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From: YOUNG@MARLBORO.DEC.COM
Newsgroups: net.ham-radio
Subject: Greenstamps VS IRCs
Message-ID: <2850@brl-tgr.ARPA>
Date: Tue, 5-Nov-85 10:04:29 EST
Article-I.D.: brl-tgr.2850
Posted: Tue Nov  5 10:04:29 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 8-Nov-85 07:08:39 EST
Sender: news@brl-tgr.ARPA
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The question of IRCs versus dollars is, unfortunately, not simple.  The
best one depends on what country you are QSLing to.  For example:

When sending a QSL to VU you should use IRCs because it is illegal for
Indians to have American Dollars, and you could get them in BIG trouble.

ZL hams are also not supposed to receive dollars.

In Australia, an American Dollar is not sufficient for air mail postage.

In 3D6, it takes lots of IRCs to buy an air mail stamp (I think 5).  If
you work one of the missionaries, you can send a dollar instead, and it
will cost you less and give him more.

In Ecuador, at the moment it is possible to buy IRCs but not to turn them
in!  You are better off sending a dollar (which they can change to sucres)
if you want a card.

If you are a foreign ham sending to the US, and you have access to IRCs and
to dollars, you should send either $1.00 or 2 IRCs, whichever is cheaper.
The post office charges 65 cents for an IRC, and returns 35 cents.  However,
most hams who receive IRCs don't turn them in; they re-use them, or they
sell them to other hams at some price between 35 and 65 cents.

The best thing to do usually is to ask the other ham what he prefers, if
in doubt send IRCs (you can get the correct number of IRCs from a list in
the Callbook).

				Paul Young, K1XM
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