Postcrossing is about connecting not collecting, so you don’t need to meet anyone’s wishes - not for stamps or postcards - but at the same time, trying to meet those wishes (when they’re reasonable) can be part of the “connecting” experience, especially if you don’t have much in common to write about.
Sometimes I’ve received cards where the message was totally boring to me, but if they at least used a card and/or stamp on a theme that interests me, it still feels like they made an effort to connect.
When I draw a profile that politely mentions a love of nice stamps, or that mentions a love of something I have an image of on a stamp, like “birds” or “whales” I use two domestic forever stamps and two 10 cent pear stamps to add up to enough postage, not because I’m trying to build out anyone’s stamp collection, but because I feel the extra effort adds a nice personal touch.
I’m from the US and so whenever I do international swaps I just use the Global stamps because it’s easier. There’s only been a few instances where I’ve put multiple and different stamps on an international swap. The first was because the person I was swapping with was making a bit of a deal about it and sent a screenshot of what they do and don’t want. The other instance was because I wanted to because the person I was swapping with was being really nice and understanding and so I wanted to make the postcard a little extra special.
Other than that, I usually (with Facebook postcard swaps) give two options for how they want their postcards. Written on and with a stamp, or blank and/or written on but in an envelope, that way I can avoid the hassle of people picking what stamps they want.
As someone from the US I unapologetically use only the postcard stamps for the us cards and the global stamps for the international cards. I would rather have the space to write the address and a note than use a bunch of different stamps.
My issue with the Global Forever stamps are that they are oversized, leaving less room to write longer addresses to some countries needing several lines.
I have a preference for two Forevers and additional postage to show the diversity of our country, both nature and people.
No! A Global Forever stamp is fine. Unfortunately there is only a very small variety of them, that is why some U.S. users use a combination of two USA Forever stamps and some face value stamps to get to the required postage of US$ 1.45 (and soon US$ 1.50).
@Rainlion apparently you can only use postcard stamps if the postcard itself is
At least 3-1/2” high X 5” long X 0.007” thick. No more than 4-1/4” high X 6” long X 0.016” thick. Have finished corners that do not exceed a radius of 0.125
If it’s any larger you are technically supposed to use forever stamps. I end up always usingg .63 cents on all my domestic cards since I’m paranoid they might not make it to the destination.
I like the global stamps instead of first class stamps. I have more space to write. Most of the time I over pay with 2 first class and a rabbit which is $1.52.
Then I started putting 3 postcard stamps @.48 cents and a 1 cent stamp which totals to $1.45 exactly. They are all small enough and do not take up too much space.
But I echo many on this thread, it is about connecting not collecting.
Do your best and make sure you have fun. Don’t worry about what people want, they’ll eventually have their wishes come true, maybe not from you, but from someone out there.
If the message (and card) is great, not those one line salutations, often times I believe even with the common flower stamp it’s okay.
Senders all around the world puts effort into writing their cards, so some people use nicer stamps (with beautiful postmarks too at times!), some write longer messages. It depends. As long as the recipient is able to see the effort into the card it’ll be wonderful.
I think non-stamp collectors wouldn’t really consider a nice stamp as effort as much as stamp collectors, though, based on what I read on this thread, it’s okay.
I believe that when you receive a card, seeing human touch on it is the most important. Wanting to see nice stamps on the card doesn’t make you a “stamp collector that is hard to please” (that is insulting imo), it’s just that if you have the opportunity to use nicer stamps, go for it.
Borderline would be that the message doesn’t have any substance. I rarely see that type of cards here, most of these are from Facebook swaps, not sure why. Also don’t send a blank card if the receiver didn’t ask for it
Thank you everyone! I did purchase a bunch of stamps, and I had A LOT to send out between RR and regular exchange.
Some got the global stamp, and some got 2 forevers and extra stamps to get to $1.45. For US, some got postcard stamp and some got all other stamps. Honestly it came down to space on the postcard. Some only had room for the global stamp.
I did learn to figure out stamp placement BEFORE writing the address though
I tend to write A LOT in that small space. I try to find things to connect with per the profile description and try to match the postcards to their likes.
Those who like washi, art, stickers got that.
Anyone who specifically mentioned stamps, got unique stamps if it fit.
I think that’s the best I can do. I have to just let it go and hope the recipient is brought some joy. If they aren’t happy, it’s out of my control and I really really tried to the best of my ability.
For a while I was annoyed at the fact that sometimes when I mailed out stuff, the recipient did not acknowledge that they had gotten it.
I mean, if someone had taken the time and effort to send you something, least you could do is spend 30 seconds saying something along the lines of it reached, thank you.
But then I let it go.
All I could do was ensure that I prepared the item well and stuck on enough postage.
And asked for them to let me know when the item has arrived.
Whether or not they proceed to acknowledge receipt, that is something I can’t control, so I learnt to live with it.
That’s life isn’t it - things won’t always go one’s way so one has to learn to ride the waves.
Yeah, I think PC is going to help me grow as a person Patience, letting go of expectations, working through the need to people please……all good things.
I am never disappointed with the stamp someone sends me, or if they send a label instead of a stamp, that’s part of the fun of Postcrossing. I consider it a bonus if someone sends extra nice stamps. There are other websites people can go to for stamp exchanges if that is what is most important to them.
Welcome welcome! I hope you have a ton of fun and receive lots of beautiful cards! I’ve been here since 2014 and am still loving it.
In my experience folks really do seem appreciate a variety of stamps. They don’t demand or expect unique stamps, but they are delighted when they get them, and they often let me know. Almost every day a Hurray message mentions the stamps in particular. People have even said they’re jealous that we in the US have such a variety of stamps available for easy purchase from our online post.
On my cards I typically do two Forevers and an additional ounce stamp. Yes that is overpaying by a nickel per card right now but it’s workable for me. Or I’ll use an older .20 stamp and then I’m only over paying by one cent.
I typically use 3-4 stamps per card, along with washi tape, and I’m always able to write a long message! I don’t even shove the stamps all the way up in the corner or write unusually small letters either. I place the stamps a little lower, closer to where I write the address (and the space below the address is normal). No issues this way, and then the pretty stamps don’t get totally defaced by the post machines! The only time I’m a little short on space is when I print out Chinese addresses, but even that is no big deal. I’m a big fan of the beautiful stamps and a fully written card!
Here are some of my combos from the last couple of days. Almost all of these are currently available for purchase in the USPS online shop. (Shop does not charge shipping, but adds about a dollar as a handling fee.)
I am a collector but I don’t make any requests in my profile. I find It makes for a better collection, for me anyway. I can gather in a collection of all sorts of methods of postage payment which I probably would not get if I made any suggestions.
Because I already know what USPS offers,
I made the “mistake” years ago of politely asking a fellow American if he could please ask his postal clerk for something other than the flag he was always using. After all it costs nothing extra and his other pen pals might appreciate it. If he wrote back and said he loves flags, or that’s all his post office has, or even he doesn’t feel like asking, I would have just let it go. Instead I got something back like “just be glad I wrote” or whatever. That was the last he heard from me. I didn’t care about the stamps, just the attitude.
Op, You’re not the only one, nor the only country it happens. When Queen Elizabeth was alive and the Machin stamp of the Queen’s head was the Royal Mail definitive, you bet there were UK postcrossers who read blurbs on profiles about not wanting the Queen’s Machin definitives. What could be done? Now that Charles III is in charge, after the “honeymoon period” of wanting Charles III stamps wears off, you bet their will be “no King’s head definitives”. So yeah, no winners.
Just use what you have. Ultimately its a choice, if you want to change it up, order from the USPS website or ask at the post office the different designs avaliable. Stick up on what you can afford to send. But for now, don’t stress too much. Continue as you would.
well to be fair, we should be glad someone is writing to us. that is all we have to do, pick a card, put a stamp and an address on and preferbly a (small) message.
everything else is extra.
