January 2012 U. S. Postal Increases Includes Ten Cent Hike on IRCs For those of you who routinely use IRCs, or International Reply Coupons, for your QSLing needs, there was a ten cent hike in the cost of those instuments effective January 22, 2012. The price for United States purchasers is now $2.20.
In as much as most post offices don't sell these often, current stock of the $2.10 instruments are being sold along with an extra $0.10 stamp to be afixed over the left-hand side cancellation block. Some postal clerks may not be aware of this requirement and may sell the IRC at the face value. Be aware that the stamp needs to be afixed over the upper right corner of the LEFT cancellation block BEFORE the clerk cancels the instrument. Failure to do so may result in foreign postal offices refusing the coupon, ergo delaying your much needed QSL card.
USPS site reference: http://about.usps.com/postal-bulleti...l/info_003.htm
Current USPS regulations, however, only authorize redemption of foreign IRCs at the old $0.98 rate per instrument, which means that U.S. Amateurs redeeming foreign IRCs will have to add $0.07 in U.S. postage to return QSLs from U.S. territory to overseas destinations.
Just one more thing to add to the cost of being a Ham!
73
Steve, K4YZ
