Pre-printed labels for Christmas Cards?

[Audrey Quest]

I don't think it is a faux pas.  I guess I am focusing on how crappy the label looked.  The thing I got from my insurance agent looked more personal--although there they have a ve$ted intere$t in being personal.
 
There are address labels and there are address labels.  Most are very nice.  The one that graced this card was crappy.
 
Anyhoo, I was just surfing some sites that talk about this very thing and there are conflicting rules.
 
I believe it is true that you should hand address your cards, however, another site advises sending out cards to everyone you know so you can spread the cheer around.  So, that would require printing labels, especially because you are going to handwrite the name of the person you are addressing on the inside of the card.  (And that is probably more important because as someone suggested, the inside is for them to read, the outside is for the postman.)
 
That is what was sorely missing from my card today.  Just a little "Dear Ckimoo and Fam," above the inside message.  I just would have liked to have felt that they actually intended my card for me and I didn't feel that. (I'm such a whiny....)
 
Pre-printed (printed name) Christmas cards are fine, but also require a handwritten signature.  For example:  If your card is printed "Happy Holidays from The Grouphuggers--Betty, David, Alisha, and Devon"  You still should write a salutation at the top "Dear Frou-Frou Family," and then sign it at the bottom with your first name only as in "Love, Betty"
 
No need for the full name there--its already on the page, eh?
 
So, to summarize what I propose so far:
Handwritten salutation inside
Handwritten signature required (Printed sigs are OK but still require a handwritten sig)
Printed labels are ok but should look neat
Send them to one and all
Ink stamps and/or stickers encouraged?
And finally.. reciprocate

(Yes, I have to send these folks a card and stop being such a Lady Beagle pouting over a stupid address label.  After all, I'd better not pout!)

[nolechica]

I only agreed to help my Mom with cards when I got permission to use my font collection rather than handwriting.  I used a candy cane font and a cute script font, but typed straight on envelopes rather than labels.

[Trisha]

 
But am I obligated to send them a Christmas card just because their computer list still spits us out?

I actually re-make my list every year. I go through, delete and add every year. I'd also print directly on the envelopes, but we have a new printer and I haven't figured that out yet.

[Trisha]

While I can understand people wanting to use printed address labels, I think the excuse of it not being legible is kind of lame.  People write letters every day and hand address them.  Are we becoming such a virtual world that no one can write anymore?
 

I'm my case, I usually start very nicely, but then the more cards there are the less legible my writing is. I've tried stretching them out over a few days, it still happens. That was the only bad mark I got in Kindergarten. "Patricia really needs to work on her handwriting..." "Patricia needs help with her penmanship..." "I suggest Patricia does writing exercises over the summer..." I guess that's why I always had a talent for deciphering messy handwriting.

[Bibliophile]

I have no issue with it.  Some people don't have the neatest handwriting and as long as you personalize the card - not just your signature - then I think it's ok.

I always use pre-printed lables on my postcards when I go out of town.  I print the lables at home and take them with me.  I stick it on the postcards I buy while on vacation before I start writing - it takes up less space than my handwriting, it's neater and legible so it does actually make it to grandma instead of getting lost in the great unknown.  No one has complained....

[bopper]

I send out >100 cards.  I use clear labels on the cards.  We use rubber stamps on the back of the envelope.  I used to caligraphy the labels, but with kids and all it got to be too much.  I imagine the people would rather see the pictures of the kids rather than getting a handwritten envelope.  Do you handwrite the return label too?

[Audrey Quest]

Do you handwrite the return label too?

Only in my nightmares!

[Lisbeth]

I don't think it's a faux pas to use pre-printed address labels on holiday cards.

I don't think it's a faux pas to use pre-printed cards as long as the signature is handwritten.  I'd do at least that much for the people I'm sending it to.

Something that I really don't care for, although I'm not sure it's a faux pas, is those Shutterfly photo cards with a pre-printed message and signature.  Those seem really impersonal to me (but that's me).

[nrb80]

I love the scene in the west wing where the President is arguing againt using the autopen, until he realizes he has 1.2M cards.

I will probably send out, oh, 200 cards this year, if I get my act together (I meant to order them... now they are coming from Costco).  My parents send out at least 3,000, then my Dad's firm another few hundred.  They get the clear labels or have the envelopes printed - on one hand, it's somewhat impersonal and makes it more likely someone will throw it away.  On the other, well, this way it gets done.

[hollasa]

I guess the thing is that if you are sending cards out to your friends to wish them well, why wouldn't you hand address them unless you are an especially busy person.

In my case, it would be because I want them to actually be delivered!  Trust me, my printing is not that legible.

[LissaR1]

I never had any idea this was considered a faux pas. I would write a personalized handwritten note inside, and sign it, but everything on the outer envelope is for the post office, in my opinion. The inside part is for the person. If I can use preprinted labels, and return address labels, I've never thought for a nanosecond about it.

Yes, yes, YES.  I think this sums it up absolutely perfectly!

[Lisbeth]

I guess the thing is that if you are sending cards out to your friends to wish them well, why wouldn't you hand address them unless you are an especially busy person.

In my case, it would be because I want them to actually be delivered!  Trust me, my printing is not that legible.

In my case, it would be because after a while it hurts my hands to do that much writing.

[Blinky]

I used to hand address every envelope (and return addresses too for that matter) but then a few years ago I started using printed return address labels that I'd make, and then last year I gave in to my severely ailing hands/arms and started printing new address labels on clear labels for the envelopes.  I still individually sign each card and write a little personal note in each card at least, but I talked with a number of people about the envelopes and the general consensus for today's world was that printing the labels was fine, after all, it's supposed to be the thought that counts, not disabling your hands further for weeks just to hand address the envelopes (and cause the post master to curse your handwriting).