International Reply Coupons

[autograph-collector]

I have been collecting for a long time, but I have never sent to the UK , and I really really want Aaron Johnson's autograph. All I am going to send is a LOR and a sase. My question is on the envelope to him do i put a irc there? Also where do I place it? And on the Sase inside do I just like paperclip it to it or what? Also I will not put any U.S stamps anywhere, right? Thanks so much I am new to sending to different countries so thanks agaain..

[dfreely]

The IRC should not be attached to anything, it just goes in the main envelope like the LOR and SAE.

You can use US stamps to send the main envelope to the UK, as you usually would with domestic mail.

[RYAN J.]

Actually if you'd like, you can just send cash. I do this all the time when sending over to the U.K. and have gotten back many successes. $2.00 is good. if your requesting an 8x10 then $3.00 would be better. Most celebs make their way over to USA sooner or later and they can always carry the cash with them to buy things when they visit.

RYAN J.

[dfreely]

If you're going to send cash, you might as well send nothing at all, since you would get the success back either way. It's a rather improbable possibility that a celebrity would actually hold onto a couple bucks they get from fanmail to spend when or if they come over to the States. When you're sending them IRCs/stamps/money, you're telling them to use it for the required postage, and by sending something they can't easily use, you're unintentionally creating a hassle for them.

[RYAN J.]

Sending the Cash at least let's them know you care enough to provide some means of having them reply. & I don't see it as a hassle, I've gotten several replies back thanking me for including the cash as a means of paying postage and that they were more than happy to sign my photos.

RYAN J.

[dfreely]

I guess whether or not it's a hassle can be arguable depending on their own style and often they actually come to America, but what it comes down to is this:
You can send cash to show that you care enough and you may or may not be creating a hassle.
You can send stamps or IRCs to show that you care enough and create a convenience.

And really, if you're getting replies thanking you for cash, we should all be getting thank you notes for stamps and IRCs.

[packrat]

I personally doubt that the celebrity would actually go to the post office and stand in line to get stamps for TTM returns. The stamps are probably coming from the agency. I can see, however, that it could be a wash to either send cash or IRCs, since it is probably going to the agency anyway to replentish their supply of stamps. I'm far from an expert on this subject, I'll admit.

Myself, I'm getting ready to send overseas next month and have found a stamp dealer in my hometown who sells UK stamps. I plan to go that route instead of cash or IRCs. I figure that would be the most convenient way to go.

[dfreely]

I would think it boils down to the celebrities themselves. People I know have spotted celebrities at post offices, and they're always sending me stupid giddy text and picture messages when it happens. I'm sure bigger celebrities would use assistants, though I'd assume a lot of them handle their mail just like everyone else.

It also seems unlikely that talent agencies would actually hold a large stock of stamps, especially to pass out to their clients, since they probably use business-level services provided by USPS or one of their partners. The agency would also need to open and check the fanmail to actually know if stamps are needed, and I know not all of them do that.

But whatever the circumstance, stamps are indeed the most convenient way to go.. in that case, it can usually just be dropped off in a collection box/collected by the postman/etc.

[dobie516]

I had been using IRC's for years and have gotten a fair share of replies. Now that I've gotten UK stamps, through trading on here, my responses have been more frequent and faster. I've never sent cash.