[Dx-qsl] Re: GS vs IRCs in mail to Russia

Wed Aug 14 10:38:01 2002

Al W4ABW wrote:
>I am sure I have seen something on this subject but don't recall where.
>I have a lot of cards outstanding to Russia. I sent a couple of GS in all
>cases. Would I have done better to send IRCs to Russia instead of GS 
>to assure a return of my cards. All of these have been sent to IOTA 
>expeditions in 2002,
>2001 and 2000.

Al,
I expressed the following opinion once before. Inevitably, some 
people agreed with me, some didn't!
I don't waste time with IRCs. Russians LOVE green stamps. The issue 
is how to maximize the chances of green stamps getting to the DX. I 
do the following:
	- Hide them inside the mailing. Consider attaching them to something with a
	 small piece of scotch tape, so they can't shake around
	- Use no callsigns on either envelope
	- Make it look like boring business mail. Use a computer-prepared address
	 label, and get the USPO to put on a metered stamp
	- Russian airmail envelopes are EXTREMELY thin and light. I think they need
	 those to get the cheapest rate. So a return self-adhesive 
address label is
	 an option to a return U.S. airmail envelope.
GL! John, NT5C.