Postage Question (I.R.C's)

[JamieLee]

Hi, I was just wondering if anyone would know the answer to this...

I send a Letter, 10"x8" Photo & Card-Backed SAE but my post office only had four I.R.C's so I only sent four off; does anyone know if this would be enough for a card-backed envelope (+ Photo - if responce) back to the from the ? As I normally do a minimum of six when doing a card-backed SAE.

It was to Angela Lansbury in Los Angeles, from London,

Thanks.

[TheCollector]

Hi JamieLee

Four IRCs should be plenty

I'll tell you why I am guessing you used an A4 card-backed envelope right?

If so you should only ever need a maximum of 3 IRCs to the get a reply back from the USA to the UK.

1 IRC is exchangeable for the minimum overseas airmail postage value in the country of receipt, so an IRC received in the USA is now (with the recent price increase!) worth 84c. This covers you for up to 1oz.

So with 3 IRCs you are covered up to at least 2oz (3 cents short of 3oz in fact) which should be plenty for a card backed 9x12" (A4) envelope.

The A4 card-backed envelopes I have had back recently from the USA have arrived with $1.70 on them (ie 3 IRCs), so don't waste your IRCs in future !!!!!

Hope this helps!

Ian

[JamieLee]

Thank you for straightening that up for me; I normally just send so many because I get worried that I wouldn't get anything back if I put too little in. But I'll send less from now on, thank you again for your help, Ian

[TheCollector]

No problem

Glad I could help

Ian

[simba]

How much is an IRC? I just bought a few and they were over $3.00 each in Canada. That seems like a lot if you have to use like 3

I bought them cause i wanted enough postage for a large envelope from the UK to Canada? Should I put all three?

[nowandagain]

How much is an IRC? I just bought a few and they were over $3.00 each in Canada. That seems like a lot if you have to use like 3

I bought them cause i wanted enough postage for a large envelope from the UK to Canada? Should I put all three?

Hi simba

The price of an IRC varies from country to country. For example, here in Australia it costs $2.50, whereas in the US it's $1.75 (if you do the currency conversions, it costs more in Australia than in the US.) In Canada they should cost $3.50 - which is VERY expensive (when converted to US currency that would be about $3.00 each!!!!!)

If you will ever be in the US in the near future, or know someone that will be/is in the US, maybe you could ask them to buy and send you some US stamps. It will be much cheaper than buying IRC's, especially considering how expensive they are in Canada (and I thought the ones in Australia were expensive enough!)

A large envelope will require a minimum of 2 IRC's, but 3 to be safe.

Good luck with your collecting

nowandagain [rockon]

[simba]

Ok...thanks.

For sending letters to the US I bought a bunch of US stamps from usps.com Is there any way to get UK stamps internationally?

[TheCollector]

Ok...thanks.

For sending letters to the US I bought a bunch of US stamps from usps.com Is there any way to get UK stamps internationally?

Hi simba

Unfortunately unless you can find any for sale on Ebay (or similar), or get a friend coming to the UK to get them for you, then no.

UK residents, British passport holders abroad, or British Naval, Army or Airforce employees stationed overseas can order stamps via the Royal Mail website: http://www.royalmail.com

Although domestic overseas buyers can buy "limited" numbers of stamps for the purpose of stamp-collecting, the UK postal service will not mail stamps to overseas buyers.

It seems a bit strange, but this is the case. If you order from their website it will look as if your order has been processed, but within 24 hours you will get an email to tell you the above!!!

Maybe the Royal Mail will get with the programme soon

Ian