Postcrossing

Disclaimer

I am not affiliated with Postcrossing other than as an avid user and supporter of the project.  My thoughts and opinions of Postcrossing are strictly my own and are based on my experiences since joining Postcrossing in 2010.  I’ve developed this website as a resource to tie in with trainings I provide to better help me show/explain how going back in time writing postcards can evolve into an exciting hobby while yet allowing you to maintain a digital social media presence.

What is Postcrossing?

In 2005 Paulo Magalhães, a student in Portugal, created Postcrossing as a project to allow anyone to send and receive randomly selected postcards from all over the world!

Does Postcrossing charge a fee?

While Postcrossing is free, you do have the costs associated with postcards, stamps and other items you may use to prepare and send your card.

If you choose, you can become a Postcrossing contributor and donate to the cause.  Login to your Postcrossing account, scroll to the bottom right corner, click on “contribution” under Support Postcrossing and make a donation via credit card or PayPal.  If you give 10 Euros or more, your profile will show a supporter badge for one-year.

How do I start a Postcrossing account?

Simply head on over to the Postcrossing website and click on Create an account – it’s free to begin your journey.

To signup you will need to determine what you are going to set as your username, e-mail address to associate with your account, a password (recommend a different one than you use for your eMail), your country, city/place and your mailing address so people who are randomly selected to send you a postcard will know where to send it.

After you’ve signed up you will initially be able to request up to five, randomly selected, individuals to whom you will be sending a postcard.  To do this you must be logged into your account, click on “Send a postcard,” check the checkbox that states “I’ve read the notes above and want to receive an address to where I’ll send a postcard” and click the box “Request an Address.“

Next a page will appear with the name, address, profile and Postcard ID of the individual you will be sending your postcard.  A copy of these details will also arrive in the eMail account you designated during your account setup.  After reading the profile you should have an idea of the likes/interests of the selected individual which will help determine what type of postcard to send.

Now pick out a postcard that matches the individual you will be mailing it to, add their address, the Postcard ID (avoid the bottom of the card as the US Postal Service uses that area for sorting), and write away!  To make the experience the most enjoyable I recommend you write more than just “Happy Postcrossing.” What should you write?  It can be anything, a joke, a recipe, a bit about yourself, a quote from a book… really, almost anything will do, but write something.  Add the date and current weather (note F or C), add a stamp and mail the postcard.

The Wait

Now that you’ve mailed your first postcard the next question you will most likely have is, “When will I get a card?”  This will take some patience depending on where you sent the card to and who the recipient is.  Once the postcard arrives at the recipients mailbox they register the card on Postcrossing.  This is why it is CRUCIAL you legibly add the Postcard ID assigned when you requested a card to send.  Once that card has been registered by the recipient, the Postcrossing process will kick in and someone who requests to send a postcard will be given your profile and a Postcard ID.  In turn, they will find a card meeting your profile likes/preferences, add the new Postcard ID, write, address, stamp and mail a postcard to you!

Once a postcard arrives in your mailbox you will need to log onto your Postcrossing account and register your card.  This will open a new slot for the sender to be able to send another card, just as it did for you when they registered the card you sent them.

Can I ever send more than five cards at once?

Yes, but it takes time.

  • If you have sent between 0 and 4 postcards, you can send 5 postcards.
  • If you have sent between 5 and 14 postcards, you can send 6 postcards.
  • If you have sent between 15 and 24 postcards, you can send 7 postcards.
  • If you have sent between 25 and 34 postcards, you can send 8 postcards.
  • If you have sent between 35 and 49 postcards, you can send 9 postcards.
  • If you have sent between 50 and 99 postcards, you can send 10 postcards.
  • If you have sent between 100 and 149 postcards, you can send 11 postcards.
  • If you have sent between 150 and 199 postcards, you can send 12 postcards.
  • … and so on, in increments of 1 postcard for each 50 you send.

Learn More @ Postcrossing.com

To find answers to more of your Postcrossing questions, visit the Postcrossing FAQ page!