I wonder whether your friend posted a similar OT message last year at some blog he usually reads:

Give a B-Day Present and get back a phone call?

Submitted by friend
“I have a long time friend, let’s call him Desmond who is close to me so I felt like sending him a gift on his birthday. I was expecting a thank you card, but all I got was a quick phone call. I feel like Charlie Brown…”

He probably got a reply like this:

“You give not expecting to receive, so you shouldn’t expect a thank you card or note. It is more work for already busy people and they end in the trash killing millions of trees. I strongly suggest you save the environment and send email instead.”