Do you write letters that you put in regular mail anymore?

You've got mail - You have got mail..but not where people days ago use to get it..More and more people are turning to the world wide web to communicate with loved ones..Wonder if the postal service will ever stop delivering regular mail??
United States
October 19, 2007 9:38am CST
Since I use email and the phone..I very rarely send regular mail...What about you?I may put a bill in the mail; but even that is rare since most bills can be paid online and the only one I have that can't be paid online is in town and I can swing by to pay it.. How often do you use regular mail? Or are you like me: utilizing email and the internet to handle all communications: family and business?
4 people like this
18 responses
• Philippines
19 Oct 07
Same here, I rarely use the post office nowadays to send regular mail. I rely more on the internet, fax machine and my mobile phones to send emails, faxes and text messages. It's quicker and cheaper that way :) I do feel a little guilty every time I get Birthday or Christmas cards by post because I am so lazy to reciprocate. But I do use e-cards to make up for it although I feel that there are still some people who are sentimental about receiving something tangible that they can keep in a memory box somewhere.
1 person likes this
• United States
19 Oct 07
I don't think an e-card is any less valuable. Saving 38 cents is no sin..You can find some really beautiful cards that say better what many expensive ones say and you have to pay for..It's the thought that counts..and if people are upset because you didnt stick money inside..well..they shouldnt be..:)
@patgalca (18366)
• Orangeville, Ontario
19 Oct 07
Let's be honest, who actually keeps the birthday cards and Christmas cards that are sent to them in the mail? If not written on the back I will put them in the craft box so the kids can cut out the pictures to user for projects, otherwise the cards eventually end out in the recycle bin. An e-card is sufficient.
• Philippines
20 Oct 07
Hi patgalca. Here in the Philippines, there are still a lot of people who can't afford to be IN on much of the technology advances. And I also know of individuals who do keep cards and letters in treasured boxes as mementos even if they already have access to computers and the internet.
@SViswan (12051)
• India
20 Oct 07
I love writing letters and so does my son. But unfortunately, we can't find a post box near our place. No one seems to be using the regular mail anymore:( The only other option we have is to hand over the letter we need to post when the postman comes over to drop letters at the apartment complex. But we need to get stamps for that and we need to find a post office close by! So, the only mail I send through the postman are the ones where I don't need to put stamps (subscription renewal and stuff like that).
1 person likes this
• United States
22 Oct 07
Can you not pre-order stamps and have the post man drop them off? Here they allow you to order stamps online and they come to you via the post.
@SViswan (12051)
• India
22 Oct 07
I don't think that is possible. I don't get to see the postman either. We stay at an apartment complex. so, the postman hands over the letters to the security personnel and they hand it over to us. So, I have to give the letters I need to post to the security who in turn will hand it over to the postman when he/she comes.
• United States
21 Oct 07
I rarely send mail using the post office anymore. It's just too time consuming and it wastes so much paper. With this day and age, it's just so much easier to open up a laptop or turn on a desktop computer and send an email. It doesn't take forever and you're saving a tree or so in the process.
1 person likes this
• United States
22 Oct 07
Yes you are saving a tree..I wonder what the use of electricity interferes with??:)
@arkaf61 (10881)
• Canada
20 Oct 07
I sure do. I know that since email appeared into the scene I do use it quite a lot to communicate with family and friends, but I still think that a nice handwritten note or letter is a nice touch. Something that the person can see it's from me and that I cared enough to take time to write something by own hand. I always send a handwritten letter to my friends and family on special occasion - I also decorate it with drawings and other personal touches:) DO i do it quite often? Often enough. ANd the good thing is that the people on the receiving end always tell my how much they enjoyed receiving it :)
• United States
22 Oct 07
Yes there is something nice about a note written out long-hand..It does give you a warm feeling..
1 person likes this
@arkaf61 (10881)
• Canada
22 Oct 07
I know. I always love to receive one as amuch as I like to send them :)
@gwendovere (1279)
• United States
21 Oct 07
I hardly ever use snail mail -- or the phone, for that matter -- any more! I use almost only use e-mail anymore.
1 person likes this
• United States
22 Oct 07
Sounds just like me. It's quieter, quicker and very easy to correct mistakes:)
20 Oct 07
I cant remember the last time i sent a letter by post. Parcels yes.. but a letter hmm.. even for work everything is via email. I also send all birthday cards etc via email as its quicker and I dont forget to post.
1 person likes this
• United States
22 Oct 07
Nothing wrong with an e-card for one's birthday is there? I think they have some pretty ones..and many come with beautiful music.
22 Oct 07
The other thing ive found with E cards is that people find them more suprising because they didnt expect to find one in theyre Email box first thing in the morning as they got to work. Sets people up for the rest of the day. Especially if they think people forgot.
@bonbon664 (3466)
• Canada
19 Oct 07
I very rarely use snail mail for anything. I pay all my bills online, and if I want to get in touch with someone, I will email, or phone them. I wish people would send letters again though, I used to enjoy writing them, and receiving them.
1 person likes this
• United States
21 Oct 07
Yes..it doesn't seem to long ago when I did everything long hand or picked up the phone and dialed out my messages.
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
19 Oct 07
The only time I write a letter is to my brother who does not want a computer. I have tried to persuade him to get one, but he does not. I use email, and the internet, and if I have a bill to pay, I either go down to the Mall, or the bank, or I have automatic deductions. I will write a short note or a letter when sending off Christmas cards, though.
• United States
21 Oct 07
Nothing wrong with not wanting a computer..I have to have one for work..and since I don't have television any more; it is my only source of news..unless someone tells me;)
@elisa812 (3026)
• United States
20 Oct 07
I don't normally use regular mail anymore either. The only time I really use it is to pay some bills, and I do use it to send letters to my husband since he is serving in Iraq. I do send him emails too, but I figure it's nice for him to get regular mail pretty often too to remind him of home. :) Other than that, I really just use email or phone to communicate.
1 person likes this
• United States
21 Oct 07
Yes..for soldiers ..keeping a handwritten letter in one's pocket kind of gives them strength and courage. I am sure that is where your letters stay..Right next to his heart..God bless you and your husband.
• Philippines
20 Oct 07
Me too. I don't go to the post office anymore because emailing letters and paying bills online is more comfortable and easy. I use to pay my bills on their respective offices but now I only use my computer, my phone and my fingers. haha. Well, technology is really making our loads a bit easier now a days huh. Thanks to the geniuses who made it.
1 person likes this
• United States
21 Oct 07
Saves quite a few pennies, doesn't it to use the computer or the telephone.. It saves time, gasoline, and whatever else ..I thank you for stopping by.
• Malaysia
20 Oct 07
before we had the internet, i use to write letters to my penpals. nowadays i usually use emails instead of snail mail. i only send cards to my close friends, during birthdays or festive seasons.:)
1 person likes this
• United States
22 Oct 07
Do all your penpals have email as well..It's hard to believe that about 15 years ago ..email was not all that popular. What a decade of time can do.
@mari_skye (1637)
• Philippines
20 Oct 07
I haven't used the regular mail for a long time now I cannot even remember when was the last time I sent a letter via post mail. I guess technology has taken over our lives:P
1 person likes this
• United States
21 Oct 07
Technology can be good and can be bad..and saving time is a good thing; don't you agree?
@raychill (6525)
• United States
19 Oct 07
I send out letter through postal mail at work all the time but obviously they're typed. Does that count? It's so much easier to send an email or something rather than postal mail. Plus the postage continues to get raised. It's like Pay phones. Just get a cell phone and have it all the time instead of having to use a pay phone. Plus I mean, I'm not young enough to remember when it only cost $.5 but that keeps going up and up. You can't just carry around a single coin to pay for it anymore. I pay and do everything through email. it's just so much better!
1 person likes this
• United States
21 Oct 07
I don't think typing a letter is any different then long hand..It's quicker..but since it still goes in the post..I think it counts.. I prefer digital emails any more as well.
@Anouke (61)
• Finland
20 Oct 07
Oh,I do:) I´m keeping alive of this disappearing thing of writing letters,snailmail as you can say:)I have letterfriends all over the world and I think it is a great way to keep in touch,although it is not so fast than emailing,but still it´s more personal way to say hi,I think:) What is more nicer than to get old-fashionable letter in your postbox on a rainy monday-morning;) It does cheer you up,does it,:)?
1 person likes this
• United States
22 Oct 07
Great..glad you have friends all over the world..I wish I did..I would love to try to get a letter from every country in the world.
@raijin (10345)
• Philippines
19 Oct 07
I still use it, since some parts here in our country are not yet reached by the services of internet. I think using snail mails are already vanishing little by little, which I hope kids today would still be aware of how good the feeling would be to send and receive letters through handwriting. Plus, I feel sorry for those working on post offices who would definitely lose their jobs, if ever people would stop using this type of services..
• United States
19 Oct 07
I think the post office will continue; if even for packages..but people in the post office can find something else to do;)
@nevaul (84)
• United States
19 Oct 07
Save for Financial/Billing, I rarely use regular mail. If I do, it's normally for sending gifts over the holidays or birthdays, otherwise I've found using email is quicker, easier and cheaper.
1 person likes this
• United States
19 Oct 07
I agree..the world is moving along with technology. And so much money is saved using email or picking up the telephone.
@laurika (4532)
• United States
19 Oct 07
I am not saying I am writing letter regularly, but I am still writing with my mum and my dad letters to them.It is nice sometimes exchange the keyborad for the pen.And you should see my face when I go check the mail and find the letter there from them,it really can cheer me up.it is much better like find a bill there from companies.I know email cost us no money it is faster, but writing letter has some charm.
1 person likes this
• United States
19 Oct 07
Yes there is something nice about receiving a hand written letter ..isn't there..? I love writing..but the going to post office and buying the stamps and wondering if the letter will arive on time..sigh
• India
23 Oct 07
i have very rarely used the postal system...its surely getting replaced by the email...i hope ter is anything more advanced coming up.......