# "We're Moving" announcement cards are obsolete, apparently
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-moving-announcement-cards-are-obsolete-apparently/674543
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [November 22, 2013, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-moving-announcement-cards-are-obsolete-apparently/674543 "2013-11-22T17:32:37Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)
#### Post date: [November 22, 2013, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-moving-announcement-cards-are-obsolete-apparently/674543/1 "2013-11-22T17:32:37Z")
In preparation for our move to Denver, I went out looking for “We’re moving” announcement cards. This is my 5th time making a move where I would want to send these out, and every other time I had no problem finding them.
This time, however, it was close to impossible! I looked in the following stores:
Target
Walmart
Kroger
Hallmark
Papyrus
Dollar Tree
Big Lots
The Party Source
Office Depot
…before finally locating them at Meijer (who had a grand total of ONE design). And, I had to go to 2 stores to get the 50 cards we wanted, as the first store stocked 2 boxes of 10 cards,and the second one had 3 more boxes.
To be fair, both Papyrus and Office Depot would have been able to print cards up, but they would have cost about $3 per card (and the Papyrus one was completely plain - no graphics at all). Meijer’s cards were $13 for a box of 10, but they are actuallky pretty nice.
I assume the demand for these is way down thanks to Facebook and home printing kits, but the above stores averaged 50 different boxes of “Thank You” cards and 15-20 different boxes of party invitations; it seems strange that moving announcements would be THAT hard to find.
I’d be curious to hear if the dearth of moving announcements is a local thing (Cincinnati area), or a nationwide phenomenon.
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### Author:  [@TheFaerie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheFaerie)
#### Post date: [November 22, 2013, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-moving-announcement-cards-are-obsolete-apparently/674543/2 "2013-11-22T17:57:39Z")
I never knew there was such a thing! If I ever move I’ll inform family and friends via FB or email, or for the rare person who isn’t online, by phone. Sending out cards would mean that I have their snail mail info to begin with. (Obviously I don’t mail holiday cards, either. 🙂 )
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### Author:  [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)
#### Post date: [November 22, 2013, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-moving-announcement-cards-are-obsolete-apparently/674543/3 "2013-11-22T18:12:33Z")
We made our own. I sketched a picture of the new house and we had cards printed up to send to friends, mostly those on our Christmas card list.
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### Author:  [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)
#### Post date: [November 22, 2013, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-moving-announcement-cards-are-obsolete-apparently/674543/4 "2013-11-22T18:14:29Z")
> [@TheFaerie](#):
>
> I never knew there was such a thing!
They’re often referred to as “Change of Address Cards”.
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### Author:  [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)
#### Post date: [November 22, 2013, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-moving-announcement-cards-are-obsolete-apparently/674543/5 "2013-11-22T18:24:00Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#):
>
> They’re often referred to as “Change of Address Cards”.
To me, those are the cards you fill out for the post-office, magazine subscriptions, etc. I also had never heard of “moving” cards.
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### Author:  [@PSXer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PSXer)
#### Post date: [November 22, 2013, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-moving-announcement-cards-are-obsolete-apparently/674543/6 "2013-11-22T18:33:33Z")
I have never heard of this
must be an old people thing
just post that you’re moving on facebook
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### Author:  [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)
#### Post date: [November 22, 2013, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-moving-announcement-cards-are-obsolete-apparently/674543/7 "2013-11-22T19:02:43Z")
> [@kayaker](#):
>
> To me, those are the cards you fill out for the post-office, magazine subscriptions, etc. I also had never heard of “moving” cards.
They’re called both, with Moving Announcements or Moving Card probably seen more often.
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### Author:  [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)
#### Post date: [November 22, 2013, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-moving-announcement-cards-are-obsolete-apparently/674543/8 "2013-11-22T19:12:57Z")
> [@PSXer](#):
>
> I have never heard of this
>
> **must be an old people thing**
> just post that you’re moving on facebook
(my bolding).
(Takes out dentures and waves walking stick at **PSXer** )
Cheeky little runt.
😛
Oh, and I’ve never heard of them either anyway. Folks close to my heart already know I’m moving, others including companies I do business with would be contacted by phone or email.
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### Author:  [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)
#### Post date: [November 22, 2013, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-moving-announcement-cards-are-obsolete-apparently/674543/9 "2013-11-22T19:20:10Z")
This board never ceases to amaze me. We get them in the mail from our friends all the time, and have for my entire life. I know we’re a little more formal in the South, but wow. Never even _heard_ of them? Prior to 1996, how else would you have told a bunch of people about your new address? I’m not making 100+ individual phone calls.
They’re usually small, pre-printed cards, with a little note and the new address on it. Some people will combine them with their Christmas cards. Just google, and you’ll find thousands of examples.
I’m really not being critical at all. Just very surprised at the differences here. Part of the reason I like coming to this board.
ETA: They aren’t usually for notifying businesses, just friends and family. Though, I can see one going to your accountant, etc.
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### Author:  [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)
#### Post date: [November 22, 2013, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-moving-announcement-cards-are-obsolete-apparently/674543/10 "2013-11-22T19:34:15Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#):
>
> Prior to 1996, how else would you have told a bunch of people about your new address? I’m not making 100+ individual phone calls.
I don’t **know** that many people who need to be told of my new address,
Maybe ten?
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### Author:  [@Kenm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenm)
#### Post date: [November 22, 2013, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-moving-announcement-cards-are-obsolete-apparently/674543/11 "2013-11-22T19:40:34Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#):
>
> Never even _heard_ of them? Prior to 1996, how else would you have told a bunch of people about your new address? I’m not making 100+ individual phone calls.
It’s easier to write 100 addresses and apply 100 stamps than to pick up a phone? In 1996 you’d be licking the stamps, unless you ran them through a postage meter. Unlikely at home.
I’d never heard of them either.
They invoke images of bustles, a butler offering his master a sterling-silver salver with a caller’s card on it and the scullery maid licking 100 stamps or no half-day off on Saturday.
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### Author:  [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)
#### Post date: [November 22, 2013, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-moving-announcement-cards-are-obsolete-apparently/674543/12 "2013-11-22T20:06:17Z")
> [@kambuckta](#):
>
> I don’t **know** that many people who need to be told of my new address,
>
> Maybe ten?
Same here. Additionally there would be a few people I would intentionally want to keep uninformed.
I’ve gotten new address information in xmas cards usually. If they’re really good friends I’m probably helping with their move.
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### Author:  [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)
#### Post date: [November 22, 2013, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-moving-announcement-cards-are-obsolete-apparently/674543/13 "2013-11-22T20:17:01Z")
> [@Kenm](#):
>
> It’s easier to write 100 addresses and apply 100 stamps than to pick up a phone?
Yes. For Christmas cards, my wife writes the address, I apply the return address with a stamp, then add the postage stamp. Way easier than calling that many people, and it isn’t even close. How long do you think it takes to call and speak with 100 friends, honestly. You can’t just say “I’m moving, bye!”
Plus, they have a written address for their records.
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### Author:  [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)
#### Post date: [November 22, 2013, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-moving-announcement-cards-are-obsolete-apparently/674543/14 "2013-11-22T21:35:25Z")
I moved around this time of year, and all I did was print up a bunch of business-card-sized notes on a few sheets of paper, cut them out and put them in my Christmas cards!
People who just moved don’t have money to spend on change-of-address cards, that’s why no one sells them! 😉
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### Author:  [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)
#### Post date: [November 22, 2013, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-moving-announcement-cards-are-obsolete-apparently/674543/15 "2013-11-22T21:55:11Z")
I would guess that the cards you find in stores are largely going to be ones you get at the last minute (like birthday cards) or ones that must be hand-written, like thank you cards.
Anything else can be ordered online, affordably, from companies that will pre-print your new address, add custom photos, offer dozens of designs, and even mail them out for you if you like. Online cards are just so much better for this purpose.
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### Author:  [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)
#### Post date: [November 22, 2013, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-moving-announcement-cards-are-obsolete-apparently/674543/16 "2013-11-22T22:42:36Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#):
>
> Prior to 1996, how else would you have told a bunch of people about your new address?
Either you just tell them, or if someone you don’t see often, they get your new addy from a relative or mutual friend.
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### Author:  [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)
#### Post date: [November 23, 2013, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-moving-announcement-cards-are-obsolete-apparently/674543/17 "2013-11-23T00:56:59Z")
> [@Kenm](#):
>
> It’s easier to write 100 addresses and apply 100 stamps than to pick up a phone? In 1996 you’d be licking the stamps, unless you ran them through a postage meter. Unlikely at home.
>
> I’d never heard of them either.
>
> They invoke images of bustles, a butler offering his master a sterling-silver salver with a caller’s card on it and the scullery maid licking 100 stamps or no half-day off on Saturday.
In 1984 when I moved to Virginia I took my stack of cards to the post office, they ran them through the meter and I paid the nice lady at the desk. And every year I went with my mom when she sent out Christmas cards so the post office could run them through the meter [she would send out a couple hundred, personal business contacts got folded in with household cards.]
And $3 a card for printing 50 cards? Why not get a heavy card stock that will run through a copy machine and make up one 8x11 page of cards and copy the rest, or run a stack of 50 post cards through a printer?
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### Author:  [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)
#### Post date: [November 23, 2013, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-moving-announcement-cards-are-obsolete-apparently/674543/18 "2013-11-23T02:38:42Z")
> [@TBG](#):
>
> Either you just tell them, or if someone you don’t see often, they get your new addy from a relative or mutual friend.
In the meantime, a lot of mail goes to the wrong address.
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### Author:  [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)
#### Post date: [November 23, 2013, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-moving-announcement-cards-are-obsolete-apparently/674543/19 "2013-11-23T02:45:58Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#):
>
> In the meantime, a lot of mail goes to the wrong address.
Does anyone get “a lot of” private mail any more?
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### Author:  [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)
#### Post date: [November 23, 2013, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-moving-announcement-cards-are-obsolete-apparently/674543/20 "2013-11-23T02:46:09Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#):
>
> In the meantime, a lot of mail goes to the wrong address.
Who sends personal mail anymore? I can’t remember the last time I got a ‘letter’ delivered (that is, not a power-bill, an invitation to increase my c/c limit or to double my Frequent Flyer points, a bit of glurge from my local Member of Parliament or the routine Reader’s Digest flim-flam telling me I’m a WINNER)
Oh my, I miss the good old days when going to the letterbox was actually exciting!
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