[Dx-qsl] re: QSLing, from newer ham

[Graham Ridgeway]

The message <200409131216.AA1124401266 at ku9c.com>
from "Steven Wheatley KU9C" <ku9c at ku9c.com> contains these words:


> -bureau cards

> Now, a short note on bureau cards.  The ARRL charges $8/pound to mail
> bureau cards.  Incoming cards, thanks to the W9 bureau guys (who get
> even less praise than QSL managers, and about as much grief...so take
> time to thank your bureau workers!!!) come to me in large boxes when
> they fill them.  I do NOT get bureau mailings each month, largely
> because I can't afford to have them come regularly, the W9 guys do
> their best to minimize my bureau costs (THANKS PHIL!!!).  Once I get
> the bureau cards, I tend to do them once a year, as best I can, and
> staggered based on call.  Once they're done, I tend to mail them
> myself to avoid the $8/pound, and unless it's a popular bureau, I mail
> once a year or so....  You can read into this that a bureau card is a
> multi-year reply for many folks.  Sorry, but the process takes that
> long.

I will say thanks to Steve, because his post answers a lot of questions,
mainly of the workings of the ARRL Buro.

So if you send 1lb [400 and however many grams] of cards for
distribution via ARRL Buro you have to send $8 with it. [As well as pay
the postage to get it there, which at UK rates would be £1-50 or c $3]
Perhaps we are lucky in the UK as [at the moment ] all Buro costs are
included in our Membership fees.
OK we have to pay postage to send cards there, and we have to lodge
SASE's with a Submanager to get them back, but at the moment there are
no limits or extra costs involved. {one perk of being my own Submanager
there - I get my cards quicker and dont have to send myself SASE's - Hi
! ]

All his other points I agree with - If there is no return postage, then
it goes back via the Buro.

I just hope the exchange rate doesn't sink any more though, because at
the moment 1$ is worth 50p and airmail worldwide for 10grams is 47p. If
it sinks below 47p,  I for one  *may*  have to start sending direct
cards back surface mail - 37p for 20g - or dig even deeper into the
'national reserves' [ie: The XYL's Housekeeping]

73 and happy collecting.

Graham

-- 
Graham R Ridgeway B.Sc.(Hons)  M5AAV 
RSGB QSL Sub Manager M5 series
http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/m5aav/index.htm