The Tale of the elusive International Reply Coupon

[jonnyq]

So, now that I've begun my quest for IRCs (to get that Bill Nighy autograph overseas), I've had at least one tale to tell so far, and since this looks to be a long, drawn-out hunt, I thought I'd start by posting here...

My girlfriend, my father and I began by going to post offices in Staten Island, east Manhattan and Hauppauge, NY with confusing results:

Staten Island - "We don't sell them anymore, we can't order them."
Hauppauge - "We don't sell them anymore, nobody accepts them."
Manhattan - "We don't sell them anymore, and we can't order them, but we'll still accept them."

I decided that going through these hoops in person might not be so efficient.

So, I started calling individual branch post offices. I began by calling the branch in my home town, Lake Ronkonkoma.

"Hello, Post Office."
"Hi, I'm wondering if you have any International Reply Coupons available."
"Please hold, I'll transfer you to the window."

...

"Hello, Post Office."
"Hi, I'm wondering if you have any International Reply Coupons available."
"No, we don't sell those anymore."
"Can they be ordered?"
"No, not anymore."

Disheartened, I called several other post office branches, in vain hope, all of whom said, "They're no longer for sale."

In desperation, I called the USPS Main line at 1-800-ASK-USPS. The operator said that as of January, 2007, they are no available to consumers. When I asked about viable alternatives to the mythic IRC, he then checked with his supervisor, then came back on line, and said, "You're actually correct, they are available, the post office branch needs to requisition them from us. Tell them it's listed under 'International.'"

Forseeing what a problem this might be, I asked if I might have his name and/or direct line so that I could direct the local post office rep to contact him directly, but he just said, "Tell them to call the 1-800 number, the information is all here."

Okay.

So, I call the Ronkonkoma post office again...

"Hello, Post Office."
"Hi, my name is Jonathan. I just called a few minutes ago about International Reply Coupons. I called the main 1-800 help line, and they're reassured me that they can be requisitioned from them directly."
"Please hold."

...

"This is the window, can I help you?"
"Hi, yes, my name is Jonathan, I just called a few minutes ago about International Reply Coupons and was told that they are no longer for sale."
"That's right."
"Actually, I just spoke with the main 1-800 help line, and their supervisor checked and told me that can indeed be requisitioned from them, so I was wondering if I could obtain a few."
"We don't have any to sell."

...

"Yes, I realize that, but I'm wondering if they can be requisitioned. You see, consumers can't order those from them directly, they can only be obtained through the local post offices."
"Well, we don't have any."

...

"Yes, well, is there any way that you can requisition them?"
(*Audible sigh of impatience at the other end.*)

"My supervisor is on vacation and won't be back for several weeks. You can reach her then after July 20th."
"Okay, so I'll try and call back then? Thank you."
"Fine." (*practically slams the phone down on me.*)

Awesome.

Apparently, I was inconveniencing her beyond tolerance by requiring help. (Ah, those pesky customers in need...)

My quest for IRCs continue...

(Rumor has it that a post office in Farmingville has some IRCs... When I called and asked, the employee said, "Sure, they should have them at the window." "Really?" "Yeah." "Okay, then, thank you." So, we'll see if the myths are true...)

[Justinsdad]

You're a lot more patient than me, my man...

I just went to my local post office (Eminence, KY) and asked about them.

Now I'm on great terms with everyone at my post office, as a matter-of-fact, the ladies who regularly handle my route, if I see them in the morning, they'll let me know how much mail I have comig that afternoon. If it wasn't for those junk newspaper coupons everyone gets, I'd say I pay at least one person's salary up there.
Thinking I'd have a good chance of them hooking me up, I go in there and ask about them.

The response I got from the postmaster herself was pretty much, 'It looks like they're available, but I don't see how to order them'. then she starts reading directly from their handbook or catalog, and says the coupons can be stocked but there has to be enough demand for the individual post offices to stock them... Now I'm not sure how much hassle it would be to stock a couple papers that cost less than two dollars...I guess we all have those things that stink about our jobs, that someone who doesn't work there wouldn't understand how bad it is... maybe all these postal workers that go crazy and, well, 'postal', could be a result of having to track the damn things down!

I've given up on them. It's not worth it to me.
But good luck, nonetheless...
Clint

[Zorin]

That must be so annoying.
Well I hope you get them, I've been waiting on Billy Nighy for almost a year now.

[cernan]

That must be so annoying.
Well I hope you get them, I've been waiting on Billy Nighy for almost a year now.

Same. I have a request out to him dating back to August of 2006.

[Rockmadman2007]

Thats too bad. I'd hate that to happen to me. If i doesn't work in New York, i doubt it will work in Oklahoma.

Oh, well. I'm SOOOOOO glad i have relatives in the UK. I can call them up and ask if they could send me over some stamps or something. Then i'll pay 'em back later. I haven't done it yet, but.....you know.

[zenbird]

So, now that I've begun my quest for IRCs (to get that Bill Nighy autograph overseas), I've had at least one tale to tell so far, and since this looks to be a long, drawn-out hunt, I thought I'd start by posting here...

Staten Island - "We don't sell them anymore, we can't order them."

I was born and rasied in Staten Island.... This doesn't shock me. It's also a lie - they CAN order them, they just won't. Each branch orders IRC's based on the usage in the area - if nobody uses them, they don't order them. So it's a question of them being obstinate. ;)

I also tried five post offices near me (I now live near the Jersey shore) and finally found ONE that has them, but only at certain times can you buy them because they leave them locked in a safe, to which nobody has the key.

*sigh*

[mstrfisto]

I've been able to get them w/ no problem so far in Delaware. If you need some, I can purchase them for you in exchange for stamps or something. Just PM me if you are interested.

Good luck

[cowboys]

Wow what a hassle! I haven't had that much trouble getting IRCs in Australia!

Although I tend not to use them anymore - I find that the success rate I have had when I actually send SSAEs (thanks to stamps purchased on the US Post website) is much greater than I used to get when using IRCs.

However, I will have to purchase some soon as there are a couple of UK celebrities I want to write to, and the darn UK post website doesn't ship stamps internationally! That is so stupid :razz:

[Melindabear2002]

I've actually found that its cheaper, and easier to just try and get stamps from other countries. So far Canada is the only one I've had a problem getting any from.