U.S. Postal Service reports thousands of Northeast Ohio Christmas cards won't reach loved ones

AKRON, Ohio - Sending Christmas cards through the U.S. Postal Service remains a significant part of the holiday season, despite smart phones, smaller computers, and the exploding world of social media.

"It's still a great way to express holiday cheer," said Dennis Buchanan, a 14-year veteran of the main branch of the Akron post office.

But in the past three weeks, Buchanan reported on what he calls "an alarming trend" taking place at Akron's main mail room.

"I started to notice a large number of Christmas cards were being destroyed by our sorting machines," said Buchanan. "Many of the cards were made by the Paper Magic Group."

"The envelopes are simply too thin and they're being ripped up," Buchanan said. "Many of the damaged cards won't make it to their destinations and it breaks my heart."

Regional U.S. Postal Service spokesperson Victor Dubina confirmed the problem: Overly thin envelopes continue to cause a large number of  damaged Christmas cards. 

"Two-hundred Christmas cards are damaged at the Akron man post office daily," said Dubina. "Most of the cards are damaged so badly we can't put them back together and send them on to their destinations, we're doing all we can."

Dubina told NewsChannel5 the U.S. Postal Service is reaching out to Paper Magic Group to see what can be done about the thin Christmas card envelopes.

"Paper Magic Group envelopes meet postal service specifications, but some of them are getting caught in our machines," said Dubina. "Thousands of Christmas cards will be lost this holiday season due to this issue."

5 On Your Side placed six phone calls to Paper Magic Group offices in Moosic and Berwick, Pennsylvania, but the company failed to produce a response to the situation.

Paper magic Group distributes greeting cards through popular web outlets like eBay and Amazon.com.

NewsChannel5 will continue to follow-up on this case.

Postal officials suggest consumers take a close look at the Christmas cards while they're in the store, and before they head to checkout. Examine the thickness of the envelope, and take care in checking the amount adhesive on the envelope flap.  If there isn't enough adhesive on the envelope, the envelope flap may open as the Christmas card makes its way through the sorting machine.

Postal officials encourage consumers to use one layer of tape on the envelope flap, if it appears the envelope won't stay secure.

"Avoid placing photographs or gift cards in the envelope with your Christmas card," said Dubina. "Never try to send bulky items like jewelry along with your card, it won't make it through the sorting machine."

It's safer to send additional Christmas items in a separate, padded envelope.