Yes, through the mail and everything.

December 3, 2009 2:58 AM

Gmail wants you to send a holiday postcard for free.

Previously: sending postcards online

posted by Vectorcon Systems (45 comments total)

That's a value!
posted by cillit bang at 3:04 AM on December 3, 2009

Valid only within the United States

Thanks for nothing Google. Do we not use your services too? Do we not deserve free stuff?
posted by meech at 3:07 AM on December 3, 2009 [3 favorites]

I'm going to sit right down and write myself a post card
And make believe it came from one of my exes, inviting me over for dinner whenever I want.
posted by emelenjr at 3:35 AM on December 3, 2009 [2 favorites]

Thanks for nothing Google. Do we not use your services too? Do we not deserve free stuff?

You can send a postcard to anyone in the United States! That sounds like a free service to me. Too much complaining, and not enough finding out Cortex's address to inundate the man with postcards.
posted by explosion at 3:59 AM on December 3, 2009 [4 favorites]

Sucks that you can only send it to people in the US. I had mine written and ready to send before I saw that.
posted by DanCall at 4:22 AM on December 3, 2009

I hope that when ColdChef steals this idea he does it better.
posted by GeckoDundee at 4:41 AM on December 3, 2009 [1 favorite]

Unfortunately, like all the really cool stuff on the internet, it's only available in the United States (see: Google Voice, Pandora, Lala, Spotify, Hulu, etc.)
posted by leokennis at 5:02 AM on December 3, 2009 [2 favorites]

The More You Know: It costs 27 cents to send a postcard within the US, but it jumps to 72 cents to send one to Canada and 98 cents for countries across the various ponds. Gotta draw the line somewhere!

Also, Google provides the images so you can make your own.
posted by Garak at 5:05 AM on December 3, 2009

@leokennis: For what it’s worth, Spotify is not available in the US and we’re all green with envy.
posted by Garak at 5:06 AM on December 3, 2009

Why does Google hate Christmas? Don't they know that Christ died so that they could provide high-quality information cataloging? Without Jesus, we'd all be wallowing in so much sin and despair, Satan wouldn't have needed to create the internet.
posted by mccarty.tim at 5:36 AM on December 3, 2009

What a clever way to get a) google-branded cards to people and b) collect lots and lots of valid US addresses.
posted by dabitch at 5:45 AM on December 3, 2009 [1 favorite]

dabitch, the site clearly states that the information won't be used for anything other than delivering the card.
posted by dowcrag at 5:48 AM on December 3, 2009

Only available in the US; bah. Only obvious U.S. address I could think of was the White House, so… Obama's getting one more card in the mail this year!
posted by jaffacakerhubarb at 6:00 AM on December 3, 2009

Valid only within the United States
Sucks that you can only send it to people in the US.
Unfortunately, like all the really cool stuff on the internet, it's only available in the United States
Only available in the US; bah.

Does anyone read the posts down here?
posted by cribcage at 6:06 AM on December 3, 2009

It doesn't identify who the sender is, as far as I can tell. This could be used for great evil.

"he is not who you think he is
return him to us"

My GF is getting a special, unsigned Christmas card this year!
posted by cimbrog at 6:11 AM on December 3, 2009 [3 favorites]

cribcage, yeah..
I read more than I post.
posted by Drasher at 6:12 AM on December 3, 2009

My favorite is the mitten one.
posted by box at 6:13 AM on December 3, 2009

Do we not deserve free stuff?

Like Gmail?
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 6:22 AM on December 3, 2009 [1 favorite]

Oh, I wish I knew where I fit in Google's plans for us.
posted by The Whelk at 6:33 AM on December 3, 2009 [3 favorites]

Cribcage: Yeah - but I wanted to voice my annoyance as well
posted by DanCall at 6:36 AM on December 3, 2009

Do we not deserve free stuff?

Hey, no matter where you are in the world, you can use Google Mail/Documents to house your own personal information for easy access by American intelligence services.

All at no cost to you whatsoever!
posted by rokusan at 6:41 AM on December 3, 2009 [1 favorite]

My favorite is the mitten one.

Needs more lobster.
posted by rokusan at 6:42 AM on December 3, 2009 [1 favorite]

Heeeeeeeeeey. I just got an idea re: swamping those asshats in NY who voted down the gay marriage bill with postcards. Wanna play along?
posted by bitter-girl.com at 8:26 AM on December 3, 2009 [6 favorites]

leokennis: "Unfortunately, like all the really cool stuff on the internet, it's only available in the United States (see: Google Voice, Pandora, Lala, Spotify, Hulu, etc.)"

Umm, isn't Spotify a UK-only service?
posted by jckll at 8:29 AM on December 3, 2009

Beautiful fucking synergy, bitter-girl. Beautiful.
posted by rokusan at 8:43 AM on December 3, 2009 [1 favorite]

Whine, whine, whine. "Google won't offer ME free stuff!" Boo hoo hoo.

Since when is any corporation morally obligated to extend a marketing gesture to the entire world? Yes, Google is global. Big deal. So is Kraft, but that doesn't mean my coupon for BOGO macaroni & cheese is valid in Botswana.
posted by IAmBroom at 8:51 AM on December 3, 2009

Please do not give your friends' names and addresses to Google.
posted by mad bomber what bombs at midnight at 9:38 AM on December 3, 2009

swamping those asshats in NY who voted down the gay marriage bill with postcards.

Good idea. Here's what I sent to Senator Onorato (picked at random):

"On 12/2, you voted to deny equal marriage rights to homosexuals in your state. History will not judge you kindly. I hope that decision haunts you this holiday season-and every holiday season-as you enjoy your privilege with your family.

(Kwine)"

I posted a note about this project on my facebook page as well.
posted by Kwine at 9:40 AM on December 3, 2009 [1 favorite]

Finally! A perfect use for that unicode-character penis sketch I've been working on.
posted by Rhomboid at 10:12 AM on December 3, 2009 [1 favorite]

I sent my Senator (Duane no less!) a postcard expressing my sorrow about the bill and my admiration for his speech.
posted by The Whelk at 10:25 AM on December 3, 2009

Amazing providence! Free postcard-sending service at the exact moment we need it to chew out a bunch of lousy, no-good Democrat cowards.
It's a Christmas miracle!
posted by Baby_Balrog at 10:35 AM on December 3, 2009 [1 favorite]

As a special snowflake, I am drawn to the card showing the two identical flakes, but I hesitate to commit any friend's address to the spider bots.
posted by Cranberry at 10:53 AM on December 3, 2009

Done. Thanks for the suggestion, bitter-girl. I hope sending a cheery postcard with a shaming message to a weasel politician is something I can do every holiday season.
posted by EvaDestruction at 11:12 AM on December 3, 2009

What an interesting way to advertise for Gmail. Relatively small marketing costs. They probably made some deal with the post office, like a bulk rate or something. Bravo, Google! We are now all part of this campaign. Even this discussion means Google was successful. I kinda love it.
posted by Olive Oil at 11:35 AM on December 3, 2009

Srsly. Name and address s already pretty much a done deal. Unless you've taken a lot of care to hide information, Google and most marketers have your name, address, age, favorite color, shopping preferences, and much more. I think it might be just a cigar.
posted by theora55 at 11:43 AM on December 3, 2009

I sent mine to Ruben Diaz. What a great idea, bitter-girl.com.
posted by jedicus at 1:06 PM on December 3, 2009

I posted a note about this project on my facebook page as well.

As did I, along with the address of ringleader Diaz.
posted by shothotbot at 3:10 PM on December 3, 2009

I love the idea, and am going to try it, but I'm concerned about this:

"Cards containing inappropriate content will not be mailed..."

Do you think our cards will fall under that category? I'll try it anyway. I just hope it goes through.

On the subject of google and marketers having your name: "...and information supplied here will not be retained or used for any purposes outside of delivering your card."
posted by six-or-six-thirty at 3:15 PM on December 3, 2009

"Cards containing inappropriate content will not be mailed..."

I think that mostly means spamming, profanity, inappropriate ascii art, etc.
posted by jedicus at 3:54 PM on December 3, 2009

Heeeeeeeeeey. I just got an idea re: swamping those asshats in NY who voted down the gay marriage bill with postcards. Wanna play along?

Holy crap, that's genius.

I think the "inappropriate content" probably refers more to death threats and the like. My note to George Onorato asking him to please reconsider "because even the Grinch had a change of heart" is okay -- plus, hey, I talk about the Grinch, it's seasonal!
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 5:29 PM on December 3, 2009

Done. I picked Stachowski at random for a dose of holiday shame through the mail. Great idea, bitter-girl.
posted by Quietgal at 7:30 PM on December 3, 2009

Thanks, y'all. A short-lived moment of caffeinated brilliance made easy by Google.

Please do not give your friends' names and addresses to Google.

Yes, but these people are NOT OUR FRIENDS. :)
posted by bitter-girl.com at 8:19 AM on December 4, 2009

Finally! A perfect use for that unicode-character penis sketch I've been working on.

A lot of politics is nothing but  )) <---> ((  anyway.
posted by rokusan at 10:39 AM on December 4, 2009

U.S.-only or I would be sending my Secret Quonsar one.
posted by schleppo at 11:38 AM on December 4, 2009

Followup: My girlfriend got her postcard on the 27th. A cut-out dradel with the all lower-case text, "he is not who you think he is return him to us" on the back and no signature. The postage is from California. There was absolutely no way to track who or where this card came from.
It is all fun and giggles to think about freaking someone out with this sort of high weirdness, but another thing altogether to watch someone you love go through stages of fear and worry. I had to confess after a few minutes.
BTW, can anyone recommend a good ball sack reattachment service for me?
posted by cimbrog at 1:40 PM on December 30, 2009