[SEDXC] IRC's

[Mike, ND4V]

The current Bejing model 2 IRCs will expire December 31, 2009.  The DX club
still has a small stock of these guys that we need to get into circulation.
If you can find them at a postoffice, the official price is $2.10.  The DX
club sells them for $2.00 (each).  Incidentally, if you're a collector, we
have two of the 100 anniversary model.
 
The IRC is not a product of the US Postal Service, rather the Universal
Postal Union produces and distributes the IRC's to countries who have agreed
to be bound by the postal treaty.  This may explain why you get puzzled
looks from the postal clerks when you ask for them.  And for heaven's sake,
don't try to convince them that the price isn't $1.85.  If they insist on
putting stamps on them to bring the "marked" price to $2.10,  it won't hurt
(this was a procedure use years and years ago that won't die).  
 
Trivia time, The original Ponzi Scheme involved buying IRC's cheaply in one
country and selling them higher in another.  Too bad the spread didn't make
it a profitable venture. 
 
W3UR in his April QST column suggests that one should not send them to DX
stations/managers after September in order that folks on the other end have
time to exchange them for postage.
 
I know that after this week end, you will all probably want some, so I'll
have them at the SEDX meeting on Wednesday or the GARS meeting next month.
 
Mike, ND4V
404-431-0195 Cell
770-246-0083 Office
 
more info at   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/international_reply_coupon