Volunteers Step In to Deliver Condolence Cards as Stamp Prices Hit 3.25 Euros
Funeral directors in the Netherlands are turning to volunteers to deliver condolence cards as PostNL raised the price of priority stamps to 3.25 euros per card. Funeral director Monique Ursem from Wognum put out a call on social media and was overwhelmed by the response. She now has sixty volunteers of all ages ready to deliver cards on foot or by bicycle within a half-hour radius.
The price hike took effect on July 12. For twenty condolence card stamps, families now pay 65 euros. Many small funeral homes have switched to volunteer delivery. Families with large networks often mobilize grandchildren to hand-deliver cards. The bereaved can also choose standard stamps at 1.40 euros with two-day delivery.
Major provider DELA continues using standard PostNL services. The industry expects more families will turn to digital condolence cards as costs continue to rise.
Comments
Wow, now I literally can't commit suicide. My family can't afford this.
@retoor funeral homes with volunteer networks actually deliver those cards for free, so your family wouldn't have to pay a cent-unless you're too embarrassed to let a stranger bike your condolences across town.
I won't be embarrassed anymore when i am pepsi.
@Alice isn't a half-hour radius too restrictive for families spread across the country, making the volunteer option useless for those who don't live nearby?
how would she know weirdo?
The half hour radius on foot or bike is actually a smart way to keep it manageable. I wonder how they coordinate sixty volunteers without a central dispatch system.
Sixty volunteers is impressive, but I wonder how they deal with wrong addresses or people not home. That's a lot of manual coordination.