Query IRC? (International Reply Coupon)

awhyley · May 27, 2009

Hi guys (and gals),

I was on the Writer's Market site, where I saw that an agent has stated:

"SASE. .Query with IRC, not SASE!"

I tried searching for IRC here, but the default is four letters. I apologize if this has already been asked. Does anyone know what this means?

Cassiopeia · May 27, 2009

awhyley said:
Hi guys (and gals),

I was on the Writer's Market site, where I saw that an agent has stated:

"SASE. .Query with IRC, not SASE!"

I tried searching for IRC here, but the default is four letters. I apologize if this has already been asked. Does anyone know what this means?

All I know is that IRC usually means: Internet Relay Chat

It's a program that chatters use.

But I don't know how that would apply to this situation.

jennontheisland · May 27, 2009

International Reply something. Coupon maybe?

I'm sure I've seen a phrase like that before....

Parametric · May 27, 2009

Yeah, International Reply Coupon. I assume the agent is overseas.

awhyley · May 27, 2009

Oh, ok, that makes sense, because the agent is in Canada. Thanks for the responses!
I'm assuming that the Post Office sells IRC's. Has anyone purchased one before?

dpaterso · May 27, 2009

Sure, they're little green tickets, last time I bought 'em they were 90p each or thereabouts but they've probably gone up by now. Just ask for them by name, "Can I have an international reply coupon, please."

Paperclip to your cover letter so it doesn't get overlooked and discarded along with the envelope.

-Derek

Wayne K · May 28, 2009

I tried to buy one at the post office in Pennsylvania and the woman spent a half an a hour calling around--finally they told her that IRCs don't exist anymore.

Andrew Jameson · May 28, 2009

They did as of April.

And they're still listed in the USPS FAQ. Your local post office might not be selling them, but I really doubt that they "don't exist anymore."

Wayne K · May 28, 2009

That bothers me. She had no idea and the person on the phone assured her they don't.

I did all the work for a Publisher in England who specified that they wouldn't respond without one and it pissed me off that there was no other way to do this. She even suggested getting one from another country on the internet and using it.

bonitakale · May 28, 2009

Wayne K said:
That bothers me. She had no idea and the person on the phone assured her they don't.

I did all the work for a Publisher in England who specified that they wouldn't respond without one and it pissed me off that there was no other way to do this. She even suggested getting one from another country on the internet and using it.

I used to buy IRCs-- they were hugely expensive. It also used to be easy to buy stamps from Canada Post or Royal Mail and have them sent to the US -- but now, I see, they don't want to do that. Why, I have no idea. Maybe someone on this site would take PayPal for some stamps; it sure would be cheaper and easier.

My husband swears they have to sell to the US, or they'd lose a lot of business -- but they sure don't say anything about that on their websites. Canada Post specifically only takes addresses in Canada.

Okay, I just did some more hunting around on Royal Mail's website. They do list other countries when taking your credit card info, so maybe there's hope.

childeroland · May 28, 2009

USPS only supplies IRCs to Post Offices where a lot of them are used, or so I've been told.

Andrew Jameson · May 28, 2009

This might help. She suggests printing out the FAQ page, as well as the International Mail Manual page on IRCs, and memorizing the IRC part number: 330700. Although, truth be told, the lesson here seems to be "find someone at the Post Office who knows what the Hell she's talking about."

So...good luck and stuff.

RJK · May 29, 2009

I just searched the USPS.com site. They talk about IRC's, tell you they cost $2.10 each, but there doesn't seem to be any way to order them through their store.

awhyley · May 29, 2009

Thanks so much for the responses everyone! I'm on the case with this, as I'm going to check my post office this weekend. I'll let you know.

Wayne K · May 30, 2009

I'm using the internet to query now, so it's not such a big deal anymore. But at the time it pissed me off because of the time and money I put into that proposal.

childeroland · Jun 8, 2009

Is anybody willing to exchange IRCs (for the UK) for US Stamps he/she might need?

veinglory · Jun 8, 2009

I have sent people from this forum US stamps on a few occassions. Just PM saying what you need and an address, then paypal me the amount when they arrive. I warn you that it sometimes takes me a month or two to remember to do it if work is busy--but I am happy to.

Query IRC? (International Reply Coupon)

awhyley

Cassiopeia

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jennontheisland

the world is at my command

Parametric

awhyley

dpaterso

Also in our Discord and IRC chat channels

Wayne K

Andrew Jameson

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Wayne K

bonitakale

childeroland

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Andrew Jameson

(not his real name)

RJK

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awhyley

Wayne K

childeroland

What happened to my LIFE?!

veinglory

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