[Dx-qsl] IRC vs POSTAGE

Mon Feb 28 00:28:03 EST 2005

Like John, NT5C, I have always used at least 2,ドル and more on occasion. I
have 330 worked and confirmed.
I have a 22 cent IRC I bought at a local PO in 1972, but never used it. I
also have a 2001 "small" IRC and a 2004 "large" IRC. Since being a DX
station Manager and DXer myself I have received IRCs and sometimes exchanged
them for stamps at the local PO. I have been an active Ham since 1963 and
understood you exchanged an IRC for postage to a foreign country. It use to
work that way and sometimes you have to "help" the PO clerk understand even
if they have to go to their manual. I just read the explanation on all 3 of
my IRCs and they have slightly different wording. The 1972 one says "by
surface" and the other 2 mention "by air". Maybe it is just me but it seems
like 1 IRC should STILL cover a QSL exchange. Why should the exchange rate
be of any consequence? If Hans buys an IRC for one Euro, a half Euro, etc.
the IRC is the accepted rate for an "unregistered letter sent by air to a
foreign country" as it says on the back of the IRC. And if I buy an IRC for
1ドル.75 to receive a QSL from Hans that is between me and my "Universal
Postal Union" country, if I have a problem with the IRC price etc. I imagine
both the USA and say Germany are UPU countries. I understand if the QSL
envelope is "overweight" for the basic IRC value they could charge a little
more plus the first class value of the IRC. Maybe there is a
misunderstanding between Hams and Postal Clerks. It would not be the first
time no matter what country you are in!
 Occasionally I have used IRCs to answer requests and have always gotten the
letter through the local PO. I have even tried to get 2 80 cent QSLs sent
because of our stamp rate (.80). I told them they could keep the change!
That was too much for the clerk so I quit while I was ahead with one per
IRC!
"Non Carbirundum Illugitium"
73,
Don WØDM
Littleton, CO (but born in The Bronx)