[Dx-qsl] Bureau works well again! QSLs received today and questions.

[Wendell Wyly W5FL]

QSLs received via the buro today:

SP9W for March 2002 10 meter QSO
OE8PPK for a 17 Jan 2002 12 mtr QSO
OE2s for a 16 Dec 2001 10 mtr QSO
SP6NIC for 15 Dec 2001 10 mtr QSO
DF9YC for 15 Dec 2001 10 mtr QSO
DL4PY for 15 Dec 2001 10 meter QSO
SP3SLO for 15 Dec 2001 10 meter QSO
TS7N for Nov 2000 10,12,17,30,40,80 mtr QSO
KL7/DL1YMK 15 mtr qso NA040 June 2000 QSO
OJ0AU via DL6AU 17 mtr QSO  (36 months roundtrip)
9Y4TBG via DL4MEH 40 mtr qso (24 months roundtrip)

Once again the buro system continues to amaze me after 47 years of using it
as primary path for QSL cards.  Notice that most of the cards were from 3 to
6 months from QSO and into my mailbox!

For QSL's sent DIRECT, I have 375 QSO's still NOT CONFIRMED although sent at
the very high cost of nearly $2 per letter!  Many of the Direct QSL's were
sent longer ago than it took for most of the  bureau cards listed above.

One US QSL manager even stated that the ARRL would not forward qsls from US
hams to him via the buro (WRONG!), and I had ARRL confirm that they forward
qsls to all US QSL managers unless they specifically state that they DO NOT
WANT the cards. Even had several direct cards returned recently with the
reason "He was not QSL manager for his Wife"

I really do not understand why there continues to be a growing number of QSL
managers that either do not fool with bureau cards or send them out very
infrequently or will not take cards with SASE (or return postage) from Les
(WF5E QSL Service).  IMHO this is a very bad trend for amateur radio and
certainly for those that have fixed incomes.

I can certainly understand that QSL managers cannot afford to operate at a
loss and I do not expect them to do so for my benefit, but it would be less
expensive if everyone used the bureaus more (and got 6 months rountrip) and
made some contributions with the direct qsls (that are needed quickly) to
offset the expenses to the qsl managers.