[Dx-qsl] In Defense of KU9C

[K5WW]

Ron,

My mileage - and that of many other it seems - does indeed vary. 

The statement "using SASEs for personal use" is exactly what happens.
You may think we're imagining it, but that is exactly what KU9C told
me one day. If I hadn't been so furious after reading it and deleted
it then I would show it to you today.

I have no problems with people putting two different stations in
SASEs, for convenience or accidental. But this is happening
systematically.

Before February there were 3 occasions on which KU9C didn't bother to
use my SASEs for what they're intended. When I asked him about the
last occasion, he told me that he uses them for other, personal use.

In February I sent him a letter size envelope, holding cards from both
my wife and me for 4 stations he manages, and 4 SASEs. This of course
following his own rules: 1 SASE per station he manages. One of those
stations was 8P6SH.

Out of those 4 stations so far I have 3 confirmed, and they came in 2
(two) SASEs (check the list archives for an old message). So that is
my 4th SASE that gets "lost". So since those 3 have been confirmed, I
know that he received 8P6SH as well.

After this incident I told him how I feel about his free use of
people's SASEs. Which, I suspect, is why he now refuses to send me
(and my wife) an 8P6SH card. If this card doesn't arrive then that
would be my 5th (fifth) SASE, happily used by KU9C for other purposes.
So that must be why he requests 1 SASE per station, then.

And you thought this was about 1 out of 2 or 3 envelopes? I honestly
don't think we are alone. Many people will indeed praise KU9C, but
things will go wrong inevitably here or there. It's just that there's
things that go wrong, and then there are things that "go wrong"
systematically. You may say that personal attacks here are "verboten";
if that's the case then "in defense of" should be "interdit" as well.
I say people need to be informed about what's going on.

Obviously KU9C doesn't give a hoot about the QSL Manager's Society, at
least not about their creed. As a member he is supposed to be
reachable via email (and we all know he has good working email...) but
he is very "selective" to whom he replies. As a member he should pay
the extra expenses (if he has them) out of his own pocket, not take
other SASEs to do that.

Yes, KU9C monitors this reflector. He has every right to reply, but I
doubt it's going to happen. That would be admitting he's taken a wrong
turn somewhere. And there are too many people shouting "he's a good
guy!" out there, that will back him up no matter what he does, and
make us, the few that dare to complain, look bad, telling us that we
don't know what we're talking about.

I agree that "the point has been well made already that some are
currently less than happy with Steve". That doesn't mean you're not
going to hear it anymore, as long as he doesn't do something about it!
Because obviously this reflector is the only way to contact him. I see
no difference between reporting greenstamps that "get lost" in some
dark place in Djakamaka and reporting what goes on with domestic
managers. And if nobody reports things like this then those bad apples
are going to keep getting away with it.

Unlike you I don't have the pleasure of knowing him personally. You
may think he's a swell guy. And so would I maybe, if I'd meet him in
the street tomorrow, without knowing who he is. But knowing what I
know, I'd think twice about defending him, without listening to what's
happening to the rest of us.

If he corrects his mistakes I'll get out of his hair. If it doesn't
happen then yes, there will be more reports. I'm sure plenty of people
will be interested. As long as I have to work for my pennies and other
people believe that they can just take them and use them for their own
purpose, yes.

And Ron, if you get another domestically mailed card that you sent 2
GS/IRCs for then please let us know. We won't call you a cheapskate.
Let us know what's going on, that's what the reflector is for:
informing people about QSL routes, and manager's (kosher or not)
practices.

Anyway, 73,

Gert - K5WW

On Thu, 19 Aug 2004 23:26:47 -0400, Ron Notarius <wn3vaw at verizon.net> wrote:
> I thought personal attacks against individual QSL managers were verboten on
> this reflector?
> 
> In any event, I have met Steve a handful of times, corresponded with him
> quite often, and sent him more cards for more stations than probably (with
> the possible exception of W3HNK) any other QSL manager I can think of.  He
> has always been relatively expedient, within anything within his control,
> for the vast majority of these cards.  (Those other times, there have either
> been delays beyond his control, or it's been in the aftermath of a major
> DXpedition or 3 and he's been overwhelmed.)  Like any of us can get cranky
> at times, but overall he's always been one of the best in recent memory.
> 
> As far as the comment about his using envelopes "for personal use" that was
> made, I think that was also very uncalled for.  Remember what he has to deal
> with... especially with stations who neglect to send him sufficient postage
> or funds for postage.  So what if he only uses one of 2 or 3 envelopes you
> sent him?  What do you really think he's doing with the others, paying his
> light bill?  I think it's more likely that he's using those extra envelopes
> to get cards to those who (for whatever reason) failed to cover postage.  Or
> do you think Steve (and all of the others, like Joe and Bob and...) should
> pay for that out of their own pockets?
> 
> Frankly, I'm more concerned about those managers who insist on US$2 or 2
> IRC's or more when 1 would suffice, and then somehow manage to have those
> cards mailed with a US $.37 stamp domestically... and get insulting when you
> inquire as to the apparant discrepancy.  But I don't want to go down that
> road again, since everytime I bring it up, I get called a cheapskate or
> worse.
> 
> In any event, let's also not forget that Steve (and all the rest) has a life
> outside of amateur radio & being a QSL manager.  I think he's more than
> entitled to occasionally spend some time doing things other than working for
> a living and answering QSL cards!
> 
> The point has been well made already that some are currently less than happy
> with Steve.  I'm sure he's aware of it as he monitors this and other
> reflectors quite often.  So enough already.
> 
> IMHO.  I could be wrong.  YMMV.  Void in Tennessee and where prohibited by
> law.  Jason Bey should be NL Rookie of the Year.
> 
> 73
> 
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