When Are e-Cards More Appropriate than Paper Cards?
Dear Ms. Cards Etiquette,
Is an e-greeting card less valuable than a paper card? Is there ever a time when an e-card is more appropriate than a regular greeting card?
John T
The key here, John, is the word ‘appropriate’.
E-cards are fun. They are happy little diversions of your day that usually bring a smile to your face. Even Ms. Cards Etiquette appreciates receiving an e-card in her mailbox every now and again.
That being said, there are few times when an e-card is more than that. “Fun” does not equal “appropriate.”
When you pick out a paper greeting card, sign it and send it through the mail, it takes time. People enjoy seeing when others put a little extra effort into the things they do. It makes them feel special and needed.
Greeting cards in the mail stand out. How many e-mails do you get in one day? How many paper cards do you get in your mailbox? Enough said.
There is something about the tactile feel of a greeting card that an e-greeting card just does not have. Paper cards are something that people hang on to and read over and over again. People simply like the feel of a real card in the hand, they like to see the other person’s handwriting. The entire experience becomes more personal.
