[Dx-qsl] GS or IRC's

[Ron Notarius WN3VAW]

I have a question for some of the non-US managers on the list; let me
preface this by first stating that I am not angry or upset (or cheap), just
curious about something:

If I send you 2 IRC's or US$2 -- am I sending you way too much?

The reason I'm asking is that over the last year or so, I've noticed quite a
few times (from many overseas managers) that my cards have come back with US
postage.  Some have been mailed from US post offices in or near major
airports (or from Visilia CA in April or Dayton OH in mid May etc.)
indicating that the manager has travelled to the US for (presumably) other
reasons and has taken advantage of the trip to mail the cards domestically
(or had someone else do it for them or some other variation on the theme.)
I don't have a problem per se with that.  And I have also gotten some cards
in the last year from APO return addresses -- again, from managers who are
(as far as I know) not connected with the US military, I don't know how
they've arranged that nor do I wish to!

The thing is, in most of the cases, my understanding (and perhaps I am
misled) is that these managers have requested 2 IRC's or GS's to cover
postage based on their local postal cost for an air mail stamp.  So here I
am, sending $2 or equivalent, and a 34 cent stamp is what comes back.  And
this is happening often enough to add up to "real money" out of pocket.
Thus my question.

This is also brought to a head by a completely unrelated factor:  I lost my
job several weeks ago (if you know of someone looking for a Network
Administrator in the Pittsburgh PA area, let me know!).  Until I'm back at
work, I have to be more careful about the money going out.  To be blunt, I
have to be concerned right now about spending $30 or more per month in
excess postage costs when that may need to go towards something more
important!

Bottom line, I can justify spending $1 or 1 IRC when I know I'm going to get
the envelope back with a 34 cent stamp -- which works out to 1/3 for the
postage & 2/3 for time & trouble.  But 2?  Right now, I have to be
concerned.

Your thoughts appreciated.  Thanks!

73, ron wn3vaw