International Reply Coupons where they all gone????

[terrylewis4]

i have been trying to buy International Reply Coupons from my local post offices and they have told me they were told to return them all to head office and they have not returned to they. have they stopped making them??? :neutral:

[osiris]

IRCs are not very popular and therefore many smaller post offices dont sell any, so return them to head office & dont order any more. If they tell you they've stopped making them altogether, they're lying/missinformed. Be persistant and ask if they can order you some.

However, the current design do become invalid after the end of December. This may be why they returned them. A new design will come out for next year.

[terrylewis4]

thankyou for you help. my post office do usally stock them as get them there quite alot. i hope they will get some of the new ones next year it make writing abroad so much easier.

thanks again

[khackdrums]

They haven't stopped making them. They are all over the place. You just need to know where to look and who to ask. Most main branches within a city carry them. All the post offices in my city carry them, but I live in Chicago, so this doesn't apply to most cities. If an employee says they don't carry them, ask another employee and another, until you get a clear answer. A lot of employees don't know what they are because they aren't used much. They most likely have them in the back and don't even realize it. The guys at my post office know that I ask for them on occasion and have them ready just in case.

Khackdrums

[arrowsup]

All IRCs expire on December 31st -- which means they need to be redeemed by the person you are sending to before the 31st or they are worthless. It would be pointless to buy any until after the new year.

[khackdrums]

^^Correct^^

Khackdrums

[dfreely]

It would be pointless to buy any until after the new year.

The IRCs expiring this year were removed from sale back in September. Only the new IRCs expiring in 2013 are sold now, so you don't need to wait until 2010 to start buying again.

[khackdrums]

You could also buy foreign stamps. You'll have a better success rate! Many celebrities don't even bother with IRC's. Believe me, I found out the hard way...

Khackdrums

[osiris]

It would be pointless to buy any until after the new year.

The IRCs expiring this year were removed from sale back in September. Only the new IRCs expiring in 2013 are sold now, so you don't need to wait until 2010 to start buying again.

Ah ha. It's possible then that this branch sent them back & havent had the new ones yet, or haven't ordered them.

[bobd_uk]

I bought some IRC's last week and they say on them (in French) "expires 31.12.2013". Near the stamp in the bottom right corner.