[LOGic] Programming Guidance Needed--QSL Buro

[Dave Sublette]

ROBERT CARROLL wrote:
> Logic gurus-  I have been making quite a bit of use of the outgoing QSL buro
> lately but find the return rate a lot lower than with a direct QSL.  I am in
> the process of filling out country/band totals, so there are a lot of QSLs I
> am mildly interested in getting but not so much that I want to QSL directly.
>
>
>   
<SNIP>

I've been licensed and active 49 years come June. I have been actively 
chasing DX and QSLing  via direct and Buro for that same time period.  I 
think maybe the problem is not poorer response through the buro, but 
that certainly must be a contributing factor.  I believe the main 
problem is simply time.  It takes extra time for the cards to come 
through the buro.  It takes even more time if both parties use an 
outgoing service. Consider that each party usually waits until enough 
cards are accumulated to send through the outgoing buro. If one wants 
the lowest rate, the quantities might be large. The ARRL lists rates by 
the pound for lowest cost. Think about how many cards must be 
accumulated to make up a pound.  I would suggest that the spelling 
should be burro, but that might insult the speed capabilities of our 
long-eared friends.

I was a very active DX station for a period of five and a half years 
some 20 plus years ago.  I STILL get cards through the buro for that 
operation.  I have had QSL cards returned through the buro marked 
"silent key".  The poor bugger didn't live long enough to get his 
QSL....sorry.

In 1969, when 5BDXCC was established, I decided to get the cards through 
the buro. Twenty-nine years later  (that is not a misprint), I received 
the last card I needed for 5BDXCC. Only when I went to fill out the 
application form did I realize that it was going to cost oveer 
$150(that's not a misprint either, and the ARRL verified it for me) for 
the ARRL to look at the cards, generate a certificate and a plaque and 
send them to me.  I said "Forget it!".

So my word for you, Bob, is I'm not surprised at your results. I think 
the data on rate of return won't be known for about another 27 years.

73,

Dave, K4TO