Dec-22 12:25:44

I definitely would not post them now. I received a Christmas card this morning that was posted a fortnight ago in the same town I live in. I ordered cards to put on flower arrangements for family graves on 3rd of December and they haven't arrived yet. I'm so disappointed as I thought I'd ordered them in plenty of time. There will be a lot of disappointed people this Christmas.

Coconut Thu 22-Dec-22 12:20:37

I posted all my Xmas cards mid November coz of the impending strikes. My cards sent to Spain and Jersey arrived long before the UK ones 🤣

Nellietheelephant Thu 22-Dec-22 11:43:18

I had a brainwave and have arranged ecards to arrive on Christmas eve! There are some amusing and/or pretty ones online and I felt rather smug. Obviously, it's not as good as a real card (you can't display them) but not too expensive - some are even free, though I can't see how they make any money - and more reliable than Royal Mail unfortunately.
Merry Christmas all!

MawtheMerrier Thu 22-Dec-22 11:42:44

Oh dear OP- a bit optimistic?
The cards are arriving in dribs and drabs and I am getting cards from people I omitted to send to, either because I felt the contact had become so distant, I knew I didn’t have their address or I couldn’t really be bothered blush
I am now hoping that those I forgot will just assume my card to them got lost in the post hmm
The last posting day for second class was about 10 days ago I believe but with the postal strikes I am sure we will still be getting cards posted back then well into January!

coast35 Thu 22-Dec-22 11:39:36

My son passed away on 13 th November 2016. I hadn’t the heart to send any cards that year. Guess what! The sky didn’t fall in so now I don’t send cards at all. I send a chatty email to a couple of cousins but that’s all. I KNOW it’s naughty but I’ve always hated it as a chore. Looking out peoples addresses is such a faff. I’m 77 now and feel that if i can’t do or not do what I want at this age when can I?

nipsmum Thu 22-Dec-22 11:31:52

My cards were all posted the first week in December. My parcels went on the 13 th Dec and have all been delivered now although I was told in the post office that because I was I day later than recommended date I should send them 1st class at almost 90p more expensive. You are taking a bit of a risk not posting them until now. Did you not know there were strikes by post office delivery drivers and postmen ?

MagSt Thu 22-Dec-22 11:30:16

My daughter in Australia sent me a Christmas parcel mid November, it arrived in this country on 30th November,(tracked) I still have not had it, won’t get it now as strikes for next 2 days. So disappointed, so is daughter.