Many U.S. post offices are fine when it comes to buying IRC's but
when it comes to exchanging one for stamps, forget it......

I've gotten my best, fastest return QSL results using Bill Plum's foreign
postage stamps. He is quick to turn around an order. I usually go in on an
order with a friend of mine who's a DXer, so we save a bit on p/h charges
too.

I've gotten cards from Europe and Asia as quick as two weeks by using return
foreign postage. Since I don't always "need" a card that quickly, though, I
send most of mine through the bureau.

Jackie