[Dx-qsl] A delicate subject

[John Becker]

In the old days, if you waited a reasonable length of time for a needed 
QSL without receiving a response, the only thing you could do was send 
another request.

Now, of course, we have e-mail.

I've had *some* success e-mailing DX stations and asking if they have 
received my QSL, telling them I really need their QSL for a new counrty 
on some band, etc. I NEVER do this unless I have been waiting 6 months 
for the QSL, and usually I wait longer. I sometimes use Google 
translations to send the message in both English and in the language of 
the DX op.

But I'm always left wondering if I may have annoyed the DX op and 
perhaps done more harm than good. After all, in 99.9% of the situations, 
I need their QSL a lot more than they need mine. And thanks to 
controversial foreign policy decisions by the US government, I recognize 
that there are countries where the locals may not be very kindly 
disposed towards Americans.

In a couple of cases, I've received replies saying the QSL would be sent 
soon, but never received it. What sort of success have others on this 
list had? Any suggestions? Thanks!

73,

John, K9MM