There's nothing unethical about this process! The manager gets loads of
IRCs and replies to the cards via airmail, as would be expected. But, rather
than redeeming them at the Post Office for $0.80 (in the US), he/she sells
them for face value or a slight markup (I've seen them go for $0.80-$1.10
recently) to other DXers as a service. That way, DXers get the IRCs at a
significant discount compared to Post Office prices and the manager gets
what he would have if he had redeemed them at the Post Office, or possibly a
slight profit that can be rolled into printing more QSL cards or other
operating expenses.
I haven't purchased an IRC from the Post Office since the early 1970s,
when they were considerably less expensive. I've never redeemed an IRC at
the Post Office. I've been buying them from QSL managers for years. They
simply continue making the rounds as a sort of currency. The new IRCs have
an expiration date which will somewhat short circuit this wonderful process.
I certainly appreciate the efforts of Derek and other QSL managers for
selling IRCs back to the DX community.

Regards,

Rich Eckman KO4MR
Hampton, VA
--

"Dee D. Flint" wrote in message
gy.com...

"Derek Wills" wrote in message
...
I'm looking to buy some IRC's. I'm mainly interested in
the new larger size ones. Does anyone have some to sell?

Best bet is the Post Office. Though in some areas you'll
have to get them to special order them.

I disagree - why pay $1.75 at the PO when QSL managers will
sell them for 80c to $1 each? The poster did the right
thing by asking here. Also try QSL managers of recent
expeditions or managers of busy stations. I sold my last
lot for 80c each, but now that I'm not an active manager
I'm hanging on to my last 100 or so for my own QSLing.


And where do the QSL managers get them so cheap? From hams who send them?
Why aren't the QSL managers using them as intended, that is to send a QSL
direct to the ham that provided that IRC and the envelope. Are the QSL
managers keeping the IRCs and sending the QSLs via the bureau? That would
be quite unethical.

One of the perks of being a QSL manager is that you get a
steady supply of IRCs, but I wouldn't do it just for that!


There shouldn't be any IRCs left over for the manager. The hams who send
them are doing so to get direct QSL responses. So how do you have an
excess??

Dee D. Flint, N8UZE