[Dx-qsl] when to use IRCs

Tue May 16 09:25:17 EDT 2006

Looks like all sides of this issue have been discussed and like most I'm 
whittling down my remaining supply. 

Over the past several months however, I have switched to using mint stamps 
in my QSLing efforts. I have found that in most cases the cost of these are 
approximately 1ドル.50 or less (with the exception of Germany and a few others) 
which although more expensive than discounted IRC's, is cheaper than the post 
office and or 2 GS. It also eliminates the issue of when to stop sending the 
current version of IRC. Additionally, waiting for the new version of IRC to 
be issued and then subsequently working its way through the "QSL manager 
discount distribution channel" is also a non starter.

I have in the past and will in the future (after the new version is out) 
purchase IRC's from many of those who post them here for sale. As has been 
mentioned, they're kind of a necessary evil, in the interim however, I'll pay the 
25c or so above the discounted price to eliminate the anxiety whether my IRC 
will be usable when its gets to where its going. Especially when the average 
turn time for many cards is 3 months or more.

There are provisos and the 3 that would appear to be obvious: 1) to get the 
QSL only requires 1 GS and 2) when stamps from the returning country are not 
available and 3) when the QSL info says GS only

As a result of exchange rates and other considerations, stamps as a 
short/long term alternative to the IRC dilemma may not be the way to go for non 
stateside DXers. 

If in doubt, send an email if possible, to the QSL manager or station 
requesting guidance.
If you don't get an email response.... well that's a whole other reflector 
discussion. 

Finally, I like the idea of a universal stamp, but heck the metric system 
can't even gain universal acceptance. 

Oh well...

73,

Bill
K3WI