Gransnet forums

Christmas

Posting Xmas Cards 1st Class Will Be 1.65p This Year

(48 Posts)
Wheniwasyourage Fri 06-Sept-24 20:53:01

I'm planning to go to the post office next week and buy some 1st class stamps before the price goes up. Why wait until it does?

Deedaa Fri 06-Sept-24 20:46:20

I think the passage of time is solving the problem for me. Every year at least one is off my list. I just plan for the survivors and get prepared early with 2nd class stamps.

keepingquiet Fri 06-Sept-24 20:41:17

I send Christmas cards first class to people who live far away. Mostly because I don't write them early, I still like Christmas to be at Christmas.

Dickens Fri 06-Sept-24 20:34:30

Has any spokesperson justified the 30p hike?

Why is this being allowed to happen. Many big companies being taken over by people from abroad. It's crazy.

When there's profit to be made either by the seller or buyer - the family silver will be sold to the highest bidder. There's little morality, integrity or, indeed, patriotism, involved.

Aldom Fri 06-Sept-24 20:33:19

Mae you can't compare the price of stamps fifty years ago with the current price. Fifty years ago the average wage of a manual worker was £20 per week and of a non manual worker £27 per week.

mae13 Fri 06-Sept-24 20:19:15

aggie

Does anyone remember when Christmas Cards had a special cheap rate as long as the envelope flap was tucked in instead of sealed ?
We used to get lots , showed them off as part of the decorations , strung round the room
Special ones on the piano.

Yes I remember. I think it was 3 old pence if you didn't seal the envelope and 4 old pence if you did. Blimey !

1.65p is £1 13s 0d in old "proper" money. Or just over 30 bob. The world has gone mad.

lixy Fri 06-Sept-24 20:01:42

Agree that it is value for money but I’m too stingy to send cards 1st class. My MiL always stipulated that birthday cards had to be posted 1st class, even by people who lived in the same house!
I don’t like to post C cards before December though, so 1st Dec is posting day for me, along with a lot of other people I know.

RosiesMaw2 Fri 06-Sept-24 19:14:49

Janiepops

Let’s say you live in a village about 10 miles outside of Leeds, and you post a card to London. You post it in your village postbox, it’s collected that day, taken to main PO in Leeds, and sorted. Off it goes to London and gets resorted to borough it’s going to. It arrives and is again resorted to specific addresses.Postman collects and trudges off, or drives off and finally arrives, usually within a 24 hour period. It’s been handled by half a dozen staff, used petrol, train fuel, and leg power to get it to your door…… I think that is a breathtaking bargain for £1.65!! Seriously, what on earth can you get for £1.65? Not much!Cant even buy half a pint,or an ice lolly! It’s astonishing how cheap it is actually.📮📩

Indeed janiepops!
I live in a village about 8 miles from Milton Keynes.
I posted “Good luck at school” cards to my Birmingham grandchildren at 5 o clock on Wednesday, first class, they arrived in Moseley the next morning!

Witzend Fri 06-Sept-24 19:11:31

I usually do mine early, so they can go 2nd class. Ideally I get them all done by the end of November - we have quite a few overseas ones to send so they need to go early anyway.

Janiepops Fri 06-Sept-24 19:05:49

Let’s say you live in a village about 10 miles outside of Leeds, and you post a card to London. You post it in your village postbox, it’s collected that day, taken to main PO in Leeds, and sorted. Off it goes to London and gets resorted to borough it’s going to. It arrives and is again resorted to specific addresses.Postman collects and trudges off, or drives off and finally arrives, usually within a 24 hour period. It’s been handled by half a dozen staff, used petrol, train fuel, and leg power to get it to your door…… I think that is a breathtaking bargain for £1.65!! Seriously, what on earth can you get for £1.65? Not much!Cant even buy half a pint,or an ice lolly! It’s astonishing how cheap it is actually.📮📩

Salti Fri 06-Sept-24 18:34:21

kittylester

^Only if you get one from someone at the last minute, after you'd decided to cross them off your list.^

I don't put a 1st class stamp on those - it lets the recipient know that you weren't planning on sending them one. Let them think it was the fault of Royal Mail.

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

kittylester Fri 06-Sept-24 18:16:57

Only if you get one from someone at the last minute, after you'd decided to cross them off your list.

I don't put a 1st class stamp on those - it lets the recipient know that you weren't planning on sending them one. Let them think it was the fault of Royal Mail.

Allira Fri 06-Sept-24 18:11:40

I suspect there'll be more e-cards sent out this year and Royal Mail will say they are selling fewer stamps than ever.

Of course, if they bring in a special Christmas price they might just do a lot better.

TerriBull Fri 06-Sept-24 18:09:01

Exactly! who does send them 1st class. I predict those of us who send cards will shrink their lists further. Of course if you happen to be seeing anyone prior to Christmas, well just hand them the card, although the beginning of September is a bit previous for that grinI've been coming face to face with the wretched Christmas cards for about a week when I enter Sainsburys. It's a tradition that will die out with younger generations. I don't think it's something close to their hearts.

Allira Fri 06-Sept-24 18:04:58

kittylester

But, who sends Christmas cards 1st class?

And, it's over 50 years since we used £so.

Only if you get one from someone at the last minute, after you'd decided to cross them off your list.

2nd class will remain at 85p.

Wheniwasyourage Fri 06-Sept-24 18:00:23

Never have sent them first class and certainly won’t in future!

kittylester Fri 06-Sept-24 17:49:27

But, who sends Christmas cards 1st class?

And, it's over 50 years since we used £so.

BlueBelle Fri 06-Sept-24 17:07:13

I m sorry to say our charity shop has had orders from Head Office and the blooming things went out a couple of days ago we all hate it but got no choice (C cards I mean )

Ziplok Fri 06-Sept-24 17:06:47

I’ve already reduced how many cards I send, will look at further reducing I think. The postage is more expensive than the card in most instances.

aggie Fri 06-Sept-24 17:03:12

Does anyone remember when Christmas Cards had a special cheap rate as long as the envelope flap was tucked in instead of sealed ?
We used to get lots , showed them off as part of the decorations , strung round the room
Special ones on the piano.

Moonwatcher1904 Fri 06-Sept-24 16:57:42

Well that's my Xmas cards going second class this year.
I've just been reading the BBC news about it and Royal Mail are in the process of being taken over by Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky. He has said he will honour the service but only for 5 years and the takeover will face a government probe including potential links to Russia.
Why is this being allowed to happen. Many big companies being taken over by people from abroad. It's crazy.

Retread Fri 06-Sept-24 16:56:02

… and Christmas cards are already for sale in my local Princess Alice charity shop 😠

mae13 Fri 06-Sept-24 16:36:21

From October.

Royal Mail must be having a laugh. The coming 30p hike would have been 6 shillings in old money.

Heavens above!