IRC's to be discontinued
The ARRL Letter dated November 8th has an item about the USPS proposing to discontinue the sale of IRC's here in the United States. If you are sending for a QSL card to many countries, the alternative compensation, American dollar bills, are likely to be stolen by a postal worker. Your card never makes it and you don't get one back. IRC's can only be exchanged for stamps so the likelihood of them being stolen is lessened.
IRC's are available at usps.com so there is no need to have them stocked or ordered at a local post office. It costs literally nothing to have them in the online store. If the sale of IRC's is discontinued here in the US, you will have to buy them from another country. IRC's must be exchanged for postage by Universal Postal Union member countries but there is no requirement that they be sold in member countries.
There is a link in the ARRL Letter that goes to a site where you can file comments regarding the proposal. The URL is http://www.regulations.gov/#!submitComment;D=USPS-2012-0101-0001
I did that and made the case for retaining them in the usps.com store only. Please consider doing the same so we don't have to buy them overseas.
73, John K8YSE
John, Thanks for the heads up on this. When I started sending off QSLs I wasn't able to get them at my local PO. So I asked them to get them in. They did, but when I needed them again, they didn't have them and I was told that they would not stock them anymore. So, I went to the PO next to the airport. An International Airport. And I was able to get them then. Then I ran out and went back and was told that they were not going to stock them and didn't know where I could get them. I did find them on line. And it was a real plus being able to get them online.
It appears that the US PO is trying to phase them out.
I will follow and post a comment on the site you mention.
Thanks for your dedication to the sats and ham radio.
Jim, Ke4kol
-----Original Message----- From: amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org] On Behalf Of John Papay Sent: Thursday, November 08, 2012 2:46 PM To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] IRC's to be discontinued
The ARRL Letter dated November 8th has an item about the USPS proposing to discontinue the sale of IRC's here in the United States. If you are sending for a QSL card to many countries, the alternative compensation, American dollar bills, are likely to be stolen by a postal worker. Your card never makes it and you don't get one back. IRC's can only be exchanged for stamps so the likelihood of them being stolen is lessened.
IRC's are available at usps.com so there is no need to have them stocked or ordered at a local post office. It costs literally nothing to have them in the online store. If the sale of IRC's is discontinued here in the US, you will have to buy them from another country. IRC's must be exchanged for postage by Universal Postal Union member countries but there is no requirement that they be sold in member countries.
There is a link in the ARRL Letter that goes to a site where you can file comments regarding the proposal. The URL is http://www.regulations.gov/#!submitComment;D=USPS-2012-0101-0001
I did that and made the case for retaining them in the usps.com store only. Please consider doing the same so we don't have to buy them overseas.
73, John K8YSE
_______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
On the plus side though:" Beginning early next year, the Postal Service will introduce a First-Class Mail Global Forever Stamp. The new stamp will allow customers to mail letters anywhere in the world for one set price of $1.10, and is among new mailing and shipping services filed with the Postal Regulatory Commission today."
Thus, it will be a lot cheaper to send our cards. For example, I am sending a card to Cuba this week - cost: $1.85. So the new flat rate will save a bunch
GL, Ted, K7TRK
-----Original Message----- From: amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org] On Behalf Of John Papay Sent: Thursday, November 08, 2012 11:46 AM To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] IRC's to be discontinued
The ARRL Letter dated November 8th has an item about the USPS proposing to discontinue the sale of IRC's here in the United States. If you are sending for a QSL card to many countries, the alternative compensation, American dollar bills, are likely to be stolen by a postal worker. Your card never makes it and you don't get one back. IRC's can only be exchanged for stamps so the likelihood of them being stolen is lessened.
IRC's are available at usps.com so there is no need to have them stocked or ordered at a local post office. It costs literally nothing to have them in the online store. If the sale of IRC's is discontinued here in the US, you will have to buy them from another country. IRC's must be exchanged for postage by Universal Postal Union member countries but there is no requirement that they be sold in member countries.
There is a link in the ARRL Letter that goes to a site where you can file comments regarding the proposal. The URL is http://www.regulations.gov/#!submitComment;D=USPS-2012-0101-0001
I did that and made the case for retaining them in the usps.com store only. Please consider doing the same so we don't have to buy them overseas.
73, John K8YSE
_______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
The last time I walked into my local USPS office and asked for an IRC all I got were dumb looks and "What's an IRC?"
Kevin Muenzler, WB5RUE Eagle Creek Observatory http://www.eaglecreekobservatory.org Common sense is so rare these days it should be classified as a Super Power
-----Original Message----- From: amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org] On Behalf Of John Papay Sent: Thursday, November 08, 2012 11:46 AM To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] IRC's to be discontinued
The ARRL Letter dated November 8th has an item about the USPS proposing to discontinue the sale of IRC's here in the United States. If you are sending for a QSL card to many countries, the alternative compensation, American dollar bills, are likely to be stolen by a postal worker. Your card never makes it and you don't get one back. IRC's can only be exchanged for stamps so the likelihood of them being stolen is lessened.
IRC's are available at usps.com so there is no need to have them stocked or ordered at a local post office. It costs literally nothing to have them in the online store. If the sale of IRC's is discontinued here in the US, you will have to buy them from another country. IRC's must be exchanged for postage by Universal Postal Union member countries but there is no requirement that they be sold in member countries.
There is a link in the ARRL Letter that goes to a site where you can file comments regarding the proposal. The URL is http://www.regulations.gov/#!submitComment;D=USPS-2012-0101-0001
I did that and made the case for retaining them in the usps.com store only. Please consider doing the same so we don't have to buy them overseas.
73, John K8YSE
_______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
_______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
IRCs are still available from Canada Post. As far as I know it'll continue selling them.
73s
Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL
On 11/8/12, Kevin Muenzler, WB5RUE kevin@eaglecreekobservatory.org wrote:
The last time I walked into my local USPS office and asked for an IRC all I got were dumb looks and "What's an IRC?"
Kevin Muenzler, WB5RUE Eagle Creek Observatory http://www.eaglecreekobservatory.org Common sense is so rare these days it should be classified as a Super Power
-----Original Message----- From: amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org] On Behalf Of John Papay Sent: Thursday, November 08, 2012 11:46 AM To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] IRC's to be discontinued
The ARRL Letter dated November 8th has an item about the USPS proposing to discontinue the sale of IRC's here in the United States. If you are sending for a QSL card to many countries, the alternative compensation, American dollar bills, are likely to be stolen by a postal worker. Your card never makes it and you don't get one back. IRC's can only be exchanged for stamps so the likelihood of them being stolen is lessened.
IRC's are available at usps.com so there is no need to have them stocked or ordered at a local post office. It costs literally nothing to have them in the online store. If the sale of IRC's is discontinued here in the US, you will have to buy them from another country. IRC's must be exchanged for postage by Universal Postal Union member countries but there is no requirement that they be sold in member countries.
There is a link in the ARRL Letter that goes to a site where you can file comments regarding the proposal. The URL is http://www.regulations.gov/#!submitComment;D=USPS-2012-0101-0001
I did that and made the case for retaining them in the usps.com store only. Please consider doing the same so we don't have to buy them overseas.
73, John K8YSE
Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Hi Ted!
On the plus side though:" Beginning early next year, the Postal Service will introduce a First-Class Mail Global Forever Stamp. The new stamp will allow customers to mail letters anywhere in the world for one set price of $1.10, and is among new mailing and shipping services filed with the Postal Regulatory Commission today."
Thus, it will be a lot cheaper to send our cards. For example, I am sending a card to Cuba this week - cost: $1.85. So the new flat rate will save a bunch
If you paid $1.85, either too much postage was put on the envelope, or what you were sending did not meet the requirement to send up to one ounce to the "rest of the world" (anywhere except Canada and Mexico). The current rate is $1.05 for up to one ounce in an envelope that is not too thick or outside the size limits for that airmail rate.
The $1.10 Forever stamp will be good for sending mail to most of the world. I have not found if there will still be a lower rate for airmail to Canada and Mexico. If not, then the rate increase is almost 30% over the current rate to those two countries (85 US cents for one ounce from the US to Canada and Mexico).
73!
Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/
Isn't it time to move to the next level. We are not in the 30s anymore with little, pretty postcards, outdated info and pictures of antennas!
Stefan VE4NSA
PS There is a reason I don't do QSL cards anymore.
On Thu, Nov 8, 2012 at 9:22 PM, Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) < amsat-bb@wd9ewk.net> wrote:
Hi Ted!
On the plus side though:" Beginning early next year, the Postal Service
will
introduce a First-Class Mail Global Forever Stamp. The new stamp will
allow
customers to mail letters anywhere in the world for one set price of
$1.10,
and is among new mailing and shipping services filed with the Postal Regulatory Commission today."
Thus, it will be a lot cheaper to send our cards. For example, I am
sending
a card to Cuba this week - cost: $1.85. So the new flat rate will save a bunch
If you paid $1.85, either too much postage was put on the envelope, or what you were sending did not meet the requirement to send up to one ounce to the "rest of the world" (anywhere except Canada and Mexico). The current rate is $1.05 for up to one ounce in an envelope that is not too thick or outside the size limits for that airmail rate.
The $1.10 Forever stamp will be good for sending mail to most of the world. I have not found if there will still be a lower rate for airmail to Canada and Mexico. If not, then the rate increase is almost 30% over the current rate to those two countries (85 US cents for one ounce from the US to Canada and Mexico).
73!
Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/ _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Stefan,
My knowledge of the '30's comes from listening to my parents rant about how tough they had it as kids. That being said, I am on LotW and Eqsl (AG). Not everyone is, and the bulk of those who are tend to be Dx. I send cards to those Dx stations that have not confirmed by Eqsl or LOTW.
And I do like those pretty postcards with pictures of antennas.
To each his own.
Rick Tejera (K7TEJ) Sagauro Astronomy Club www.saguaroastro.org Thunderbird Amatuer Radio Club www.w7tbc.org 30 Meter Digital Group # 5794
-----Original Message----- From: amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org] On Behalf Of Stefan Wagener Sent: Thursday, 08 November, 2012 21:05 To: amsat-bb@wd9ewk.net Cc: Amsat - BBs Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: IRC's to be discontinued
Isn't it time to move to the next level. We are not in the 30s anymore with little, pretty postcards, outdated info and pictures of antennas!
Stefan VE4NSA
PS There is a reason I don't do QSL cards anymore.
On Thu, Nov 8, 2012 at 9:22 PM, Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) < amsat-bb@wd9ewk.net> wrote:
Hi Ted!
On the plus side though:" Beginning early next year, the Postal Service
will
introduce a First-Class Mail Global Forever Stamp. The new stamp will
allow
customers to mail letters anywhere in the world for one set price of
$1.10,
and is among new mailing and shipping services filed with the Postal Regulatory Commission today."
Thus, it will be a lot cheaper to send our cards. For example, I am
sending
a card to Cuba this week - cost: $1.85. So the new flat rate will save a bunch
If you paid $1.85, either too much postage was put on the envelope, or what you were sending did not meet the requirement to send up to one ounce to the "rest of the world" (anywhere except Canada and Mexico). The current rate is $1.05 for up to one ounce in an envelope that is not too thick or outside the size limits for that airmail rate.
The $1.10 Forever stamp will be good for sending mail to most of the
world.
I have not found if there will still be a lower rate for airmail to Canada and Mexico. If not, then the rate increase is almost 30% over the current rate to those two countries (85 US cents for one ounce from the US to Canada and Mexico).
73!
Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/ _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
_______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Fair enough!
I don't care for them, too expensive, too outdated and if you have the means to transmit over 1000s of miles you will have electronic means to confirm. Yes, eQSL and LotW are in the right direction, although far too user-unfriendly (LotW).
Thanks Rick,
Stefan
On Thu, Nov 8, 2012 at 10:43 PM, Rick Tejera saguaroastro@cox.net wrote:
Stefan,
My knowledge of the '30's comes from listening to my parents rant about how tough they had it as kids. That being said, I am on LotW and Eqsl (AG). Not everyone is, and the bulk of those who are tend to be Dx. I send cards to those Dx stations that have not confirmed by Eqsl or LOTW.
And I do like those pretty postcards with pictures of antennas.
To each his own.
Rick Tejera (K7TEJ) Sagauro Astronomy Club www.saguaroastro.org Thunderbird Amatuer Radio Club www.w7tbc.org 30 Meter Digital Group # 5794
-----Original Message----- From: amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org] On Behalf Of Stefan Wagener Sent: Thursday, 08 November, 2012 21:05 To: amsat-bb@wd9ewk.net Cc: Amsat - BBs Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: IRC's to be discontinued
Isn't it time to move to the next level. We are not in the 30s anymore with little, pretty postcards, outdated info and pictures of antennas!
Stefan VE4NSA
PS There is a reason I don't do QSL cards anymore.
On Thu, Nov 8, 2012 at 9:22 PM, Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) < amsat-bb@wd9ewk.net> wrote:
Hi Ted!
On the plus side though:" Beginning early next year, the Postal Service
will
introduce a First-Class Mail Global Forever Stamp. The new stamp will
allow
customers to mail letters anywhere in the world for one set price of
$1.10,
and is among new mailing and shipping services filed with the Postal Regulatory Commission today."
Thus, it will be a lot cheaper to send our cards. For example, I am
sending
a card to Cuba this week - cost: $1.85. So the new flat rate will save a bunch
If you paid $1.85, either too much postage was put on the envelope, or what you were sending did not meet the requirement to send up to one ounce to the "rest of the world" (anywhere except Canada and Mexico). The current rate is $1.05 for up to one ounce in an envelope that is not too thick or outside the size limits for that airmail rate.
The $1.10 Forever stamp will be good for sending mail to most of the
world.
I have not found if there will still be a lower rate for airmail to Canada and Mexico. If not, then the rate increase is almost 30% over the current rate to those two countries (85 US cents for one ounce from the US to Canada and Mexico).
73!
Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/ _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite
program!
Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
participants (8)
-
B J -
Jim Bennett -
John Papay -
Kevin Muenzler, WB5RUE -
Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) -
Rick Tejera -
Stefan Wagener -
Ted