A site visitor writes:
I would like to know the etiquette on thank you notes, I once read that sending a thank you via-e-mail is not appropriate, is this true?
Good question and one I get e-mailed about all the time!
I am of the opinion that the effort you put into something shows your level of sincerity and in the case of thank you notes, gratitude. It all depends on the situation and the relationship you have or plan to have with the person you are thanking.
For example, when someone does something nice for me that is not expected or “above and beyond” the usual and customary, they get a personally written and addressed thank you note via old fashioned snail mail.
Yes, I could send my thank you by e-mail – I am in the technology business after all and that would make sense. But would that reflect my sincere gratitude as much as taking the time to purchase the card, write my note and address the envelope, pay the postage and send it off? Probably not…
What about those special events? Graduation, weddings, showers — is e-mail thank yous adequate? I don’t think so. E-mail takes very little time/cost to send. When it comes to special events where those who care about you took the time to do something nice or buy that thoughtful gift adequate is simply not adequate. Actually, to some it it will appear you took the lazy way out.
How do you think folks will feel when they get your handwritten card, addressed in your writing with a nice note of gratitude within? That you are sincerely thankful and that my friends is what thank you notes are really about.
Sometimes a short e-mail saying “thank you” may be appropriate but clearly there are times when only a handwritten and addressed card will do.
Do you have an e-mail etiquette question? Ask me about your e-mail concerns and dilemmas and I’ll answer them here!
No related posts.
About Judith
Loading ...![[Take The Email Etiquette Pledge]](http://www.emailetiquettepledge.com/ee-rev-medium.jpg)
![[Email Etiquette Made Easy!]](http://www.netmanners.com/images/email-etiquette-made-easy-100.jpg)
I think whatever way you want to indicate thanks is probably the way to go, including a phone call as one of the options. As Judith said, I too think it depends on the event and how you feel about the person. But I would never make the choice based on what I think I ‘ought’ to do, which would be false!
It isn’t exactly what the lady said isn’t true, but I tend to disagree. I recently received a FAcebook Thank you for sending flowers and I deeply appreciated it since I just needed to know if they got there on time and if they were suitable. People THESE DAYS my friends, SYAY busy with all the NEW things out and going on and work and any effort to say “thank you” ought to be appreciated as much as a handwritten note that will eventually get thrown away unless it’s from the president or somebody superbly famous! Why would I want to waste paper and stamp on something someone IS going to throw away pretty soon. Besides that there is so much stuff in my mailbox and I hate going through it and DECIDING what to do with all the PAPERS piling up! That would just be one more thing and Then I might feel guilty that I need to just throw it away. Is it green? No. If someone doesn’t have a computer as I know some older folks don’t, then by All means send a paper one in snail mail! Or phone. However, for the rest of us up on the LATEST methods of communication e-mail, FACEBOOK is just spiffy! COMMUNICATION is the KEY here. Sorry, Ms. Gondolas, technology DOES change things!! YOU change with it or you get left behind. As the little child in kindergarten who lags behind the line and gets left out. If you Want to be left out, then ok. How will you be seeing this message I just wrote? HOW is it effecting your mood now? That is the same with Thank you notes on. Computer screen or cell screen! Same thing. It does have an effect. Thank you always is a positive effect. Thank you.
Hey, Crystal:
While I agree with most of what you say, nothing beats taking the time to purchase a card, sign it and put it in the snail mail! Yes, thanking someone on Facebook or by e-mail is better than nothing and appreciated. However, if times have changed to the point that we don’t want to make a little more effort to send an actual thank you card — then I worry about what else we will think is not worth our time.
Technology is not meant to nor should it ever replace all off-line courtesies. Some things will never go out of style and IMNSHO, thank you cards are one of them…