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IRCs

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Edward A. Dauer

IRCs

Arguably a bit OT, but I suspect the collective wisdom on this reflector can help with this question -

IRCs (International Reply Coupons) are no longer sold by the U.S.P.S. - a major loss to QSLing with stations not part of LOTW. My experience sending green $tamps has not been nearly as good as it was with IRCs.

IRCs are, however, available for purchase in other countries, including (so says the Internet) Australia and Canada. What I have not been able to find out is whether an IRC purchased in country A (e.g. Canada) and sent to country B (e.g. some DX entity that's part of the international postal union) can be used in country B to pay for return QSL postage from B to country C (the USA) - that is, a country other than the one where the IRC was purchased. The idea of international reciprocity would seem to require that among member countries, but I haven't been able to find anything reliable (or otherwise) that clearly addresses the question. Does anyone know?

Ted, KN1CBR
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W1KSZ

Re: IRCs

The USPS may no longer sell them, but as members of the UPU they are
required
to accept them. Of course that means trying to convince your local
Postal Clerk !!

As for buying them, they are available on the secondary market, from DX
stations
and QSL mangers quite frequently and much cheaper.

Just in the last week I have seen two adds on the eHam swap page.

73 es HH, Dick, W1KSZ

On 12/25/2014 5:15 PM, Dauer, Edward wrote:

> Arguably a bit OT, but I suspect the collective wisdom on this reflector can help with this question -
>
> IRCs (International Reply Coupons) are no longer sold by the U.S.P.S. - a major loss to QSLing with stations not part of LOTW. My experience sending green $tamps has not been nearly as good as it was with IRCs.
>
> IRCs are, however, available for purchase in other countries, including (so says the Internet) Australia and Canada. What I have not been able to find out is whether an IRC purchased in country A (e.g. Canada) and sent to country B (e.g. some DX entity that's part of the international postal union) can be used in country B to pay for return QSL postage from B to country C (the USA) - that is, a country other than the one where the IRC was purchased. The idea of international reciprocity would seem to require that among member countries, but I haven't been able to find anything reliable (or otherwise) that clearly addresses the question. Does anyone know?
>
> Ted, KN1CBR
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Joe Subich, W4TV-4

Re: IRCs

In reply to this post by Edward A. Dauer

> What I have not been able to find out is whether an IRC purchased in
> country A (e.g. Canada) and sent to country B (e.g. some DX entity
> that's part of the international postal union) can be used in country
> B to pay for return QSL postage from B to country C (the USA) - that
> is, a country other than the one where the IRC was purchased.

Yes, according to UPU regulations, an IRC purchased in any country may
be redeemed in any other country for one unit of first class (air mail)
postage to any place in the world.

BTW, the lowest cost I've found is Swiss Post at 20 CHF for 20 IRCs.
At current exchange rates (http://www.oanda.com/currency/converter/)
that's about $1.05 each!

73,

... Joe, W4TV

On 2014-12-25 7:15 PM, Dauer, Edward wrote:

>
> Arguably a bit OT, but I suspect the collective wisdom on this
> reflector can help with this question -
>
> IRCs (International Reply Coupons) are no longer sold by the U.S.P.S.
> - a major loss to QSLing with stations not part of LOTW. My
> experience sending green $tamps has not been nearly as good as it was
> with IRCs.
>
> IRCs are, however, available for purchase in other countries,
> including (so says the Internet) Australia and Canada. What I have
> not been able to find out is whether an IRC purchased in country A
> (e.g. Canada) and sent to country B (e.g. some DX entity that's part
> of the international postal union) can be used in country B to pay
> for return QSL postage from B to country C (the USA) - that is, a
> country other than the one where the IRC was purchased. The idea of
> international reciprocity would seem to require that among member
> countries, but I haven't been able to find anything reliable (or
> otherwise) that clearly addresses the question. Does anyone know?
>
> Ted, KN1CBR
> ______________________________________________________________
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> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help:
> http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post:
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> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this
> email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to
> [hidden email]
>

Michael Adams

Re: IRCs

Just be careful about buying from Swiss Post.

The batch of IRCs I received from SwissPost were marked only with a simple "SU" on the left side, and not the full postmark-like stamp that is apparently required for an IRC to be fully valid.

--
Michael / N1EN

________________________________________
From: Elecraft <[hidden email]> on behalf of Joe Subich, W4TV <[hidden email]>
Sent: Thursday, December 25, 2014 8:08 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] IRCs

> What I have not been able to find out is whether an IRC purchased in
> country A (e.g. Canada) and sent to country B (e.g. some DX entity
> that's part of the international postal union) can be used in country
> B to pay for return QSL postage from B to country C (the USA) - that
> is, a country other than the one where the IRC was purchased.

Yes, according to UPU regulations, an IRC purchased in any country may
be redeemed in any other country for one unit of first class (air mail)
postage to any place in the world.

BTW, the lowest cost I've found is Swiss Post at 20 CHF for 20 IRCs.
At current exchange rates (http://www.oanda.com/currency/converter/)
that's about $1.05 each!

73,

... Joe, W4TV
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Joe Subich, W4TV-4

Re: IRCs

The postmark is *optional* - that is what "(facultative)" in the
origination box means.

The full translation is:
Home country control fingerprint (optional) or
Issuing country postmark (optional)

The issuing country identification (e.g., SU) is sufficient. Any clerk
that refuses to honor unpostmarked IRCs needs to be taught remedial
French and be given an "attitude adjustment."

73,

... Joe, W4TV

On 2014-12-25 9:02 PM, Michael Adams wrote:
> Just be careful about buying from Swiss Post.
>
> The batch of IRCs I received from SwissPost were marked only with a simple "SU" on the left side, and not the full postmark-like stamp that is apparently required for an IRC to be fully valid.
>
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