[amsat-bb] Re: IRC's to be discontinued

[Rick Tejera]

It took working my up from desk clerk to supervisor to manager before I got someone at the Scottsdale Airpark PO who even knew what they were. 

ThenI was told they don't carry them anymore.

I get mine online. 

That being said, I think I've gotten one QSL back from a card sent with an IRC. Much better return with Greenstamps. I fold them an put them in the return envelope with the card and a blank piece of card stock. I also make sure no call sign or anything else that looks "Hammy" does not appear on the envelope.

That reminds me, gotta get few cards out...

73
Rick Tejera K7TEJ
Saguaro Astronomy Club
www.saguaroastro.org
Thunderbird Amatuer Radio Club
www.w7tbc.org



Jim Bennett <jlb3nn at bellsouth.net> wrote:

>John,
>Thanks for the heads up on this.  When I started sending off QSLs I wasn't
>able to get them at my local PO.  So I asked them to get them in.  They did,
>but when I needed them again, they didn't have them and I was told that they
>would not stock them anymore.  So, I went to the PO next to the airport.  An
>International Airport.  And I was able to get them then.  Then I ran out and
>went back and was told that they were not going to stock them and didn't
>know where I could get them.  I did find them on line.  And it was a real
>plus being able to get them online. 
>
>It appears that the US PO is trying to phase them out.
>
>I will follow and post a comment on the site you mention.
>
>Thanks for your dedication to the sats and ham radio.
>
>Jim, Ke4kol
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: amsat-bb-bounces at amsat.org [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces at amsat.org] On
>Behalf Of John Papay
>Sent: Thursday, November 08, 2012 2:46 PM
>To: amsat-bb at amsat.org
>Subject: [amsat-bb] IRC's to be discontinued
>
>The ARRL Letter dated November 8th has an item
>about the USPS proposing to discontinue the sale
>of IRC's here in the United States.  If you are
>sending for a QSL card to many countries, the alternative
>compensation, American dollar bills, are likely to be stolen by
>a postal worker.  Your card never makes it and you don't
>get one back.  IRC's can only be exchanged for stamps so the
>likelihood of them being stolen is lessened.
>
>IRC's are available at usps.com so there is no need to have
>them stocked or ordered at a local post office.  It costs
>literally nothing to have them in the online store.  If the
>sale of IRC's is discontinued here in the US, you will have to
>buy them from another country.  IRC's must be exchanged for
>postage by Universal Postal Union member countries but there
>is no requirement that they be sold in member countries.
>
>There is a link in the ARRL Letter that goes to a site where you
>can file comments regarding the proposal.  The URL is
>http://www.regulations.gov/#!submitComment;D=USPS-2012-0101-0001
>
>I did that and made the case for retaining them in the usps.com
>store only. Please consider doing the same so we don't have to
>buy them overseas.
>
>73,
>John K8YSE  
>
>_______________________________________________
>Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
>Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program!
>Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
>
>_______________________________________________
>Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
>Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program!
>Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb