[Dx-qsl] More old US IRCs exchanged @ USPS today

[Alan Zack]

In my experience my suburb's Main P.O. wouldn't even take IRC's.  They 
sent me to what they called the Intl P.O. at the Las Vegas airport (not 
that it is any different than any other P.O.).  Once there it took six 
people to get involved on how to cash in my IRC's.  I used the print out 
provided by Patrick since they were not able to find the info on their 
own researching their manual for 30 minutes while they had me stand off 
to the side as not to stop the line from moving.  All went fine with the 
larger IRC's, they gave me 84 cent stamps for each IRC I presented but 
told me the older, smaller ones were expired.  On Patrick's printout it 
stated they could still be redeemed and they finally agreed.  Then it 
came time to enter the transaction into their computer.  All 6 people 
had their own way of doing it but their system would not accept their 
inputs.  FINALLY, someone went to the Intl postage sales section and 
figured out how to track the transaction.  They could have let me leave 
after handing me the 84 cent stamps but made me hang around until their 
computer accepted the transaction.  Don't ask me why!

The good part was that they had a good supply of the brand new IRC's so 
I was able to buy a stack.

My local Bof A had about 600 dollars in brand new, unused 2 dollar bills 
in their vault.  I bought $200 worth so some of you DX stations who take 
GS will start seeing some of my 2 dollar bills with my QSL's.

73

Patrick STODDARD wrote:

>Hi Peter!
>
>  
>
>>Yesterday I received a QSL request from an EA-land ham with an 
>>2006-style IRC for postage. Not wanting to put it back into 
>>circulation this late in the game I went to my local post office to 
>>exchange it for a single solitary 84 cent stamp. The vacant stares I 
>>was greeted with by *all* the clerks was an ominous sign.
>>    
>>
>
>That's why I bring along a printout of their manual and bulletin,
>in case I get that reaction.  I know IRCs are something not seen
>much in US post offices, but the topic is well documented in USPS
>manuals and bulletins.  
>
>  
>
>>I then had to call forth the branch manager to explain what *should* 
>>happen. IMM is eventually consulted and "all's well that ends well." 
>>By this time I'm getting snide remarks being made from those waiting 
>>in line, etc. YMMV, etc, but I don't think I'll be doing this again, 
>>at least not at that branch.
>>    
>>
>
>Frankly, I don't care what the others in line are saying about me,
>when I am at the post office.  I can't count how many times I've 
>waited because someone had a complex issue they were dealing with, 
>that held up the line for a long time.  And don't forget those that 
>aren't ready with their forms filled out and packages sealed, before 
>approaching the clerks.  Then there are people on their cell phones, 
>something that infuriates the clerks out here...
>
>I figure that, if I bring the additional paperwork with my IRCs, that 
>cuts down the time I'm dealing with the clerks.  I try my best to 
>have everything in order before I see a clerk, whether it is with the
>IRCs or when I send my "care packages" to my Argentine friends once 
>or twice a year (Express Mail label, Customs documents including 
>special information written in Spanish on the Customs documentation
>to get duty-free treatment down there).  
>
>>From here on out, any IRC I receive that does not expire in 2009 
>gets exchanged ASAP at a post office.  Even ones from the US.  I
>don't want to get caught with them if there is a change in policy
>where USPS doesn't want to deal with their own pre-2002 IRCs in 
>the future.  I have 4 of the 2009 IRCs at home, all from Japan, 
>that I won't worry about for a while.  
>
>73!
>
>
>
>Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK 
>http://www.wd9ewk.net/
>
>
>
>
>  
>

-- 
Alan Zack
Amateur Radio Station K7ACZ
Official USCG Auxiliary Comm Station
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Delta Rocket Quality Engineer, The Boeing Company, Retired
Aviation Chief Warrant Officer,  U.S. Coast Guard, Retired
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