[Dx-qsl] New style IRCs vs. Old Style IRCs

Mon Mar 27 13:47:07 EST 2006

Technically, there shouldn't be a difference in terms of use. 
The old style are smaller and lack an expiration date. They also need to be stamped by the issuing post office to indicate that they've actually been purchased, or are authentic, or something like that. I don't think they've been issued since 2001.
The new ones are much bigger and have an expiration date coming up pretty soon.
Some administrations around the world now decline to take the older ones, presumably on the grounds that they're obsolete. But according to the letter of Universal Postal Union rules, they should be accepted -- for one unit of air mail postage, whatever one unit is worth in that location.
As a practical matter, many of the older IRC's have been floating around the amateur service for years and years. Why? At least here in the US, because it's cheaper for a QSL manager to sell them to you at a discount, and then take that cash and buy stamps with it, than it is for you to buy them at the post office yourself -- if you can find a post office that sells them or knows how to get them (many don't or don't want to be bothered, which is a whole 'nother thread). 
I think the going rate for a new IRC from the USPS is about 1ドル.75 or so (if I'm wrong, someone here on the list will correct me!), which when redeemed at the same post office is only good for an $.85 air mail stamp. 
Now when you figure in currency fluctuations, it's often cheaper to send an IRC or 2 bought from a QSL Manager on the "grey market" than to send 2 or 3 green stamps to a given DX station... but not always, and that's also another thread for another time...
73
From: Tom LeClerc W1TJL <w1tjl at arrl.net>
Date: Mon Mar 27 12:35:35 CST 2006
To: dx-qsl at mailman.qth.net
Subject: [Dx-qsl] New style IRCs vs. Old Style IRCs
OK folks, I have a question. New v.s old style IRCs. What is the
real difference?? At my local post office there doesn't seem to be a
difference. They take them both for 1 first class overseas postage. 
Couldn't find anything on the USPS website about it either...
73, Tom W1TJL
--
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