Awhile ago, me and a few people were all buying (individual) greeting cards for the same person. We were discussing if anyone had bought or sent their card yet – no one had done either. In fact, I had plans to stop at Hallmark that day to get mine. Good thing I didn’t mention it! By name, anyway…
“I am getting mine today, but NOT at Hallmark. Their cards are so impersonal and tacky,” said one person.
Um… they are? I didn’t think so… I have found cards there that say exactly what I want to say to someone, only better. I have also found beautiful blank cards, where I can write whatever silly thing comes to mind. I have found great cards other places. I have spent under a dollar on a card. I have spent $10. I have had cards custom made! I thought… gosh, I thought it was the thought that counts. The intention and content, not the brand. I have loved a homemade card as much as I have loved a note sprawled on a sheet of ripped out spiral-bound paper. A card (or note, whatever), to me, in a digital time (har de har har me so old) is just so thoughtful and deliberate. I’m not getting bent out of shape over where it’s from.
The way this person reacted made me think they would be offended if they received a Hallmark card. Sigh. Everyone is entitled to their opinions on products/brands, but the amount of disgust over Hallmark simply shocked me.
And now is the point in the post where I’m not sure where to take this. Because while I think “it’s the thought that counts” for a (sincerely, of course) sent card, I don’t feel that way about every material gift. And I don’t feel like it would be fair for me to publish this without mentioning that (even though they are two separate arenas).
There are people I wish wouldn’t buy me things, and would get to know me, instead. I have received completely thoughtless (in my opinion) gifts that did make me feel offended. I have been upset, when I told someone over and over “I don’t like that,” and “I don’t want that,” and they still gave it to me. I have been frustrated when I’ve asked someone to stop buying me things in general, yet, they still do.
Ha. You thought the Hallmark-hater was the bad guy in this post? It seems like it’s really me! Why can’t I just be grateful for generosity? Why do I have to question it?
Don’t worry – I am not like that all the time. I am not like that often. I am a grateful person. And, I know I have been on the other end, too. I am sure I have given people things and they are thinking “Another xyz from Kim?!” I have wished I knew someone better and was spending time with them instead of buying them something. I know I have given thoughtless gifts.
But I hope I’ve never given a thoughtless card. And I hope no one has ever been disappointed I sent them one from Hallmark!
Weird! I go to Hallmark when I’m looking for “just the right” card, and can’t find it at the grocery store, you know? Because I can always find it there.
I love cards. A lot 🙂
Yeah, I feel that way, too. So many options. I end up with too many that say all the things I want to say. Ha ha.
I love Hallmark! Although, I am weird and rather dislike cards. I think it’s because I can be a weird when it comes to sharing feelings and the cards make me squirmy. #nutcase Mark now gets me a Starbucks in place of a card because he knows I’ll enjoy it more.
But I get the gift thing. We have a well-meaning family member who continues to by the most random, unusable gifts because she thinks she needs to get us something but can’t afford it. We would much rather her save the money and just be present. It’s the presence not the presents!
Well, yeah! Who wouldn’t enjoy something from Starbucks more than a piece of paper?!?? Ha ha ha, I kid. So you aren’t a big feeling sharer, with anyone?
It really is presence. I am seeing that more and more as, gulp, gonna say it – I get older. What can we do? Can you talk to them about it? I don’t feel I can with the people I feel that way about.
I would never be offended by a Hallmark card, even though I don’t usually buy one myself. I don’t really feel any differently about Hallmark than I do about cards in general. They are nice, and when I get them I always think it is sweet and am flattered the person is thinking of me. But otherwise I just don’t really have any strong feelings about cards or Hallmark in general.
I know what you mean about gift giving. I really hate that our culture equates holiday spirit and appreciation with buying people things. It’s a tradition that we all force on each other even though we know it’s silly, which just makes it all the more maddening. I’ve come to understand though, that being able to just buy someone a material gift is a relief for some people. They recognize that they are not particularly creative or crafty when it comes to gift-giving, or they were socialized to believe that this is the proper way to show appreciation, so it makes them feel good to be able to just spend money on you and get you a nice, inoffensive material gift and not have to think of something “outside the box”. Even if I really don’t want it and wish they would have saved the money they spent on me, if it makes them feel good to do so, I won’t deny them that. That’s why God invented gift receipts 😛
I hope most people feel that way – not a lot of strong feelings about cards or where they are from and just happy to get one. LOL. I didn’t realize it was a thing until this person reacted too.
Yeah, I understand WHY we are stuck in the gift giving cycle. This year was just over the top frustrating with it, for me. Maybe I shouldn’t fit it, since it’s not going to change, and neither are people?
Like Bobbi said, Hallmark is where I go to find special gifts! When I was searching for a card to give Dawn after she completed the marathon I went there because I knew Hallmark would have the right words to say how proud I was of her.
Ultimately it’s the thought that counts
I am always impressed by their variety! I wonder at what rate they churn out new stuff? It just seems they always have what I want, and I am not giving the same card out, all the time (sometimes I will get two cat cards for two people, but you know what I mean… maybe). I would love to get a glimpse inside Hallmark (I should tour the next time I am in KC!).
I don’t even pay attention to the brand of card I get! I have to be honest… I go right for the 99 cent cards because they are just as nice as the other ones. I do read them and make sure they say the right thing, of course… because sadly most of the cards I end up sending are sympathy cards.
Ugh! Sorry to hear that! There was a stretch where I was sending out so many, I finally bought some to keep at home. Isn’t that horrible? 🙁
I love Hallmark! I used to pick up cards at wherever I was and now I go there especially to buy Birthday cards because they have such a selection!
They do! Have you checked out the new section at Target… hmm, I can’t remember what it’s called, but it’s against the Pharmacy wall at the Mundelein Target and it has the most off the wall funny stuff!
I never spend much $ on cards but I have been making a lot of digital cards ( printing them of course) and it only costs me a few cents and I can personalize it. Some friends and I just completed our first marathon so I just made some congratulations postcards with some race pictures on it and I know they will be thrilled to receive them in the mail this week!
Super cool!!! They will love it! Congrats on your first marathon!
I had no idea people disliked Hallmark. What?! That makes no sense to me.
Ha ha ha. A lot of the things that person says make no sense to me.
I am not a fan of Hallmark for the simple fact that its a one time use. In the foothills of Colorado’s Western Slope, I found some brilliant cards that we covered beautifully wild native wild flower seeds from the previous season. Loved It!! As I was reading along about the “tacky” discussion, I was reminded of a joke, How do you know if someone is vegan???? Answer: Just wait, they will tell you. Meaning, I have never made a scene at a gathering about what something is brought. And believe me…. I can be very opinionated…. Specially w/impersonal people & their non-thoughtout statements. Cheers to be somewhere present & having a Gr8 Time!!!
I love cards in general, always have…I don’t think it matters what store from which they are purchased.
That’s ridiculous. A card is a card. Personally I get 99% of mine at Walgreens. I always get funny cards, and I have the best luck finding them there!
I love Hallmark! They have cards for every single occasion and so many options. However, what I don’t like is their price. They are expensive. I’ve found 99 cents cards at Target which I do like as well.
I haven’t been to Hallmark in awhile, but I typically don’t find their cards cynical enough for me, hahahaha. I don’t hate them though, and I definitely wouldn’t be offended if someone sent me one. I remember a Dear Abby column where the person writing in was complaining about people who send Christmas cards where they just sign their name (instead of a long message). Dear Abby basically was like, “So, wait? You’re offended that someone 1) thought of you enough to send a card 2) took the time to get the cards and 3) mailed it to you?!? Yeah, STFU.” Except not like that, she was nicer than I was.
Ha! Yo go, Dear Abby!!!! You might really like the new section of our Target out here – their cards are really sarcastic! 🙂