Does the price of the greeting card matter to you?

[Minou]

I've never thought of greeting cards as all that important when included with a gift. I'd spend the money on the gift rather than the card. Most cards I've received with gifts have contained little more writing than what a gift tag would. I think of the printed message in a card pretty generic, and I've never considered cards all that important, unless they're a card that has a significant handwritten message. I would always stick to a friendly or mildly humourous card when buying one.

It turns out that some people really like expensive cards to be included with their presents. My grandmother (we're really not close) thinks that everything printed in a card is chosen especially for her, the mushier the better. She even talks about what the card said about her weeks or months later. My dad spends a great deal of time reading the printed text of cards as well. He displays them for a long time.

Is this how everyone feels about cards? I used to find pretty ones at the dollar store, but clearly those aren't up to par when it comes to the people around me. The other problem arises when I don't really mean what the sentiment in the card is saying -- they're not my words, and while it's fine if it makes someone feel good, I don't want the sentiment in the card used against me later!

I've stocked up at 90% off sales on cards when I find them, have bought Valentine's Day, Father's Day, Easter, and Christmas cards when they're on 5 for $1, and have a Carlton card membership card so I get B3G3 all the time. I even spotted a sign outside of the Hallmark store in the mall offering 20 cards for $40 as part of some card club.

How does everyone else handle the card thing? Are expensive or mushy cards important to you?

[kshearer]

Dollar store all the way! I actually get ticked when someone (husband usually) spends money on expensive cards. For me, it is what they write in the card, not how much they spend on it...

[hollym81]

My Dad (in his 60's) loves cards! He'd be happy with just a card if it's a meaningful one. I sent his Christmas gift without a card this year and I think he was disappointed. My Mom and MIL always tear up reading cards. So I think people like that the cards with words that even if they aren't written by you, are chosen for them by you.
So from now on, cards will be sent for our parents for sure!
I myself am not too worried about getting cards but some people do enjoy getting them.

[xox2010]

My mom is like that... she tears up reading any card. Personally, I buy all of my cards at the Dollarstore. I don't see the point of spending $6 on a card but that's just me.

[aussie]

Dollar store all the way! I actually get ticked when someone (husband usually) spends money on expensive cards. For me, it is what they write in the card, not how much they spend on it...

same as me!

carlton cards closed down here last year, and they had most of the cards on sale for a $1!! so I majorly stocked up! Im set for a few years!

[MrsSunshine]

i have a stock of 'special' cards as well I bought on those days at card stores. for the most part if its nothing big.. I get a $store card, but if its for someone or a special day i splurge a little. i always include something in the card extra whether written or fun for the receiver.. with regards to me.. I always display my cards i receive for a week or so.. brightens my day to know someone cared enough to send me a card etc.

[saddlebag]

yes price of the card matters...anything over a $ is a waste of money IMO

[slayer_glade]

I work at a card store so yes, for me, but not always.

With my customers, some want only a dollar (so I tell them to go to a dollarstore), some buy both kinds depending on who they buy for (ex. Fancier for family, cheap for kids and people they don't really know) and others buy ONLY our cards.

It's funny because I've worked there for seven years and when I go to the dollarstore, I see designs that were being phased out when I started. And for most dollarstores, the stock they get is bought so cheap because it's the cards that wouldn't sell in normal stores.

For me, I either buy from work or I make them myself. I can't buy from the dollarstore since it makes me look cheap (simply from the fact of where I work). No choice in the matter lol.

[bargain_hunter_lola]

Yes, the amount of a card matters to me but also the words inside. It's a fine line. lol. I usually stock up when I see good sales (like other sc'ers). I remember a few years back liquidation world had boxes of cards for 5 for $1. Good hallmark kind too! I was in there sorting through boxes for quite a while. lol. Really stocked up on some great cards!

[Kyeste]

Depends on the situation. Normally I make my own cards (helps being an artist) to give people, but when it's a sympathy card for a death or something like that... I tend to buy the more expensive, more "sentimental" ones.

As for me, I hate receiving cards. I'd rather the person giving it to me donated that $1+ to a charity in my name.

[SharonMe]

I prefer inexpensive cards and expensive presents

[safielstar]

It depends on who I'm buying for. If its for someone I'm not all that close to I don't mind the dollar store cards (I'll hunt through them till I find something suitable). If it's for close family and friends I'll splurge on the nice ones since I know quite a few people that save greeting cards.

Recently I bought a box of fancier cards from Costco (think scrapbooking embellishments on them), some of them were themed with messages and a bunch were blank on the inside. I've been using those whenever appropriate and they've gone over quite well.

[slayer_glade]

Recently I bought a box of fancier cards from Costco (think scrapbooking embellishments on them), some of them were themed with messages and a bunch were blank on the inside. I've been using those whenever appropriate and they've gone over quite well.

Those Costco ones are pretty!

[leda]

To each their own, but for me, it makes more sense to put that money into the gift than the card. I admit, when buying a card, I look at the price and think that the reciever will see that (they should really come up with a better way to price cards, lol) but when I get a card, I couldn't care less if it were $1 or $5. To me, it's all the same. When buying cards for family, I normally pick a nice card out at WM. But this year, I decided that needs to change! Almost all of my family (and me) and just about every in law and their kids, are from Nov to Feb. Throw that in with Christmas, and I just can't afford $5 or so on each card, plus postage. This month alone, I sent out 6 birthday cards. Plus my own bday is this month. So if I spent say $5 on each card, that's $25 before postage. The ones at the dollar store can be just as nice, and many of them have prices on the back for around $3, so they think I spent more than I did, lol. In the end, the thought matters more than price. If someone folded a piece of a paper in two and wrote Happy Birthday on it and a nice message, I'd be happier than with a $5 card that had a message written by Carlton.

[Coupon Princess]

I prefer inexpensive cards and expensive presents

lol exactly what i was thinking!!