Community Chat

[Blahblahvampemer]

If people aren't buying cards at Wal Mart, or the grocery/drug store, they're getting them online.  I wanted an ornament from Hallmark last Christmas, and they were sold out early on.

There's only one Hallmark store anywhere near me (total ******), and the one at the Mall of Georgia closed up.  It wasn't that they were at the quiet end of the mall, it was Vera Bradley.  The situation was bad enough when Mori's Luggage and Merle Norman sold the line, but then MN closed, and all seemed to be going well.  Then the mothership landed with a larger selection and discounts, and I don't think they lasted six months.

[skyblue]

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@Winkkwrote:

I used to love walking around a Hallmark store.  But, now that their cards have gotten so expensive I rarely go in.  I am not spending $5 or $6 for a card.  Their card section has gotten smaller and now they are selling other "stuff". 

I get pretty nice cards at the dollar store.

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Some cards are in the $8.00 - $9.00 range now!😳 It's almost the cost of a book! @Winkk

[ROMARY]

Some nationwide pharmacies have a $1.00 Hallmark section (as well as Hallmark's more expensive options). I hadn't  noticed that $1.00 section until I had time to walk around and wait for a friend in the pharmacy dept.   Nice cards, too.

[Bri36]

I haven’t noticed any Hallmark stores closing near me.   I go in occasionally. They have a nice selection of things. 

I still buy cards and save all my cards.   

Cards in general are getting pricey though 

[Maltichonmom17]

I worked part time at a Hallmark store back in early 2000s until our store was closed. It's just a retail concept who's time has passed. Collectibles no longer sell and gift items were always iffy on who they would appeal to.

You can buy a card or gift wrap, including the Hallmark brand, at any grocery, drug or discount store and even sending cards is becoming a thing of the past. In general, the Hallmark stores are overpriced and not competitive. 

I even think the keepsake ornaments are becoming passe with the trend toward more sophisticated themed trees. I used to collect keepsake ornaments but, for the most part,  they have lost their charm. They are way overpriced and have lost their sense of whimsy. I buy one if it's meaningful or takes my fancy, but that's few and far between. 

I do stop by the Hallmark store maybe once per season just to see what's new but probably wouldn't miss it if it was gone. End of an era. 

[Mominohio]

Most the the Hallmarks around us were franchised, and are gone. 

They used to carry a lot of nice gift items around here (maybe because they were franchises) as well as the Hallmark brand stuff. They started going down hill many years ago, with less and less to choose from, and higher and higher prices. 

I went to a Hallmark store quite a few years ago to find a super pretty card for Mother's Day. I wanted big, beautiful and elegant and was willing to pay $10 or more (back when a high end card was more like $5) and everything was so modern, sleek and ugly. I was so disappointed I've never gone back in their stores since. 

[Spurt]

We have a very nice Hallmark store not far from where I live...they have a nice variety of merchandise...of course cards and wrapping paper and gift bags, some jewelry, art work, candles, and collectibles and some nice gift items too.....I enjoy shopping there....but yes the cards have gotten expensive but I go there for unique gift items rather than cards.......The Hallmark cards are even at our grocery store.....

The Hallmark at one of the malls closed but that was a really junky store....And another one at a grocery store shopping center closed, but I dont think a lot of the stores in that small center do much business except for a couple of restaurants and a Chick-Fil-A on the corner...

[qbetzforreal]

Unfortunately, the title of this thread is misleading and an over-generalized.  Hallmark stores as one poster pointed out are franchised, not all stores are closing.

[Meowingkitty]

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@Maltichonmom17wrote:

I worked part time at a Hallmark store back in early 2000 until our store was closed. It's just a retail concept who's time has passed. Collectibles no longer sell and gift items were always iffy on who they would appeal to.

You can buy a card or gift wrap, including the Hallmark brand, at any grocery, drug or discount store and even sending cards is becoming a thing of the past. In general, the Hallmark prices were overpriced and not competitive. 

I even think the keepsake ornaments are becoming passe with the trend toward more sophisticated theme trees. I used to collect keepsake ornaments but, for the most part,  they have lost their charm. They are way overpriced and have lost their sense of whimsy. I buy one if it's meaningful or takes my fancy, but that's few and far between. 

I do stop by the Hallmark store maybe once per season just to see what's new but probably wouldn't miss it if it was gone. End of an era. 

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My mom and I used to collect them every year. Bunches of them. I stopped putting up a tree many years ago because the cats would just knock it over and the ornaments just sat in the garage until a few weeks ago when I donated them. I only kept 3 or 4. They used to be cute and different, now they are same old same old, overpriced and don’t fit with most peoples treses anymore.

[CoffeeNut]

I haven't been to a Hallmark store in many years.  Last time I was in one the cards were too expensive.   If I need a card I will buy it at the grocery store where I shop (Publix).