[Dx-qsl] When to use IRCs

[Steven Wheatley KU9C]

I read Bernies' info in QST, and while I agree with his message, here are my thoughts:

Use the old style, or the current ones expiring 12/31/06, AS LONG AS YOU feel fairly comfortable that the u ser will open, and redeem before end of year.  As I think about it, that means, send out any IRCS by October 1st, maybe no later t han November 1st.

Use the new ones, as they become available  But, be aware that the post offices may sell the old ones to get rid of stock .  The new ones are supposed to be available in 3Q.  I'm sure we'll hear when they start coming out.  When that happens, do your diligence and DEMAND that your post sell you only the new ones, especially if you think you'll need to keep them into 2007, or the person you send them to will not be able to exchange until 2007.

IRCs are painful, but a way of life for managers.   We know how to get rid of them...just do us all a favor and not use the 12/31/2006 ones if you think there is a chance we'll not get to them before they expire....thus the October1/November 1 timeframe

73

---------- Original Message ----------------------------------
From: Kz2i at aol.com
Date:  Mon, 15 May 2006 16:42:30 EDT

> 
>yep, no argument from me on that.  but i (and i  assume a lot of the 
>aforementioned dorks) buy their ircs from  managers. 
>        
>and if i buy an irc from a post office after July  1, i SHOULD be getting the 
>new version.  right?  
> 
>so the only danger should be from dorks buying from a  post office before 
>July 1 and using them realllly late in the year (5 to 6  months later).  or from 
>a manager that is still trying to  squeeze the best return out of their 
>on-hand supply.
> 
>it's up to all of us to educate the  less-knowledgeable.  W3UR has a good 
>article in his column  in the June 2006 QST about ircs.  Hopefully, other other 
>international  organizations will pick up the ball too.   and maybe a mention 
>on the  various reflectors and clusters wouldn't be out of order.  i see more  
>newbie dxers using them every day. 
> 
>hmm, i know it's extra work, but an additional stuffer NOW from  managers 
>might help avoid end-of-year problems (steve, bob, joe and a whole  mess of guys 
>are muttering at me right now).  maybe a subtle reminder that  the ircs the 
>guy just sent won't be valid after 12/31/06, etc etc.
> 
>Maybe the new ones won't have an expiration date and we won't have to worry  
>about this next time (yeah, right).  well, that's enough of my 2 cents (or  
>one old style irc) for now.  let's go work some  dx!
>
> 
>73 de Steve, KZ2I
>Charlotte,  NC
>
>"Don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you've got...till it's gone." from Big Yellow Taxi (Joni Mitchell) but also true about QSL.NET if more users don't open their wallets and help financially. Please contribute TODAY !!
>