Re: IRC's to be discontinued

9 Nov 2012

      It took working my up from desk clerk to supervisor to manager before I got someone at the Scottsdale Airpark PO who even knew what they were.
ThenI was told they don't carry them anymore.
I get mine online.
That being said, I think I've gotten one QSL back from a card sent with an IRC. Much better return with Greenstamps. I fold them an put them in the return envelope with the card and a blank piece of card stock. I also make sure no call sign or anything else that looks "Hammy" does not appear on the envelope.
That reminds me, gotta get few cards out...
73
Rick Tejera K7TEJ
Saguaro Astronomy Club
www.saguaroastro.org
Thunderbird Amatuer Radio Club
www.w7tbc.org
Jim Bennett jlb3nn@bellsouth.net wrote:
...
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

Rick Tejera

tags (0)

participants (1)