Some Questions About IRCS

[SandManPro]

I am new to autograph collecting, but I am looking to request some autographs of some celebrities from the UK.

I went to Post Office to buy come Internations Reply Coupons (IRC). The man helping me charged me $1.85 per coupon. He put two stamps, one $0.10 and one $0.05, on the golden/bronze rectangle of the coupon where the two hands are about to touch. Was he supposed to do this? Why does the coupon need $0.15 worth of stamps on it? Does this mean the coupon is only equivalant to US$0.15 worth in pounds (United Kingdom currency)?

On the US Postal Service website I found the following:
"The selling price of a reply coupon in the United States is $2.00. One coupon is exchangeable in any other member country for a stamp or stamps representing the minimum postage on an unregistered air letter."

Minimum postage? According to the sticky on this subject here at fanmail.biz, it is recommended to send 2 - 4 depending to which country you send it to. So how many should we really be sending? Only one? 2? 3?

I'm so confused....

[guilder1st]

The prices of IRC's used to be $1.85, now they are $2.00. Most post offices still have the $1.85 IRC's so they have to add the $0.15.

No matter what country you go to, 1 IRC should get you enough postage to send a small envelope.

If you send a bigger envelope like a 9x12, you will need to send 2, and in some cases 3 if your envelope is heavier then usual (like if you add cardboard).

[BABii_ANG3L]

If you mail to another country and sending like a large envelope, at least include 2 IRCS. It's like 2 regular stamps.

[SandManPro]

Okay, that makes sense now. Thanks a bunch.