Does the U.S. Postal Service still make or use IRCs?

[snazz123]

Hello. I went to three U.S. Postal locations in New Hampshire in March, 2009. Each one either said the U.S. Postal Service no longer provides IRCs or they just didn't carry them.

Has anyone been able to purchase IRCs in 2009 at your Post Office in the United States?

Thanks,
SNazz123

[dfreely]

I think it's up to each post office whether or not they carry IRCs, but the main post office in an area should always have them.

[Phoebe]

IRCs are still made and used, but as you have experienced already, only certain branches (usually the larger ones) of the post office sell them.

Good luck!

Phoebe

[EastendersFan]

Congratulations Pheobe on becoming a TM. I knew you would very soon. You help out so much

[Phoebe]

Thanks EastendersFan - very kind of you!

[khackdrums]

Yes, the USPS still sells IRC's, but as already said usually only the larger branches carry them. When you ask for them, they usually don't know what your talking about. The reason why is because noone really uses them much anymore, besides collectors like us If they do know they carry them, they usually don't know the code to ket in the price. It gets aggravating sometimes, but they learn slowely.

Khackdrums

[Chrissy]

This is the issue with IRC's

The thing is, IRC's are not very much seek out. A lot of post offices know that and know that they do not sell many. This is why many post offices in the U.S.A have taken them from the selling list this year 2009. You'll have to contact the branch before going to ask if they sell them. Like anything, if they do not sell enough, they assume people are no longer interested in them.

If you can't find IRC's check out our trading forum! There are people there you can buy them from.

Good luck!

Chrissy {thumb2}

[snazz123]

Well, thanks to each of you for the IRC feedback. This may sound small to many of you but one Post Office I visited is in a town of about 40,000 - the others were much smaller - but they had no clue. Anyway, it is good to know that this may still be an option - that is, getting IRCs.

Now I need to understand one more concept. Let's say to send a large envelope from the U.S. to the U.K. it costs $3.00 in U.S. Dollars. How does one know how much the IRCs should cost? Postal rates can vary widely as do currency exchange issues. How does one know who to make sure the IRCs more than cover the return postal costs. I can't get my head around how this is executed. Thanks in advance!

SNazz123

[EastendersFan]

When i went to the post office for the first time to get IRCs they didnt know how many i needed because they didnt know the exchange rate from other countries. So i had to predict how many i needed.

I dont know if this is what you mean though

[snazz123]

Yes, indeed, that's exactly what I mean! It's easy to look up the current exchange rates amongst currencies but knowing what they charge for a certain weight of an item and/or a certain class of postage (Airmail, by boat, etc.) is impossible to know hence my questions to you all. In a current scenario of mine I simply sent $10 in U.S. currency for an item that cost me $3 in U.S. currency to send to the U.K. with the hope that I sent more than enough funds to cover returning the item to me. And, I hope the lack of IRC didn't cause the party in question a huge inconvenience.

SNazz123