Technology might have brought people closer, but many believe traditional cards should be sent to convey Eid greetings instead of their electronic cousins.

Most people are relying on e-greeting cards and sending best wishes through SMS and MMS this festive season.

Earlier, they would take the trouble of buying greeting cards and posting them via what common parlance now calls snail mail.

However, there are still many who believe that technology notwithstanding, true emotions cannot be conveyed through the cyber medium.

The craze of using e-cards and SMS is more popular among the young generation. Generically, it's the older rung of people who still prefer traditional greetings.

Staff at bookshops and card galleries confirmed that sales of traditional greeting cards have fallen considerably over the last few years.

"There's been about a 30 to 40 per cent fall in sales," one salesman said. Many people, especially adults in their 30s and 40s, prefer to buy traditional cards. But the number of young buyers has dwindled."

Gulf News spoke to a cross-section of people to find out how they like t greet their loved ones.

Although most agreed that the trend has changed, they said e-cards hardly leave any impact on people and they just see them as 'more junk mail'.

Salman bin Tayyab, manager of the IT department at a local company, said despite being an IT professional, he still loves to send traditional greeting cards on special occasions like Eid or New Year. "I receive an average of over 200 e-mails daily and hardly bother to open them unless they are very important. But whenever I receive a letter, I open the envelop to read the mail. I also place the cards on my office table or at home," he said. He likes to write cards and send them to friends.

"I hardly open any e-card because it's just a waste of time. If someone cares for me, he or she should either call me or send me a card by post as it makes me feel much happier," said N. Niaz, a television artist.

She used to send e-cards, but hardly got a response from friends. "Now, I either send an SMS or traditional cards to make my friends feel better," she added.

Shahzad Butt, marketing manager at a local hotel, said gone are the days when people bothered to buy greeting cards. "We should take advantage of the latest technology as it is much easier to send e-greetings cards. With one click, we can send greetings to hundreds of friends and relatives."

He stopped sending traditional cards about three years ago. "Now I can reach more people as I can send as many cards as I wish without spending on cards and stamps," he said.

Faisal Khan, a student, said the exorbitant prices of greeting cards had forced him to send e-cards.

"It is also easy to send e-cards because it not only saves money but also effort to buy and post them. A good card costs Dh10 and above and it is difficult to afford for students like me who have dozens of friends. I am also quite sceptical whether the card will reach the destination," he said.

TRADITION OR E-TRADITION?

"Since I got my computer three years ago, I have been sending e-cards to greet friends on every special occasion and it has saved me a lot of money"
- Sana, UAE-based banker

"I receive around 200 emails daily but hardly bother to open them ... But whenever I get a card, I open the envelop to read it"
- Salman bin Tayyab, IT Manager at local firm

"A good greeting card costs Dh10 or above and it's difficult to afford for students like me who have dozens of friends"
- Faisal Khan, Sharjah-based student