[Dx-qsl] Re: Stamps, Money and IRCs

[Francisco Costa]

----- Original Message -----
From: John Warren <nt5c@texas.net>
To: <dx-qsl@mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Wednesday, May 08, 2002 3:51 AM
Subject: [Dx-qsl] Re: Stamps, Money and IRCs

> A significant proportion of the traffic on this reflector concerns
> figuring out and obtaining the correct foreign stamps, understanding
> the latest currency availability and changes, and trying to deduce
> the policy of each post office toward IRCs. Why do we torture
> ourselves like this?

As me is concern, it's not a torture. It's a tiny bit of work, like any
thousand things we do on our daily life.


> Just use Green Stamps!

I use them too. But not in every circustances. Actually I use it *only*
when I can't use SASE's (or for Dxpeditions). Why?
For several reasons:
1- First because, IMHO, as radio amateur I follow the rule "The final
    cortesy of a QSO is exchange a QSL". Please note the *exchange*.
    I'm not buying a card. So, I don't expect to pay it!
    And that's why I think anyone is willing to do a QSO should be also
    prepared to exchange a card after finish it. It's doesn't need to be a
    full coloured QSL card. Any piece of paper that meet the requeirments
    it's good for me! Ok, some don't want to QSL, and say it That's fine.
    At least they are honest. Because the others, saying nothing we assume
    they *will* QSL.
    Now, if we are exchanging QSL, we should use the "default" system:
    bureau (or anything else we agree during the QSO). But because buro
    system is (typicaly) slow for many, it's common to use the "direct"
method.
    Now think: if using the buro system I don't expect to pay anthing else
    beside QSL "transportation" fee, why should I pay more when I send
    it direct???
    So far I couldn't find any reason. That's why I think SASE's are the
    most perfect and fair solution.
    And that's also why anyone who sends me more than 1USD (or IRC)
    per request, I send the extra back. And I'm proud (call me stupid if
    you want) to say I already sent hundrents of USD/IRC back (mostly
    from my S9, FO0 operations). I feel they are already paying me more
    than I need, so the extra money doesn't belong to me!
    And because I only exchange QSL, they don't need to pay anything
    else (like QSL's, labels, Licences, Radios, Antenas, Plane tickets, etc)
    But of course, like I said in the begginig, this is the rule! I admit
there are
    excepcions (like Dxpeditions). Now, what I don't admit is the exception
    becoming a rule!!!
    It's interesting to know many amateurs have bad opinions about buro.
    But I think they come mostly from people who don't like their existence,
    simply because "direct" QSL are better for "business". Yes,
unfortunatly,
    QSLing this days is a business like any other.
    As me is concern, I belive in buro's. And like I already said previously
    on this list, if you don't belive it, just go on to a dxpedition. You'll
be
     surprised how fast buro can be! It all depends who needs the card
most!!!

2-USD can be easy. But maybe not for many radioamateurs in the world.
    Ok, nobody said this is a fair world, and like we say here "Who
    doesn't have money doesn't have vice!" But what I don't understand is
    why turn it more expensive when we could work on solutions to turn it
    less expensive!
    For example, why don't the national associations stock stamps from
    most usual managers countries?
    BTW, did you ever asked yourself, when you look and a DXCC rank list,
    why you mostly see operators from ocidental countries?

3- Although it might sound wierd, it's not that easy to find 1 USD notes.
    At least where I live. I used to order it in the bank, and pick it next
day
    Not anymore. Bank manager say they no longer stock it. Euro influence???

Well, all said above may sound very philosofic and naif for many.
Even so, why don't you think a bit about it?

CU on the bands
73 F.Costa, CT1EAT
http://www.qsl.net/ct1eat