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

"Richard Eckman" wrote in message
news:ym4Kb.34762$F22.17774@lakeread02...
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.

Some one bought them at post office prices originally. And somewhere along
the line the QSL manager has to buy postage. If he is buying postage for
$0.80 and selling the IRCs for $1 that is probably illegal.

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.


Since they were never intended to be "currency" this is probably illegal and
no doubt one of several reasons that expiration dates are now put on them.

Dee D. Flint, N8UZE

I would seriously doubt that there is any law (in the US) that makes this
practice illegal. Amateur radio operators are hardly the only group that
barters IRCs. Do a Google search on "International Reply Coupons Barter" and
you'll see that this is a very common practice. I'm worried about a lot of
things, but not about a visit from the Post Office Police!

Rich Eckman KO4MR
Hampton, VA



--

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

"Richard Eckman" wrote in message
news:ym4Kb.34762$F22.17774@lakeread02...
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.

Some one bought them at post office prices originally. And somewhere
along
the line the QSL manager has to buy postage. If he is buying postage for
$0.80 and selling the IRCs for $1 that is probably illegal.

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.


Since they were never intended to be "currency" this is probably illegal
and
no doubt one of several reasons that expiration dates are now put on them.

Dee D. Flint, N8UZE

On Sun, 4 Jan 2004 22:22:33 -0500, "Richard Eckman"
wrote:

I would seriously doubt that there is any law (in the US) that makes this
practice illegal. Amateur radio operators are hardly the only group that
barters IRCs. Do a Google search on "International Reply Coupons Barter" and
you'll see that this is a very common practice. I'm worried about a lot of
things, but not about a visit from the Post Office Police!

Rich Eckman KO4MR
Hampton, VA

For that matter, is there even a law that says I can't buy
$0.37 stamps at the PO and sell them for a buck? It certainly doesn't
seem to be a problem for third party stamp machines that take a cut
for the convenience of not having to go to the PO.

On Sun, 4 Jan 2004 22:22:33 -0500, "Richard Eckman"
wrote:

I would seriously doubt that there is any law (in the US) that makes this
practice illegal. Amateur radio operators are hardly the only group that
barters IRCs. Do a Google search on "International Reply Coupons Barter" and
you'll see that this is a very common practice. I'm worried about a lot of
things, but not about a visit from the Post Office Police!

Rich Eckman KO4MR
Hampton, VA

For that matter, is there even a law that says I can't buy
$0.37 stamps at the PO and sell them for a buck? It certainly doesn't
seem to be a problem for third party stamp machines that take a cut
for the convenience of not having to go to the PO.

Dee D. Flint wrote:

If he is buying postage for $0.80 and selling the IRCs for $1 that is probably illegal.
....
Since they were never intended to be "currency" this is probably illegal


What!!! That's an outrage! We better shock and awe before they develop
nuclear weapons.


WA7AA

--

Anti-spam measu look me up on qrz.com if you need to reply directly

On Mon, 05 Jan 2004 03:09:39 GMT, "Dee D. Flint"
wrote:

Some one bought them at post office prices originally. And somewhere along
the line the QSL manager has to buy postage. If he is buying postage for
$0.80 and selling the IRCs for $1 that is probably illegal.

Dee Dee. Scurry on back over to QRZ.Com and argue with the repeater
geeks, where your inexperience with ham radio doesn't stick out so
much, like it does here.

You been smokin' RG59 again?

73, Jim KH2D

wrote in message
...
On Mon, 05 Jan 2004 03:09:39 GMT, "Dee D. Flint"
wrote:

Some one bought them at post office prices originally. And somewhere
along
the line the QSL manager has to buy postage. If he is buying postage for
$0.80 and selling the IRCs for $1 that is probably illegal.

Dee Dee. Scurry on back over to QRZ.Com and argue with the repeater
geeks, where your inexperience with ham radio doesn't stick out so
much, like it does here.

You been smokin' RG59 again?

73, Jim KH2D


While I may not be knowledgeable on the subject of IRCs, if you will check
the FCC database, you will find that I have been an Extra class operator
since 1993. I have a good bit of experience with ham radio overall just not
with IRCs. So check your facts before slinging mud.

Dee D. Flint, N8UZE

On Tue, 06 Jan 2004 03:00:26 GMT, "Dee D. Flint"
wrote:


While I may not be knowledgeable on the subject of IRCs......

Obviously. Now run on back over to QRZ.com and argue with the
Morse Code Monkeys.

73, Jim KH2D

wrote in message
...
On Tue, 06 Jan 2004 03:00:26 GMT, "Dee D. Flint"
wrote:


While I may not be knowledgeable on the subject of IRCs......

Obviously. Now run on back over to QRZ.com and argue with the
Morse Code Monkeys.

73, Jim KH2D


I have no need to argue with them. I passed my 20wpm over 10 years ago.

Dee D. Flint, N8UZE