Don't Send Square Christmas Cards
@BelleStarr (61047)
United States
November 3, 2015 11:34am CST
I know you may be thinking that it is a little early to be talking about sending out Christmas cards and you are right it is. However, if you haven't bought yours yet I want to give you this warning, avoid square cards if you live in the United States.
In the U.S. it costs 70 cents to mail a square card while it is 48 cents for rectangular. Last year I found this out the hard way. I never knew it made a difference but evidently the square cards can not go through the regular postal machines and must be handled by hand thus the increased cost.
As you can imagine I am back to rectangular cards this years. 22 extra cents per card really can add up.
21 people like this
21 responses
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
3 Nov 15
That seems like an outrageous difference in postage, especially when we consider that many people may post a large number of cards.
Some people will end up with square cards due to buying boxes of them, so it would be cheaper to buy a pack of rectangular envelopes to post them in.
5 people like this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
3 Nov 15
@BelleStarr What a pity. Oh well, you may as well stick to triangular or round cards.
3 people like this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
3 Nov 15
@Asylum lol No it is traditional for me this year though I am very particular about what the cards say and how they look. I like an English country church scene especially.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
3 Nov 15
I don't think they would fit because they are to tall.
1 person likes this
@Rollo1 (16679)
• Boston, Massachusetts
4 Nov 15
@BelleStarr He can sit in his vehicle and lob them at the door, they will fly like magic. It's another Christmas miracle!
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
4 Nov 15
Maybe he will do it for free? No we have rural delivery in a vehicle no delivery to the door!! lol Most of my friends have rural delivery too.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
3 Nov 15
Yes I got quite the shock last year. Luckily was went to mail them at the post office otherwise they would have been returned to me for insufficient postage,
2 people like this
@kellyr634 (416)
• United States
3 Nov 15
I didn't know this either!
Post cards are even cheaper to send out, that's what we plan on sending this year.
2 people like this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
3 Nov 15
I know many people do but I don't like my message to be public so I prefer the privacy of an envelope.
1 person likes this
@sueznewz2 (10409)
• Alicante, Spain
3 Nov 15
yes it's the same in spain, if they are square, or small, it's more postage... 
2 people like this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
4 Nov 15
Seems counterproductive doesn't it!!
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
3 Nov 15
I hope so because it is not common knowledge I have to tell you.
1 person likes this
@zebra2222 (5269)
• United States
3 Nov 15
Just too pricey to send cards. Give them out when possible.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
4 Nov 15
I have friends all over the country and world so I do hand out a few but the rest I have to mail.
@Rosekitty (19368)
• San Marcos, Texas
3 Nov 15
yes i was aware, but i send them anyway since i always add extra stamps
1 person likes this
@Rosekitty (19368)
• San Marcos, Texas
4 Nov 15
@BelleStarr I had sent like you before and was informed of an extra charge so now i overstamp... I'd hate for my mail to never get there cause of my fault..
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
4 Nov 15
You are about the only person who I have met who knew. I just never thought of it since they are not over-sized.
1 person likes this
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
6 Nov 15
@BelleStarr Wow, that's a nice way of appreciating Christmas cards sent to you . 
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
6 Nov 15
I still like to send real cards and I like to display mine at home, can't do that with an e-card lol
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
4 Nov 15
A square envelope can not go through the machinery and has to be handled by a person and that makes it more expensive.
1 person likes this
@wiLLmaH (8801)
• Singapore, Singapore
5 Nov 15
Ano good information! Thanks @BelleStarr for explaining it! Have a good day!
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
4 Nov 15
They told me it is fact that they have to handle it by hand becasue it can't go through the machinery.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
7 Nov 15
Mine were from England and they are charity cards and I looked today and they are square again this year so I am not going to buy them.
1 person likes this
@simone10 (54189)
• Louisville, Kentucky
8 Nov 15
@BelleStarr That's not good. Hopefully you will be able to find some others.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
4 Nov 15
I really liked those square cards but not enough to spend the extra money to mail them again this year.
@Dragonairy1 (1722)
• Newcastle Upon Tyne, England
4 Nov 15
That's quite a bit, here it's more likely things sticking out of cards which make the envelope fatter which adds to the cost. For example the 3d effects you get on birthday cards. All our post is now measured 
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
4 Nov 15
If a card is heavier than a certain amount there will also be an up-charge but these are actually smaller than traditional.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
4 Nov 15
@Dragonairy1 here the post office says it does not make profit they lose money so we are always waiting for the next increase.
@Dragonairy1 (1722)
• Newcastle Upon Tyne, England
4 Nov 15
They get their money all ways, our goes by weight as well 
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157563)
• United States
3 Nov 15
Is it also true that they are oversized?
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
4 Nov 15
No they were not oversized they are actually quite small . I know large cards cost more but these were maybe 3 by3 .
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
4 Nov 15
It is important postage wise because they will send them back for additional postage or deliver with postage due.
@Marilynda1225 (79772)
• United States
3 Nov 15
Wow 70 cents to mail a square card is crazy!! Even the 48 cents can add up when you send out a bunch of cards
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
4 Nov 15
It is quite an expense but these days I don't send out as many as I used to.
@blitzfrick (2890)
• United States
5 Nov 15
Wow, thanks for the warning! I don't celebrate Christmas so I don't send cards every year, just to those I received cards from the year before. I do give gifts at this time of year, and celebrate the Solstice as the time of year when the days begin to have more light.
