Britons shun Christmas cards after stamp price rise

[TrueBlueTerrier]

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Millions fewer Christmas cards will be sent this year as consumers react against Royal Mail’s steep increase in the price of stamps, research for The Daily Telegraph has found

Half of Britons over the age of 50 plan to cut the number of cards they send because of the cost of stamps, according to a poll of 10,000 people for this newspaper by Saga.

The average number of cards sent per person will fall by a quarter from 38 last year to 28 this year.

Ros Altmann, Saga’s director general, said that December will be less festive than usual as people take a red pen to their annual Christmas card list.

“This is a reduction in Christmas cheer. We mustn’t forget how important a lifeline the postal system is for people,” said Ms Altmann.

She said that rising stamp prices will particularly affect the elderly, who are less prone to communicate with friends and family via email.

“It is easy to take instant communications for granted but many older people are reliant upon the postal system – particularly at Christmas - and value it highly,” said Ms Altmann.

In April, Royal Mail increased the price of a first class stamp from 46 pence to 60 pence while second class stamps rose from 36 pence to 50 pence.

Ian Murray, the shadow postal affairs minister, said that the expected fall in card numbers is “significant” given that people over 50 are more likely to use traditional mail than younger age groups.

“It is an obvious consequence of Royal Mail increasing its prices disproportionately. They are walking a fine line between pricing people out of the market of and increasing their revenues,” said Mr Murray.

According to Saga’s research, which was carried out by Populus, 51 per cent of people over the age of 50 will send fewer Christmas cards than last year because of the higher cost of stamps.

While 20 per cent of people over 50 said they will send “far fewer” cards, a further 31 per cent said they will send “slightly fewer” cards. Three in five people over the age of 75 will send fewer cards.

On average, all the people surveyed said they plan send 10 fewer cards each this year compared to last year, the research found. Given that there are 21 million people over the age of 50 in the UK, the total number of cards sent this Christmas could slump by 210 million.

Royal Mail has sought to minimise the impact of the stamp price rise by allowing people who get Pension Credit, Employment and Support Allowance or Incapacity Benefit to buy 36 first or second class stamps at last year’s prices.

The group has sent leaflets to homes in the UK detailing the scheme. To use the scheme, people need to provide a letter from the Department for Work and Pensions – or the Social Security Agency in Northern Ireland – when they buy the stamps.

However Saga’s Ms Altmann said that millions of people who are not eligible for the discount will still be affected.

“Policy makers must not forget how dependent ordinary people are on the postal system. For many, their lives are enriched by both sending and receiving cards.

“Many people will be upset they cannot send as many cards as they have done in previous years. This is an essential means of communication and at this time of the year particularly, posting cards is a crucial part of spreading festive greetings,” she said.

Saga’s research found that nine out of ten people have friends on their Christmas card lists who they only correspond with once a year with annual cards.

This rises to 93 per cent of people aged between 70 and 74.

A Royal Mail spokesman said that Saga’s findings “run counter” to similar research that the postal group carried out.

The spokesman said: “We have done some detailed consumer research that showed that people are still intending to send as many or more Christmas cards than last year.”

He said that the group asked people how they felt about Christmas cards compared to e-cards. While significant numbers of people said they find electronic communication convenient, they still prefer physical cards, he said.

Royal Mail polled 1,000 people for its survey.

[Stormproof]

I very much cards are being shunned after stamp price rise. More likely the cards are too expensive. Don't think I've bought a box of Christmas cards since Woolworths closed.

[TeeferTiger]

I've just found a load of Xmas cards in the back bedroom whilst sorting out, and some stamps I got for Xmas from RM a few years ago

[fishtank]

Three in five people over the age of 75 will send fewer cards.

Not really that surprising since people over the age of 75 normally end the year with fewer mates than the year before.

[steven100]

Three in five people over the age of 75 will send fewer cards.

Not really that surprising since people over the age of 75 normally end the year with fewer mates than the year before.

You mean they die off.

[olilew]

I'm so bored of people moaning about a tiny 16 pence increase. I wish my food shooping, electricity, petrol etc had only gone up by that much a year.

Actually it's 14 pence however it may seem like a tiny 14p increase to you but it equates to a 32% rise. I'm sure if your domestic bills went up by 32% in one go you would be up in arms about it!

[demon]

how the f**k would they no its 2 weeks till people even start to send them out

[fishtank]

how the f**k would they no its 2 weeks till people even start to send them out

They asked.
That's probably where they went wrong.
You will tell pollsters anything to get them to piss off.

[edwardo]

if the volume of xmas cards is down this year do you think RM will bump up the d2d s and mailsort

[FairyFoot]

I received my first card for the year in October (from Northern Ireland). I have started to send mine out, but they go overseas...

As for the cards, I buy them in the New Year from various charity shops, when they are reduced. I am actually surprised at the weight of some, over 20g, meaning quite costly to send to outside Europe.

[TeeferTiger]

I need to get my bum in gear to send the one I send to the US... Always forget to post their stuff in good time. Last year I posted the last few cards I had about 3 days before Xmas, 2nd class and they arrived next day

[Stormproof]

Got my 1st xmas card from NZ the other day. 4 days door to door. Must remember to post one back.........when the xmas stamps finally turn up.

[RedBagMan]

Daily Torygraph .. say no more (he said awaiting similar b*ll*x from the Daily Mail )

[FairyFoot]

A local sub-postmaster said that someone came in to post some Christmas cards. One was to the US, and the other to a town in the next county.... Do you know which one arrived first?

[PhilthyPhil]

I'm sure the sunday box collections we have starting today will be a total waste of time as usual