NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — The holidays can be the most wonderful time of the year.
They can also be one of the busiest and most stressful, but sending Christmas or holiday cards doesn’t have to be.
Bridget Adams loves receiving those personalized holiday cards filled with cute family photos, but making and sending them was just so time-consuming.
“It would take me about I think four or five hours to do my own,” said Adams.
Switching to an online card service helped Bridget save time by streamlining the process.
“You select a template, add photos and a message, pick the quantity you want, and pay,” said Consumer Reports Lisa Fogarty
But with so many companies, how do you know which one is right for you? Consumer Reports ordered cards from 10 brands and evaluated features like photo and paper quality, ease of ordering, customization options, and pricing.
The pick for best high-end cards – Shutterfly’s Tiny Prints.
“They’re pricey, but their paper and photo quality were unmatched," added Fogarty. "The company will even address and mail your cards out for an additional fee.”
The best mid-priced pick—Nation’s Photo Lab— offers fewer options for customizing cards but delivers beautiful photo quality.
Another option that won’t break the bank – Artifact Uprising, which has good photo and paper quality for the price and can address your envelopes for an additional charge.
If you’re looking for a quick and easy card on 100 percent recycled paper – Postable offers a diverse list of holiday categories and will address and mail your cards for no extra charge beyond postage. -- But its photo quality fell to the middle of the pack.
If you tend to wait until the last minute to order your cards – Staples offers reasonable pricing with some that can be picked up the same day. However, Consumer Reports experts say the photo quality isn’t as good as most other cards.
Bottom line—no matter which service you choose, taking some of the stress out of your holidays is the gift that keeps on giving.
Watch for sales, special offers, and discount codes, which can often save some money when ordering holiday cards.
Do you have more information about this story? You can email me at jennifer.kraus@newschannel5.com.
Another example of how one person can truly make a difference. And the best part - we all can help! As a nurse, Laura handles emergencies every day. But nothing could prepare her for the emergency that brought her hometown to its knees. From her current home in Tennessee, she's mobilizing aid and supplies for Helene survivors and is helping make their recovery easier and their holidays brighter. I hope you take a moment to watch her story - you might even feel inspired to lend a helping hand.
-Rebecca Schleicher
