topic Re: Snail mail vs E-mail in Off-Topic

Snail mail vs E-mail

EmilieT — Tue, 09 Oct 2018 14:05:29 GMT

Hi everyone,

Today is the anniversary of Universal Postal Union's establishment back in 1874, and every year on this day some beautiful stamps are released to celebrate snail mail ... but will you be using them?

With phones and computers following us everywhere, it's much easier now to communicate instantly and freely than it used to be. I don't know about you but I personally haven't mailed much post this year! It's a shame, because I do love seeing a card or a letter amongst ads and bills when I pick up my mail 💌

Are you still sending letters to your friends and family, or just emails and texts? Do you send postcards when abroad or share pictures on social media instead? What about Birthday cards?

Let us know in the comments!

Re: Snail mail vs E-mail

Anonymous — Tue, 09 Oct 2018 15:16:48 GMT

Apart from posting junk mail back it’s origin, the only other time I use snail mail is to send or return an eBay item. Can’t remember the last time I used it to send a letter.

Re: Snail mail vs E-mail

Glory1 — Tue, 09 Oct 2018 15:27:51 GMT

To be honest, apart from birthday cards, all my communication is by email or Whatsapp or I Skype to my friends in the States. I can't remember the last time I posted or received a letter.

It is so much quicker to communicate electronically, and it never, or very rarely gets lost in the post.

Personally, I find it quicker and easier to type an email or a message then write a letter. I just don't use snail mail anymore, unless I absolutely have to, and that's normally a form to my local Council

Re: Snail mail vs E-mail

Cleoriff — Tue, 09 Oct 2018 17:44:24 GMT

I only send birthday and Christmas cards. Recently a few thank you cards.

Occasionally I will return a survey if it's sent through the post. Obviously the electoral roll is returned. That's it.

I use email a lot, far easier, though a lot less personal.

Re: Snail mail vs E-mail

Anonymous — Tue, 09 Oct 2018 17:50:19 GMT

E-mail and text (SMS, not Whatsapp)

Re: Snail mail vs E-mail

dgilbert2 — Tue, 09 Oct 2018 17:55:37 GMT

I cannot even rememer the last time I sent a snail-mail letter. My wife does though, I cannot believe how expensive 1st class is these days

Re: Snail mail vs E-mail

liggerz87 — Tue, 09 Oct 2018 18:07:32 GMT

I have a friend in the US and will be sending chocolate to them lol so not sure if that counts lol

Re: Snail mail vs E-mail

jonsie — Wed, 10 Oct 2018 01:28:11 GMT

I've found that many government bodies will only deal with things by Royal Mail. I've had to send innumerable letters these past few months and it ain't cheap!

Re: Snail mail vs E-mail

Glory1 — Wed, 10 Oct 2018 02:27:40 GMT

@jonsie wrote:
I've found that many government bodies will only deal with things by Royal Mail. I've had to send innumerable letters these past few months and it ain't cheap!

Yes, @jonsie it's supposed to be a security issue as some Government bodies don't feel email is secure. Which I tend to find amusing as what makes them think Royal Mail is all that secure and, as you say postage costs a fortune these days.

Re: Snail mail vs E-mail

EmilieT — Wed, 10 Oct 2018 09:03:33 GMT

@Anonymous

Do you buy/sell a lot through Ebay then? I can't remember the last time I used it, I've been sticking to Amazon mostly these days.

@Glory1

Emails rarely get lost in the post, that's true They occasionally get rerouted to a Spam folder, but that's better than lost. I don't think any of my mail was lost in the post though, have you experienced that here or in the US?

@Cleoriff

I agree that emails are much less personal but Birthday and Christmas cards are nice personal gestures so it does balance out the emails twice a year

@Anonymous

Are you not using any messaging app at all or is it just Whatsapp you're not too fond of?

@dgilbert2

Do you know what sort of correspondance your wife uses snail mail for? I'm curious if it's for staying in touch with friends and family, or administrative only.

@liggerz87

I'd say it counts very off-topic, but which European chocolates is your friend getting?

@jonsie

That's a good point, so I take it you only use snail mail when and if you've got no other choice?

Re: Snail mail vs E-mail

Anonymous — Wed, 10 Oct 2018 17:50:36 GMT

Not really ET but the last 2 eBay purchases have needed to be returned.

I use eBay because of the free postage, not being a Prime member I refuse to pay £3.99 for postage on top of what I feel is an already inflated price. (I find amazon more expensive compared to eBay when buying single items)

Re: Snail mail vs E-mail

Glory1 — Wed, 10 Oct 2018 18:19:19 GMT

@EmilieT wrote:

@Glory1
Emails rarely get lost in the post, that's true They occasionally get rerouted to a Spam folder, but that's better than lost. I don't think any of my mail was lost in the post though, have you experienced that here or in the US?

Yes, I have @EmilieT here and in the US. Letters sent to me and letters I've sent to friends. That's why I prefer email and Whatsapp. And as you say the odd email may go to your spam folder, which I check regularly, but it's still there.

Re: Snail mail vs E-mail

EmilieT — Thu, 11 Oct 2018 14:35:13 GMT

@Anonymous

That's fair enough, as I have Prime I use mostly Amazon but if you've got to pay for shipping you might find better deals elsewhere

@Glory1

It's such a shame so many letters got lost on their way to you!

Re: Snail mail vs E-mail

Anonymous — Thu, 11 Oct 2018 15:06:06 GMT

@EmilieT

I don't use any messaging apps as unless I'm actively using it I have data and wi-fi off as these apps tend to poll their host processes in the cloud every few seconds which drains the battery.

Mobile data is expensive unless you have a bundle but I don't use my phone enough to warrant purchasing this on prepay or a contract/sim only deal (I tried one on both O2 and Tesco Mobile some years ago but found that I was paying more for the service charge than would do if I just paid for the usage).

I'm not a facebook, twitter or e-mail addict, I just tend to read the news during my lunchbreak, that's about it

Re: Snail mail vs E-mail

dgilbert2 — Thu, 11 Oct 2018 17:06:39 GMT

@EmilieT wrote:

@dgilbert2
Do you know what sort of correspondence your wife uses snail mail for? I'm curious if it's for staying in touch with friends and family, or administrative only.

Hi @EmilieT , its mainly for Birthday / Christmas cards that she makes herself, also the odd competition as she will not put her information into a computer . Costs me a bloomin small fortune

Re: Snail mail vs E-mail

EmilieT — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 07:24:51 GMT

@Anonymous

That makes sense- I didn't know anything about how they worked so some interesting bits and pieces in your reply as well, we learn something everyday here!

@dgilbert2

She makes all the Birthdays and Christmas cards herself? That's quite a craft, the best I can do with cards is doodle on store-bought ones, but it's so much more personal to make it from scratch

Re: Snail mail vs E-mail

dgilbert2 — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 16:46:32 GMT

@EmilieT wrote:
@dgilbert2
She makes all the Birthdays and Christmas cards herself? That's quite a craft, the best I can do with cards is doodle on store-bought ones, but it's so much more personal to make it from scratch

Yes, my wife makes the cards from scratch but only a few, not everyone

I've said she should make some to sell, but she is quite happy just for those she knows who will appreciate them.

Re: Snail mail vs E-mail

EmilieT — Tue, 16 Oct 2018 13:25:57 GMT

That's lovely, @dgilbert2 It's the kind of mail that brightens up anyone's day so it's really nice that she's taking the time to make them from scratch!

Re: Snail mail vs E-mail

dgilbert2 — Tue, 16 Oct 2018 17:40:55 GMT

She certainly brings a smile

Re: Snail mail vs E-mail

Anonymous — Sun, 21 Oct 2018 20:14:52 GMT

I send Birthday, Christmas, Get Well, Thank You, Special Occasion & Postcards + Calendars of The Yorkshire Dales + soft toys = generally sheep as Skipton (the town where I live) comes from the 2 words sheep & town + general gifts to friends / family ... & ... replies to the dratted postal correspondence which lands on my kitchen door mat in A5 size brown window envelopes

I use texting + email + messenger to keep in touch with family / friends ... but not phone calls, they're for 'officialdom' only with one exception which is my son when he rings me about every 10 / 14 days during his lunch hour