
Heshmati said recipients will likely “feel more loved because you took the time to do that for them.” She added, “It’s the care that comes with it that signals the love.” Snail mail is, well, slow (and unique). Since cards require more effort than email, Ms. Saeideh Heshmati, assistant professor of positive psychology at Claremont Graduate University, recently researched what makes people “feel loved.” She found that “small gestures in everyday life,” like people supporting you without expecting anything back or showing compassion during tough times, were what participants most agreed upon as “loving.” Think about the last time you received a hand-addressed missive - didn’t it make you smile? If you want to show you care, snail mail is an effective method. “I think writing letters does that.” Handwritten notes spread love. “But we have to tap into it - and use it - to get its benefits,” he explained. Toepfer said we all have a base of gratitude inside us, which can lead to positive psychological effects. With each letter, the writers experienced higher levels of happiness and life satisfaction, and lower levels of depressive symptoms. They could write to anyone, as long as the content was positive. In one study, Steven Toepfer, an associate professor of human development and family studies at Kent State University at Salem, asked participants to compose three “letters of gratitude” over the span of a month. The warm fuzzies that accompany writing are more than anecdotal.

#Snail mail card professional
“It’s more fun,” said Margaret Shepherd, a professional calligrapher and author of “The Art of the Handwritten Note.” “It is such a delight to see that ink go on that beautiful paper - to pick out a stamp, to slow down and realize you thanked or consoled somebody in the best way possible.” Plus, because we do it so rarely these days, it can be a welcome respite from typing. When we write by hand, we retain information better and may even boost our creativity. Sedaris’s pen pal, the late comedian Phyllis Diller, once did - here’s why it’s time to bring snail mail back. Whether it’s to say thank you, hi or I’m sorry - or to send a Q-tip attached to a sheet of paper, as Mr. And it also doesn’t mean as much.” Not to mention, he added, “It’s nice to be thought of as classy.” “I just feel like it’s classy to do it with real mail,” he said. He will also send a thank-you note if you have him over for dinner. Cardpool founder Anson Tsai says that the removal of this friction point in the process should be “game changing” for the gift card industry.David Sedaris, the best-selling author and humorist, is known for writing letters to his fans, his boyfriend and everyone he works with on book tours. While Cardpool still has to mail you a check, the advantage of the new electronic redemption program is that you cut out the hassle of having to mail the cards in. With this new program Cardpool will then mail you a check for the value of the card or you have the option to get an Gift Card or Facebook Credits for the value. Cardpool has developed a technology that allows users to enter the card number and pin number on the gift card and be able to sell the item immediately online. Previously, in order to sell an unused gift card on Cardpool and other gift card marketplaces, you would need to mail the actual card in to receive money. Today Cardpool is launching another useful feature: the ability to sell a gift card online without having to mail it in via snail mail. Cardpool recently gave its members the option to purchase instant redemption gift cards, instead of waiting to receive them in the mail for use.

For example, Plastic Jungle is trying to partner with online retailers to power a payment portal in the checkout process that will allow shoppers to use a credit from a different store to make an online payment. The gift card marketplace model has steadily evolved over the years, as Plastic Jungle, Cardpool and others compete to grab a piece of of the market.
