The greeting card industry is a 7 billion dollar industry with three companies commanding a whopping 85% of the market; Hallmark, American Greetings and Gibson Greetings. And we, the American public have bought into this notion hook, line and sinker.
What does a greeting card actually say to the receiver? It says, "Hey, I'm too cheap to spend any amount of money on you and I can't think up anything endearing to say on my own, so I'll let a stranger handle my sentiments for me."
I'll admit, once in a while a person finds the appropriate message on a friendship card or encouragement card that can describe the giver's feelings better than they could otherwise, but what about birthdays? Wouldn't you rather have them spend an extra $3 on your gift and scrap the card? And isn't just a plain old "Happy Birthday" enough? How often do we actually keep these cards and if we do, how often do we haul them out and enjoy them all over again? Might just as well throw four bucks in the can.
Then there are the obnoxiously large cards. The one's the size of poster boards. "I still couldn't afford a present, but I just paid $8.99 for a piece of flimsy cardboard, but look the word love is eighteen inches tall!" What about the odd shaped cards or the postcard sized cards that require extra postage? They're smaller and they require extra postage?!!! Someone explain this concept to me. Oh, the greeting card companies are in bed with the US Postal Service. It all makes sense now.
Really, I have nothing against giving or receiving cards for special occasions or just because, but don't get pissed at me if I choose not to send one for MAY DAY!!!!!
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31 comments:
There are cards for May Day? Yow.
LMAO!!!!
This is great...and SO true!!
Apparently there are cards for May Day and apparently, you're a shit if you don't send one.
Wait...someone actually complained that you didn't send a May Day card? Really? I'm...stunned actually. I think my sister gets perturbed that I don't send my niece a cutey card for all the "holidays." You know...St. Patrick's Day and Halloween really need to have a card sent out. Geesh! I guess I'm a shit, too...May Day indeed...
I'm sending you a card for Cinco de Mayo ...
Wait, I think it's called a tab, not a card ...
I just use the card to put the check in.
Uh oh...I guess I'm a shit then. I never knew it was a "holiday" let alone cards for it!!
Have I been deleted yet?
I would like to propose a card for national,"I am a working American day!" Or, "Please stop whining about your 3 day work week and go back home if you do not like the free medical care!"
Enough of this latest media b.s.
I say we takem down, makem an offer they can't refuse. take THIS big card guys, you lookin at me, YOU LOOKIN AT ME?
I have never been the card-sending type and will never understand the hype. And what gives with people asking about a card they've given me months ago? Do they really expect their crappy, generic card to still be on my table? Call me a shit, but I'd much rather have the $3.
Guess I'm just a "shit"...but you knew that, didn't you?
Oh. Deah. Lawd.
I guess we're all self-proclaimed "shits" in here. Count me in then, because I had no idea there was a rule where we had to send May Day cards. :D
I don't like cards either. I don't give them and I don't keep them.
Itchy~ Yeah, can you believe it. I can at least justify Halloween over May Day.
Clew~ Keep your card, er tab, whatever it's called and send me the cash instead. ;)
Mark~ Yeah? Well, you can send one to me at PO Box... :)
EDH~ Did you hear the letter that was read on the radio about that?
It's Just Me, Chesney, Genius, Detroiter, Martie, Joy & Doc~ Here's your official membership to the Anti-Card Shit Club.
The only really good cards are the homemade ones that little kids make and then scribble their names in.
They've gotten ridiculously expensive, haven't they. I like the "kid made" ones.
But I do still believe in good old-fashioned thank you cards with a personal note inside.
Naive, are you on your period?
;)
LOL Clew! :)
I HATE cards...giving and receiving. They are such a waste of money. I stand by the garbage when I open cards, read them and then toss 'em.
Theresa~ You're exactly right.
Cheryl~ I completely agree with the thank you cards.
Clew~ No, I'm not. I'm just naturally grumpy. ;)
Nelly~ LOL. Good! At least I don't have to waste any money on you. JK ;)
You know what though - I'm a total card person. I love to give them - I love to send them. :) I'm famous for sending "just because" cards.
R~ I love making people's day with cards too though. I just went off because someone got angry with me for not sending a particular card for a particular event.
I have heard there is an abomination called "Secretaries' Day", on which, you guessed it, bosses give/send cards to their secretaries.
I like the old-fashioned picture postcards, particularly when sent from foreign holidays. You know, "here we are, weather's great/sucky, wish you were here", all that nonsense. Tourist kitsch. Fab. I collect the ones I receive onto a collage on the wall.
Yeah! Old-fashioned picture postcards are cool. I also like funny cards, but only if they're actually funny. (Saw a great b-day card recently with a cartoon sketch of the backside of a woman leaving the can with her skirt tucked into the back of her pantyhose, exposing her pantyhosed ass and polka-dot undies. Caption "Vera hoped her blind date wouldn't notice the lipstick she smudged on her blouse.")
Please do not ever send me a serous "sentiment" card. Or a card with a serious poem. (I like poetry, but not of the Hallmark variety.) If you have something serious to say, write it in your own damn hand.
Homemade cards are the best, as far as I'm concerned, from kids or adults alike.
Hallmark cards/poster board cards are horrible, yes, but you seem quite concerned that the money spent on such cards is wasted because it could have been spent on a present for you - that just seems greedy!
Anon, that's not what I'm saying at all. I'd rather have the giver keep the money than spend it on me that way. I said in my post that a simple "Happy Birthday" is good enough.
Mmm, you do say a Happy Birthday should suffice, but you also make references to people being too cheap, suggesting putting four bucks in the can instead, I think this is what really rankles with you! It is a lovely thing to receive a card, I despise Hallmark & their saccharine emotions but I would never be angry with someone for giving me such a card.
Good point. I've never been angry at someone for giving me a card. I'm touched that they've thought of me.
I'm simply saying don't be pissed at me if I don't send a card, especially for May Day.
did anyone mention that AG owns Gibson? ha, ha, it's a two player game now.
i'm about to start my own greeting card business and cash in on the cartel.
What a great site, how do you build such a cool site, its excellent.
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