[Dx-qsl] A Scoundrel in our Midst?

[Alan Zack]

Like it or not, this is a fairly common practice with some DX 
stations.  I don't think any DX station is getting rich off the GS 
they receive from us.  In the case of club stations, some may be at 
schools with very limited funds and may need our GS to pay their 
electric bills.  I may get several piggy backed QSL's in my SAE's 
every month or so and gladly send them along to their rightful owners.
Maybe they think we are all one big happy family here and are willing 
to help each other out.  Your email proves otherwise.
I am very much disturbed with the comment you made that you were going 
to dump the piggy backed QSL for another U.S. ham in your return 
envelope into the round file, especially after your difficult 
experiences in getting your card.  That thought should have never 
entered your mind, you should have just forwarded the card to the the 
other ham no questions asked without sending him an email asking about 
how many GS he sent the DX station.
Quite frequently I get someone else's card piggy backed in my envelope 
and just automatically place a 37 cent stamp on it and send it along 
as I would expect another ham to do the same for me.  In this case, 
YOU are the scoundrel if you would take the other guys card and trash 
it.  It takes much less time to just put the stamp on the envelope and 
send it along than to write the other guy an email and ask how much 
money did he send with his request, etc.  What if he replies that he 
only sent one GS (when two might have been required) or that he sent 
no GS at all.  You are then going to take it upon yourself to decide 
he does not deserve said card and trash it?  When I forward a piggy 
backed card I just place a little note telling how I got it in the 
first place and am sending it along as requested by the DX station. 
Quite often I get an email back thanking me and sometimes a short 
letter of thanks returning my 37 cent stamp although I have never 
requested same.
If you can't afford the 37 cent stamp to forward a piggy backed QSL to 
another U.S. ham then send me an email next time and I'll mail you one.

Brian Spindor wrote:
> I pretty much figured I would hold my tongue on this subject but after 
> what happened this week I feel compelled to bring this up.
> 
> Over the past several years I've worked and have tried to qsl a certain 
> Lithuanian amateur.  For several years I tried direct with IRC's, green 
> stamps and through the Buro.  It was not until I sent a letter 
> indicating that I had tried numerous times, gotten no response, and this 
> would be my last attempt that I finally received his card.
> 
> About 18 months ago I again sent him a QSL card to confirm a band/mode.  
> My card came back from an amateur in California indicating that my card 
> had been forwarded with his card.  What got me thinking was that there 
> was no reason for the Lithuanian amateur to forward my card with the 
> Californian's card as I included an IRC with my submittal to the 
> Lithuanian.  I did not follow up with the amateur in California to see 
> if he included sufficient return postage with his submittal.  It 
> appeared to me that the Lithuanian Amateur was pocketing the money saved 
> by sending  two separate cards in the same envelop expecting the good 
> will (and $.37) of one amateur to forward the card to the next amateur.  
> The more I thought about it began to realize that this could explain why 
> for years I did not receive his card.  The people he forwarded my cards 
> to did not have the same sense of goodwill and did not forward my card.
> 
> In the last few months I again worked this Lithuanian amateur and this 
> time I included 2 green stamps and a note asking him to not forward my 
> card in someone elses submittal.  I got my request...sorta....he sent a 
> card and SAE along with my card and a quick note asking me to forward 
> the card to another amateur.  I was just about to dump the card into the 
> round file when I thought I would inquire via email with the other 
> amateur about what he included for return postage.  He told me he was 
> working really hard to complete his DXCC and though he could not find on 
> the internet what the cost of return postage was from Lithuania he 
> decided not to take a chance and sent along 2 green stamps.  Knowing 
> what it is like to try and put together that first DXCC I dropped his 
> card with a $.37 stamp into the mail but it became plainly clear what 
> the Lithuanian amateur was doing......he is taking advantage of the 
> goodwill of fellow amateurs for his own profit.
> 
> Lets add this up.  For two cards the Lithuanian Amateur has received $4 
> US.  The return envelop had a 1.7Lt stamp.  At current exchange rates $1 
> US buys 2.57 Litas (Lt) or in this case a 1.70Lt stamp will cost him the 
> equivalent of $.67 US.  He effectively pockets $3.33 US and also expects 
> the goodwill of the amateur on the other side to put out the $.37 US 
> stamp to the the other card to the other amateur.  Now $.37 has never 
> broken me and never will but it does get under my skin when he's making 
> $3.33 and by looking at the antenna farm on the card I would suggest 
> alot of us have been subsidizing his hobby.  It really makes me wonder 
> how many others he's done this to and how many have put up much more 
> than just 2 green stamps to get a card when a fellow amateur would not 
> forward the card.
> 
> Folks, in my opinion, Jonas Paskauskas, LY2ZZ aka LY5A is a scoundrel 
> who is using the goodwill and fellowship of Amateur Radio for his own 
> profit.  I encourage each of you to consider when making a contact with 
> this person whether, in your opinion, he  represents the spirit of 
> amateur radio.  I have decided that I will never add his call to my 
> logbook again.
> 
> At the risk of being flamed
> Brian Spindor
> KA7KUZ
> 
> 

-- 
__________________________________________________________________________ 

Alan Zack
Amateur Radio Station K7ACZ
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Quality Engineer, The Boeing Company, Retired
Aviation Chief Warrant Officer, U.S. Coast Guard, Retired
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