[Dx-qsl] when to use IRCs

[BILLK3WI at aol.com]

Looks like all sides of this issue have been discussed and like most I'm  
whittling down my remaining supply. 
 
Over the past several months however,  I have switched to using mint  stamps 
in my QSLing efforts. I have found that in most cases the cost of these  are 
approximately $1.50 or less (with the exception of Germany and a few  others) 
which although more expensive than discounted IRC's, is cheaper  than the post 
office and or 2 GS. It also eliminates the issue of when  to stop sending the 
current version of IRC. Additionally, waiting for the  new version of IRC to 
be issued and then subsequently working its way  through the "QSL manager 
discount distribution channel" is also a non  starter.
 
I have in the past and will in the future (after the new version is  out) 
purchase IRC's  from many of those who post them here  for sale. As has been 
mentioned, they're kind of a necessary  evil, in the interim however, I'll pay the 
25c or so above the discounted  price to eliminate the anxiety whether my IRC 
will be usable when its gets to  where its going. Especially when the average 
turn time for many cards is 3  months or more.
 
There are provisos and the 3 that would appear to be obvious:  1) to get the 
QSL only requires 1 GS and 2) when stamps from the  returning country are not 
available and 3) when the QSL info says GS only
 
As a result of exchange rates and other considerations,  stamps  as a 
short/long term alternative to the IRC dilemma may not be the way  to go for non 
stateside DXers. 
 
If in doubt, send an email if possible, to the QSL manager  or station  
requesting guidance.
If you don't get an email response.... well that's a whole other  reflector 
discussion. 
 
 
Finally, I like the idea of a universal stamp, but heck the metric  system 
can't even gain universal acceptance. 
 
Oh well...
 
73,
 
Bill
K3WI