Where you mail it matters enormously. Drop it in a busy city mailbox? It gets picked up fast. Drop it in a rural “blue box” in the middle of nowhere? That thing might be collected once a week. Hope you brought a book.
Holidays are a nightmare. Send a card in December? Buckle up. It’s competing with millions of Amazon boxes and glittery Christmas cards. Your postcard is now in the slow lane. The very slow lane.
And international customs? That’s where postcards go to party. They sit in a bin while someone stamps them. “Did you pack this with sand? No? Cool. Wait here for three days.”
The Myth of “Air Mail” and Other Lies
Ever see “Air Mail” stickers with a little plane? Ignore them. For most countries, that’s just decoration. A holdover from when letters flew on actual planes. Now, your card probably rides in a truck. Or a van. Or a scooter.
Express mail for a postcard? Don’t even bother. You’ll pay $30 for a 50-cent stamp. The postcard will still arrive at the same time. It’s cosmic justice, or a scam. I can’t decide.
How To Post Postcards
The truth is, the system is ancient. It’s a game of chance. Some cards fly like rockets. Others take a scenic detour through a lost-and-found bin.
