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CUMBERLAND — Traditionally, holiday and Christmas greeting cards are a large part of spreading spirit and cheer. However, since the widespread use of e-mail, texting and other Internet activity, the amount of cards being sent via the United States Postal Service is steadily declining across the U.S.
“What we have seen is a decline in First Class letters and cards. I would say it is a nationwide trend,” said Edwin Turner, postmaster for the Cumberland area.
Turner attributed those changes to the Internet, use of e-mail, Twitter, texting and other instantaneous means. He said that people seem to “want an immediate re-sponse.”
The United State Postal Service expects to deliver 3 billion cards over the holiday season.Turner said that in the Cumberland area, the service is seeing approximately 100,000 cards and letters being collected from local drop boxes. That number does not include the 200,000 letters and cards that come into the area from across the country. According to USPS, the busiest mailing day this year was Monday. As for the busiest delivery day, that is expected to be Wednesday this year. Turner said that the Cumberland branch is no exception.
While the number of letters and cards has steadily declined in past years, the number of parcels and packages being sent is on the rise. USPS, UPS and FedEx all provide the ability to print shipping labels, pay for the postage and schedule pick up of packages online. This year, USPS is providing free delivery of shipping supplies, including Priority Mail Flat Rate boxes and customers of USPS can schedule a free pick up of packages when shipping from usps.com.
Turner said that the shipping of parcels has increased 20 to 30 percent for the Cumberland office.
“In part it is due to the Internet, people ordering more things,”said Turner, adding that it corresponds with the rise of online sales.
A large part of the packages shipped are those that go overseas. USPS said that this holiday season they will ship approximately 30 millions pounds of mail overseas to military installations; including those in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Despite the downturn, there are still those who prefer to send Christmas greetings. Margy Pein, owner of the Tree House Toy Shop in Downtown Cumberland, still prefers to send out Christmas cards, but does find herself sending fewer each year.
“I am sending fewer. It’s a time issue. It seems to be more important to send it to the people who really mean something,”said Pein. She adds that over the years she has dropped sending them to business contacts and now just sends them to people with whom she has a more personal connection.
The post offices around the nation are not the only people noticing a decrease in holiday greeting cards, but area businesses as well According to Patricia Merbach, branch manager of the Frostburg Public Library, they only received about 20 Christmas cards this year from appreciative patrons. Merbach attributes the low amount to the cost of living, including postage stamps.
LaVale Veterinary Hospital is also noticing lower numbers of cards than previous years. Kerri Thimons, receptionist, said in previous years they received between 40 to 50 cards, mostly from their “Gold Clients,” or people who are ongoing and frequent customers. Thimons said that this year, they’ve only had about 25 mailed to them.
“(The decline) is because of increased cost (of sending cards) and the cost of living,”said Thimons.
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Cards, letters decline for postal service
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