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

[Stuart Santelmann]

Well said Wendell !

Two points:

1)    We get a lot of queries on here about QSL addresses for various DX
stations, and I'm always tempted to answer "via bureau !".  Unless we are
close to going to our ultimate reward and want to get that last credit in so
that they can throw the cards in the hole with us, I get the impression that
for 95% of DX qsos the bureau will (eventually) work, and at a fraction of
the price.

2)    There are indeed managers and stations that refuse bureau cards.  I
understand the financial aspect of it, but in my opinion this goes against
the spirit of the hobby, and also I think against the ARRL guidelines for
DXCC and QSLing.  Managers should realize that there may be some cost
associated with the recognition of being designated as QSL manager for a DX
station.  A particular example I would offer is that of an Eastern European
station with a very small setup, who works a DX station and cannot afford
all the direct postage.  I feel it's unfair to not respond to his bureau
card.  On the DXpeditions I have been on,  I answered every QSL that came
in, by the method it came in (bureau, direct etc).  The excess dollars and
IRCs that people sent me paid for the cost of all the postage AND the QSL
printing for everyone. If DX stations want to have the fun of working people
on the air, they should be prepared for the cards...

Wendell, I agree with you that this may be a bad trend for us, like a
previous thread on here about not responding to direct domestic requests
from newcomers who may not realize that an SASE would be helpful.  These
newcomers will get turned off and leave, and we'll be left wondering why the
average age of radio hams is always increasing...

                            Best Regards                    Stu
KC1F




----- Original Message -----
From: "Wendell Wyly W5FL" <wendell@wyly.org>
To: <dx-qsl@mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Wednesday, July 03, 2002 11:31 PM
Subject: [Dx-qsl] Bureau works well again! QSLs received today and
questions.


> 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.
>
>
>
>
> Please help QSL.NET . Send your donation now.
>
> If you have already donated, thanks !
>