[Dx-qsl] IRC's question

[Tom Anderson]

Ed:

Just before the older smaller IRCs and the former issue large IRCs expired I contacted my local Colleyville TX 76034, post office and ended up with the postmaster since he was the only person knowledgeable about IRC's.  No one else seemed to know about them since they didn't sell many of them.  

He was able to help me tremendously at redeeming all of the old and new IRCs I had received from a DXpedition i had been on in 2006.  I received every bit of value for new 84 cent (the USA Airmail postage then) airmail stamps that I was entitiled to.  He even gave me "change" I was due in 1 cent stamps.  What I did though was set up an appointment with him since I had about 200 of them to redeem just a week before they expired.

That postmaster did everything he could to make sure my IRCs were redeemed properly and even researched the IRC subject thoroughly in the International Mail Manual. He was nice enough too to handle the transaction personally rather than pass it off to a clerk who might not know what IRCs were all about. He gave me a complete itemization of the number of IRCs I brought in, their value in then 84 cent stamps, and my "change" in 1 cent stamps.  Can't ask for much better service than that.  He even admitted that most postal clerks weren't that familiar with them since they didn't sell that many in my town.  But he had taken the time to properly research the subject to make sure I was treated fairly and correctly.    

The key thing at most post offices is finding the right person who is familiar with them or will take the time to research them in the International Mail Manual. 

I had gone to the DFW Airport USPS Airmail Facility which usually handles most airmail letters into and out of the Dallas/Fort Worth area and the two clerks there didn't know a thing about IRCs.  

73 de Tom, WW5L 


--- On Wed, 11/5/08, Ed Swiderski, KU4BP <ku4bp at triad.rr.com> wrote:

> From: Ed Swiderski, KU4BP <ku4bp at triad.rr.com>
> Subject: [Dx-qsl] IRC's question
> To: "DX-QSL" <dx-qsl at mailman.qth.net>
> Date: Wednesday, November 5, 2008, 9:34 AM
> I have just returned from my local Post Office to get some
> IRC's and left
> somewhat dumbfounded. I went to the counter to ask if they
> had any IRC's and
> the person I spoke with told me that they are not issuing
> them any more due
> to the new rates. 
> 
> I found this hard to believe and was wondering if anyone
> else has heard this
> also or maybe it is just local. 
> 
> 
> Ed KU4BP
> 
> 
> 
> Don't it always seem to go that you don't know what
> you've got...till it's gone. 
> 
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