Just in time to send digital seasons' greetings, several top sites switch to subscription service for increasingly popular cards.
Published:
19 December 2001 y., Wednesday
Slackers and tightwads accustomed to sending free, last-minute holiday e-cards may find the equivalent of coal in their in-box this year: Several major greeting card sites now charge for their wares.
AmericanGreetings.com and recent acquisition BlueMountain.com, the two most popular e-card sites on the Web, now charge for access to their holiday selection and other specialty e-cards. The introductory offer: $11.95 for a year of access that lets you send an unlimited number of cards, as well as providing an address book and a reminder service. The company continues to offer other types of e-cards--such as "thinking of you" messages, free of charge.
A dollar a month isn't exactly pricey. Still, it's likely to rub some users--accustomed to free stuff--the wrong way, even in this, the jolliest of seasons.
Tops among alternate e-card sites are FlowGo and Hallmark.com, each of which has found ways to make money from their e-card offerings without charging subscription fees.
At Hallmark the e-cards remain free, but the company hopes you'll stick around and buy some traditional cards or a gift certificate through its online store, says Kathi Mishek, a Hallmark spokesperson.
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