Postcrossing - A Postcard Project

[radellaf]

I was kinda excited to sign up but left cold about the postcard only part of it, especially since an international card now costs the same $1.15 as a full 1oz letter. I just don't see the point in forgoing the extra writing for the sake of what seems like a gimmick. Of course, I don't know, would they actually complain if you did send a letter? I can put a postcard in the envelope with it.
Domestically it makes sense as a card is about half the postage, but you can't request USA only. IDK, neat idea but for all the popularity seems too limited. I think the 5Q thing here is much more interesting.

[Deleted]

Jul 22, 2016 20:08:29 GMT radellaf said:

I was kinda excited to sign up but left cold about the postcard only part of it, especially since an international card now costs the same $1.15 as a full 1oz letter. I just don't see the point in forgoing the extra writing for the sake of what seems like a gimmick. Of course, I don't know, would they actually complain if you did send a letter? I can put a postcard in the envelope with it.
Domestically it makes sense as a card is about half the postage, but you can't request USA only. IDK, neat idea but for all the popularity seems too limited. I think the 5Q thing here is much more interesting.

Yes, they would complain about a letter. It's all about postcards. In my experience only very few people would like the postcard mailed in an envelope. No, you cannot request USA only. Also I don't believe that you would be happy with the short - often superficial - texts.

I participated in Postcrossing, but have stopped. I prefer to receive cards from friends since I can ask questions about the trip in my letters and they can tell me more about the place they've visited.

[mailartist]

Jul 22, 2016 12:56:03 GMT DJW1066 said:

I dropped out after about a year, since for me a letter is better value for money; the same (expensive) postage for a single terse postcard would send a letter replete with my fulminations and boring stories, along with the occasional tuck-in. I was also deterred by the very specific and demanding postcard specifications. Plus, I'm more interested in getting to know people, rather than merely being wished "happy post crossing".

I could have written this response myself, even down to the "dropped out after one year." I found it interesting for a while, but the cost-to-benefit ratio was skewed too heavily toward "expense." Lots of postcard "collectors" or very young snail mail "voyeurs," but very few folks interested in writing, communication, or stories (boring, or of any other type). 

[mailartist]

Jul 22, 2016 20:08:29 GMT radellaf said:

Of course, I don't know, would they actually complain if you did send a letter? I can put a postcard in the envelope with it.

One plus for Postcrossing for English learners is that they can participate with only minimal language knowledge. It's easy for a native speaker to send a letter, but if someone is at the "This is a cat. The cat sees the rat." stage, "Happy Postcrossing!" may be all they can manage. Their focus may be more on reading real English used by real English speakers (even though those other speakers may be second language speakers as well). Even when I kept that thought in mind, however, the expense made me appreciate the domestic letter even more.

[radellaf]

It's like the thing is collecting sent-from locations more than either interesting postcards (which would be fine in an envelope) or interesting communications (which don't fit).

I did something like that back when ham radio operators would send QSL cards to people they talked to. But in the 80s and even 90s, location meant something for communications. Even if a BBS could send an email to another country (or even state) it cost something or used "long distance" phone calls.

These days? Location means nothing, except for interesting things people write about where they live. Handwriting means something, because I don't see any but mine except in letters.

That an object came from halfway around the world, well, I get $5 eBay stuff from China with free shipping so it doesn't seem to mean much.

I mean, if you don't like it you don't have to do it, but sending mail that doesn't say anything just baffles me.

[mailartist]

Jul 23, 2016 2:53:24 GMT radellaf said:

I did something like that back when ham radio operators would send QSL cards to people they talked to.

Ah, yes! The QSO!

Joanne (aka KA8DGL)

[mailartist]

Jul 23, 2016 2:53:24 GMT radellaf said:

It's like the thing is collecting sent-from locations more than either interesting postcards (which would be fine in an envelope) or interesting communications (which don't fit).

I mean, if you don't like it you don't have to do it, but sending mail that doesn't say anything just baffles me.

I never thought about the "collecting" aspect before, but that makes sense, given my experience.

Thus Postcrossing may be less about "saying anything" or even sending mail than it is about the allure (gamble?) of collecting the exotic. Makes me remember the toy surprises in the old cereal boxes (any other nostalgic folks remember those?), where I knew there'd be a cellophane wrapped toy at the bottom of the box, but I never knew which one. (It would bug my mother to no end: impatient me, with a newly opened box, with my arm sunk up to the elbow, rooting around the crunchy cereal to extract that cherished cellophane bag.)  Invariably, I'd never manage to collect one of each, and I remember the disappointment when I'd get the same one that I had before. The first time I got that particular toy, I was jumping up and down in excitement, but the second (or later) time, it was "meh . . . blah . . . pooey."

Maybe that explains some of the malaise from some Postcrossers. "Oh, bummer, another card from ____ " (fill in the blank, but usually most US locations).

[netjane]

I've been a member of Postcrossing for over a year and I still like it! I obviously prefer the less transient nature of the relationships you build with penpals, but the kindness of people in the Postcrossing community is quite overwhelming. You get "bad" postcrossers and very demanding postcrossers, but then you get very easy-going and laid back postcrossers like me too. I understand postage is an issue (there's only a 1 rand difference in the postage rates for a full letter and a postcard in South Africa and both are expensive), but you can limit the amount of cards you send.

As for the "collecting" aspect, my reaction to every card is different because it's from a different person, but I do get a lot of requests for swaps, because my country is under represented in the community. So it is probably a driving factor. My feeling on the very demanding postcrossers is that someone is taking out some time in their day and spending their money, how dare you be demanding about it? Also: why freak out if things aren't to your liking. It's not life. It's just a card.

[radellaf]

With the increasing international postage, they really should have an option to send, say, two international and three domestic cards. Half-domestic is usually how I play 5Q5L.

You could turn around the demanding part to say that they expect good "service" since they're taking time out of their day and spending money. Except, it's not a business relationship, it's a hobby, so yeah, pretty rude.

[mailartist]

Aug 18, 2016 19:47:45 GMT netjane said:

I understand postage is an issue (there's only a 1 rand difference in the postage rates for a full letter and a postcard in South Africa and both are expensive), but you can limit the amount of cards you send.

Agreed, but I whether I send out ten at once, or ten over the course of an entire year, I have to consider what the return is for each. With a postcard costing the same to send as a letter, I discovered I preferred the letter. I can write more with a letter, send tuck-ins -- just be more flexible with content.

Besides (and this might be different in other countries), commercial postcards are very difficult to get in the US because very few places carry them anymore. Maybe . . . maybe . . . tourist places still carry them, but the selection is limited. An occasional book store might carry a few postcards, but (again) only a type or two. Online vendors carry a greater selection, but this could double the cost to participate.

On the other hand, envelopes and writing paper are still readily available. So it's whatever's easiest, I guess, and for those in the US, postcards can be much more frustrating of an endeavor than letters, especially when a Postcrosser demands a card that's just not easy to acquire. 

There are still lots of choices for stamps in the US, since the postal service is really good about bringing new ones out during the year. But other snail mail supplies are in short supply. A sad state of affairs, but that's just how it is here. : (

[Mia]

They are fast approaching 40 million postcards registered - competition time on their site - when will that 40 millionth card be registered?

Postcrossing Blog Post

[Mia]

40 million postcards have been received. I was a few hours out on the guess of when!

[erin]

Have to say I still love Postcrossing! I have a full time job, an adjunct professorship, 3 kids and 3 dogs.... I can easily find the time to write a few postcards a day at different points in my day. I love writing letters but I need a big chunk of time to start and finish one. Not as easy to fit in daily. But postcards? I send 100+ or so a month, I think.

As for finding postcards here in the states. It can be a challenge sometimes, but I find that part of the fun.

[joy52]

Jul 22, 2016 12:56:03 GMT DJW1066 said:

I dropped out after about a year, since for me a letter is better value for money; the same (expensive) postage for a single terse postcard would send a letter replete with my fulminations and boring stories, along with the occasional tuck-in. I was also deterred by the very specific and demanding postcard specifications. Plus, I'm more interested in getting to know people, rather than merely being wished "happy post crossing".

+1

[Mia]

I sent my first postcard in years last month. I am still fond of the project. I have received more than I have had registered (had at least 50 expired, something must have happened to one batch). So, I think I should address the balance.