[Dx-qsl] Re: redeeming IRCs

[Mike Lazaroff]

I can vouch for what Fred recommends here.  I live in a small town (+/-
1000 people) and with the 31 Dec 2006 expiration date rapidly approaching,
I decided to round up the IRCs I had accumulated here serving as manager
for a couple DX stations.  Usually I take them to the post office across
the street from my office, as it is a much larger facility and a couple of
the clerks there are familiar with IRCs; in my town I suspected they would
not have any idea what to do with them.

Anyway, since I was off today I went in to the hometown post office with 39
large and 4 small IRCs.  I know the three clerks who were in the office. 
After the usual pleasantries, I asked them if they were familiar with
International Reply Coupons.  One said that she had heard of them 25 or 30
years ago but had never actually seen one.  The other two said, "what are
those?"  I explained what they were and said it was covered in Section 372
of the IMM.  After they looked it up, in just a few minutes I walked out
with forty-three 84c stamps.  They didn't say anything about some of them
being stamped and some not.

Now that expiration dates are being printed on IRCs, I'll bet a lot more
post offices are becoming familiar with them!  :)

73 and good DX,

Mike K3AIR




> [Original Message]
> From: Alfred Laun <hs0zar at gmail.com>
> To: <dx-qsl at mailman.qth.net>
> Date: 11/22/2006 8:18:21 PM
> Subject: Re: [Dx-qsl] Re: redeeming IRCs
>
> If you're a frequent patron of the USPS it helps to develop a social
> relationship with the clerks at your local station.  Every now and
> again our postal district has a "customer appreciation day" day where
> they set up a table in the lobby, serve cake and soft drinks and
> regional officials are present to listen to your queries and special
> problems.
>
> So I asked one of the regional officials if it wouldn't also be
> possible to express my appreciation for the excellent service given to
> me by a particular clerk, explaining that I had had a PO Box at this
> same station for 25 years and was very pleased with the overall
> service.  The regional official was delighted and asked me to point
> out the clerk in question.  So I took him over to the guy who always
> knew everything about IRCs, could always come up with airmail stamps
> for overseas when other clerks could find them, etc.  With my special
> clerk beaming with pride I explained to the official that "this guy
> knows everything" and went on to describe the ways he had helped me
> over the years.  As a result when he retired I got invited to his
> retirement party.
>
> His niece is now chief of the clerks at the service counter.  Do you
> think I get excellent service every time I go in or what?..
>
> 73, Fred Laun, K3ZO.
>
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