[Dx-qsl] Using IRCs bought from QSL managers

[VR2BrettGraham]

K1NU asked:

>Two things you need to watch for when using 'recirculated' IRCs:
>
>1) You can't send an IRC from country "Foo" to someone IN country Foo. I
>believe they are not exchangeable. For example, I can't take a US IRC that I
>bought at the PO, and redeem it at another US PO. Only someone in another
>country can redeem it.
>2) Remember that many countries have different "minimum" rates to different
>areas of the world, and often the IRC is exchangeable only for the lowest.
>So, for example, if you send a Fredonia IRC to someone in Sylvania, the
>Sylvania person may only be able to exchange it for a stamp to Fredonia,
>which may NOT be enough to send the card to the US.
>
>Therefore (by #2) I try to use my Japan/Australia IRCs for European managers
>and vice versa.
>
>At least, these are the rules I have always used. Fellow listers, am I
>correct?

1. No: "Reply coupons shall be exchangeable in any
member country...." Article RL 142 (3).

Note that it does not say "in any other member
country", it says "any".

2. No. Article RL 142 (3) continues: "...for postage
stamps, and if not precluded by the internal
legislation of the country of exchange, for postal
stationary or postal prepayment marks or
impressions representing the minimum postage
prepayable on an unregistered priority letter-post
item or an unregistered airmail letter sent abroad,
whatever the country of destination."

Commentary 142.3 mentions that where there is
an agreement for "reduced charges" between the
country where the IRC is redeemed & the country
the item is to be posted to, the IRC is to be
redeemed for the value of postage to countries
where there is no such agreement.

Commentary 142.3 further says: "International
reply coupons will be exchangeable for postage
stamps representing the value of the highest
charge fixed for airmail letters or priority letters
for abroad."

With UPU membership, one's country enjoys the
benefits of international post, but with that
membership comes obligations & when it comes
to IRCs, the UPU Letter Manual is the ultimate
authority.  Please do not accept mistreatment of
IRCs & by all means, please do not help propagate
incorrect information about them, as they have the
effect of reducing the usefulness of the IRC for us
all.

http://www.upu.int/acts/en/2_letter_en.pdf

73 & HLNY, VR2BrettGraham.