[Dx-qsl] QSL question using ARRL outgoing service

[Alfred Laun]

On Thu, Mar 12, 2009 at 12:40 PM, Jack Shirley <jcshirle at gmail.com> wrote:
> Today I received in the mail my  QSL which was sent via the ARRL outgoing
> service to EI, Ireland. Since my address on my QSL is placed the same way as
> it would be on a postcard it came back with the barcode from the USPS on the
> bottom, even though there was no postage on it. There was no postmark in the
> upper right hand corner, so I guess it was treated as prepaid business mail.
>
> I remember that a while  back this happened to K3ZO.
>
> What I am guessing is that the envelope or box the ARRL is using broke, and
> all the cards were dispersed in the mail.

This happens in reverse also from time to time.  Here in the Third
Call Area Bureau we recently received  a box from the French REF
Bureau with only 27 cards inside -- normally their regular box is
stuffed with about 500 cards.  It was wrapped in the USPS "apology
bag" and stamped "received in damaged condition".  It looked like the
bottom of the box, which has a flap, just opened up and almost all the
cards fell out.  I sent a letter to REF letting them know.

On the same day another identical REF box arrived in excellent
condition, and that one had a lot of the TO5FJ cards in it, so
hopefully the DXers awaiting their Saint Barthelemy counters won't be
disappointed.

73, Fred Laun, K3ZO
Manager
NCDXA/ARRL Third Call Area Incoming QSL Bureau