Help needed from other Autograph collectors in Germany

[Claudi]

Hi @ all,

I would love to start collecting autographs and already send out some requests to the US with International Reply Coupons. I am little bit confused about all the ways to get stamps etc I definately prefer the IRC and would like to use only them but there are some open questions:

How many IRC should I include for US / UK or Canada? It seems as 1 is not enough
I read that the IRC should be stamped for US requests?
I also heard that in UK they can not use them at all

What are your experiences? Is it better to include Dollars / Pounds etc.? I would highly appreciate the help from other collectors here in Germany.

Thank you so much in advance & best regards
Claudi

[kimmylee]

Hi @ all,

I would love to start collecting autographs and already send out some requests to the US with International Reply Coupons. I am little bit confused about all the ways to get stamps etc I definately prefer the IRC and would like to use only them but there are some open questions:

How many IRC should I include for US / UK or Canada? It seems as 1 is not enough
I read that the IRC should be stamped for US requests?
I also heard that in UK they can not use them at all

What are your experiences? Is it better to include Dollars / Pounds etc.? I would highly appreciate the help from other collectors here in Germany.

Thank you so much in advance & best regards
Claudi

I am not a German collector but I have been answering the same kinds of questions here for years

You need to check the websites of USPS, Royal Mail and Canada Post to get prices for your item to Germany. All have price calculators and charts. Use a ruler/tape measure and weighing scales to get a rough idea.

Each IRC is good for the cost of an airmail letter up to 20g.

So for example:

The price of your item will be $2.00
A 20g/1 ounce letter to Germany from US is $1.10
You will need to include 2 IRC's to cover the cost.

When you buy the IRC's your post office clerk needs to stamp (ink not paper) a box on the IRC.

This picture link Click here refers to Italy but you get the idea. See the box with IT on the left. That needs to be stamped (ink not paper) by your post office. As in this picture Click here The other box gets stamped by the country it's being redeemed in. Nothing for you to worry about.

A good FAQ on IRC's is here Click

Here in the UK (and an increasing number of countries) IRC's are no longer for sale.

This does not effect the redemption on those countries since it is mandatory to accept them in exchange for postage, just not mandatory to sell them.

[Homer_S]

Hi Claudi!

I always buy stamps. It´s a good way for me! And here is a good online store in germany:
http://www.frankaturware.com/

Maybe you will try?

Here is a postage price list, which is always updated:
http://www.autogramme-briefmarken.de/ep ... rtotabelle

I hope it´s a good help for you!

Good luck and many successes!

Homer_S

[Claudi]

Thank you so much kimmylee and homer_s for your answer! I also bought stamps from frankaturware but I thought the IRC are easier to handle. In Germany you can only buy them online without a stamp and unfortunately the post office clerks do not have any information of it or know how to use them. On the official homepage there is no information about stamping them "just include it in your envelope".

I already send some requests in November 2014 to the Cast of the walking dead including only 1 IRC without a stamp (I had no idea before) - maybe I will send them once again with an SASE.

So I suppose it is much more better to buy the stamps for each country I can´t wait to receive my first autograph back It is so exciting!!!

[Homer_S]

If you send the stamps, the "Star" doesn´t need to buy stamps...

I´m curious about your successes!

[Claudi]

Thank you Homer_S

[kreecher]

IRCs, as stated on them: "This coupon is exchangeable in any country of the Universal Postal Union for the minimum postage for an unregistered priority item or an unregistered letter sent by air to a foreign country".

This means, that 1 IRC covers 1 letter of up to 20 g. It doesn't matter how much does it cost. If the letter is up to 20 g, 1 IRC is enough. If the letter is 21g or more, you will need 2 IRCs. Normally, 1 envelope 16,2 x 11,4 + 2 photos 10x15 inside are up to 20 g, so you may use 1 IRC.

The IRCs in Germany may be bought only via Internet and you receive them per mail. There is no possibility to by them at the post office directly over the counter. IRCs arrive NOT stamped. This is "facultative" or "not obligatory". However, you may do this at any post office, as they explained me in the customers support of the e-Filiale. I didn't do that and used some IRCs already. Successfully. Everything arrived back.
I hope this helped.