[DX] eQSL cards - NOW ACCEPTED - for DXCC

[Ron Notarius WN3VAW]

Sorry Wayne, but if eQSL is switching from an electronic "free" service that
requests donations to a QSL manager requesting reimbursement for postage
(which is acceptable), they should say so.  The fact that it costs eQSL
money to maintain their servers and internet connection does not justify
them in charging a fee to provide the service.

In other words, if eQSL has to sell QSL cards to survive, they've got bigger
problems that this argument.

In any event, this argument is pointless.  N7NG has posted a clarification
over on DX Chat, and as I suspected, there has been no change in ARRL
policy.  I'll forward it in a separate email, since it is a public post.
So this is a big brouhahah over nothing.  Electronic QSL's and QSL's printed
by the recipient are not acceptable.  The card must come from either the DX
station or his manager.  So the only change is that eQSL is acting as the
manager.  That's hardly what was originally advertised.

So much for smoke and mirrors.

73

----- Original Message -----
From: Wayne Day N5WD <n5wd@earthlink.net>
To: <wn3vaw@fyi.net>; DX Reflector - SUBMIT <dx@mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Friday, February 08, 2002 8:32 PM
Subject: Re: [DX] eQSL cards - NOW ACCEPTED - for DXCC


On Fri, 8 Feb 2002 17:59:30 -0500, Ron Notarius WN3VAW wrote:

 <snip>

>But gang, here's the rub.  In essence, eQSL is now acting as a QSL
>manager -- and charging a hefty fee for the privilidge (of that $1 --
>remember, paid in advance, only 1/3 goes to postage.  And that's assuming
>the card is sent first class.  If it's sent as a post card... bulk
>mailed...
>computer generated... ok, let's say the total cost is $.50, that's still
>quite a bit for eQSL to pocket, and NONE of that goes back to the
>originating station).  So if they are now mailing you a card instead of
>handling the card electronically, What Is The Point of eQSL's?

Ron,

If it only costs me a dollar to get a QSL from some of these Dx-entities,
then I'd say we're coming out way ahead:

  My card  =   $120/1,000 = .02
  Envelopes =  $24.50/100 = .25
  US Stamp =              = .80
  Return stamp +/-        =1.50 (that's on the low side for some)
                        ________
                           $2.57

 less greenback for E-QSL   1.00
                        _________

       Savings             $1.57 PER CARD

and that does NOT include the cost to resend cards that don't get
answered in the first year!

So, quit yer bitching about them "making" some money on this... I wouldn't
suggest they pay for the servers, printers, postage and everything else
it'll take to keep that operation running out of their own pocket.

My one and only concern about E-QSL has been whether it would be accepted
for the awards that require hard-copy cards.  Now, it seems as if it might,
and if so, that'd shoot that concern out of the water.


---------------------------------------------------------
R. Wayne Day, Licensed Paramedic  Fort Worth, Texas, USA
     n5wd@earthlink.net      rday@northwest.k12.tx.us
Health Science Technology Instructor/Clinical Coordinator
      Northwest High School, Justin,Texas  Go Texans!
-------------------- 73 de N5WD -------------------------