[Dx-qsl] IRC Changes

Mon, 11 Mar 2002 20:26:01 -0500

I have at least four Post Office branches within a few minutes drive... not
counting the little branch in the shopping mall around the corner.  Not a
one wants anything to do with IRC's if they can avoid it.  The last time I
asked, the clerk asked me to come back after lunch and talk with the
manager, because he hadn't a clue what to do.  At this point, if I ever had
to redeem them for stamps, I'd probably take the IRC's to the main
Pittsburgh PO regional sorting center over on the North Side.  (The little
branch is fine for buying stamps, and on Saturdays they're open later than
the local PO for late mailings, but the two little old ladies -- really! --
who run it are clueless as to things like IRC's, so I no longer bother them.
But they love selling me the latest commerative sheets!)

But to be honest, I probably wouldn't redeem any IRC's -- at least not as
long as the old ones still have life to them (and you know sooner or later
someone will decide that they have to be redeemed by a certain date even
though they don't have an expiration date printed on them).  I'd rather buy
them on the "grey market" from KU9C or W3UR or some other worthy QSL manager
for $1 (not $1.75), which let's them buy $.80 stamps with cash instead of
with more valuable IRC's.

When I'm out of IRC's, my other trick is to go the bank and get some $2
bills.  They tend to be in better condition than $1 (often brand new or near
brand new), and take up less mass and volume than two $1 bills.  (I always
use "security" envelopes as a matter of course; when in doubt, wrap the SAE,
QSL & $ inside a folder sheet of paper).  Only today, my closest local bank
branch ran out -- and the teller called the manager, who wanted to know what
I was doing with them, and then started to lecture me on why sending cash
through the mail was bad, and that I should, you guessed it, go to the Post
Office and buy IRC's!  (Time to go to my other local branch for awhile...)

73, ron wn3vaw

"You are a fluke of the Universe
You have no right to be here
And whether you can hear it or not,
The Universe is laughing behind your back"
-- National Lampoon's Deteriorata

----- Original Message -----
From: <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, March 11, 2002 7:00 PM
Subject: Re: [Dx-qsl] IRC Changes

I don't know what country all of you are in but when I have problems they
say go to the main Down Center and they'll take care of it.  It says no
where in those sections, that it must be handled locally, but only...that
it must be handled by the USPO...in accordance with "most cooperative"
branch manager anyone has ever seen.  That's why I send IRC's overseas
now..it's easier for them (in certain countries) to redeem them than it
is here.  A HORRIBLE thing to say...but the truth.
Fortunately, I've not had to battle them since Dave retired, but if you
have a postal Elmer give'em cookies for Christmas, birthdays,
etc...they're HARD to find.

Just my dime....
Ken
WA8JOC
P.S. I won't even go into the IRC value changes....UGH !!!!

On Sun, 10 Mar 2002 23:43:41 -0500 "Steven Wheatley KU9C"
<[email protected]> writes:
> Keith, as someone else recommended....have them pull out the IMM, and
> read with them the section on IRCS.
>
> I find that most post offices have some idea of them, but they're  a
> pain to redeem, as the clerk has to literally cancel each IRC by
> stamping in the appropriate box. They then have some sort of
> paperwork.....I suspect there's two things going on, a lack of
> desire to work the redemption, or a lack of training on how to do
> it.
>
>
> It took some time for me to get to the relationship I have...but the
> person (and it is literally A PERSON)...knows exactly how to redeem.
>  I bring them in, all counted out, and sorted by dx ircs, and US
> IRCS by value.
>
> You'll either get an envelope mailed, or 80 cents in stamps...you
> can get any denomination you want (or that they have in stock, more
> correctly).
>
> 73
>
>
> ---------------------------
> Steve Wheatley KU9C
> PO Box 5953
> Parsippany NJ  07054-6953
> U.S.A.
>
> email:  [email protected]
> http://www.ku9c.com/
>
>
>
> ---------- Original Message ----------------------------------
> From: Keith Retzer <[email protected]>
> Reply-To: [email protected]
> Date: Sun, 10 Mar 2002 20:51:23 -0600
>
> >Steve,
> >
> >Have you ever tried to use IRCs at your post office to mail
> anything?  If
> >yes, what is the process, and how much trouble did they give you at
>
> >first.  I tried at a local postoffice, and they said I could not
> exchange
> >them for stamps, but had to have letters ready to mail to use the
> >ircs.  They even then did not know the process.  If I know in
> advance,
> >maybe I can be successful at redeeming some to send DX mail.
> >
> >Thanks for any clues.
> >
> >Keith W7KEU Indexa staff member.
> >
> >At 08:02 PM 3/10/02 -0500, you wrote:
> >
> >Please help QSL.NET . Send your donation now.
> >
> >If you have already donated, thanks !
> >
> Please help QSL.NET . Send your donation now.
>
> If you have already donated, thanks !
>

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