I had posted a response earlier in this topic, but for some reason it was
never cleared through.
I strongly have to disagree with N2MM's position on QSLing. As contesters,
we go through a lot to make QSOs. On sunday, we beg, we plead, we cajole
and we wring out the wet clothing to make any and every QSO. We work casual
operators who are just tuning the band or playing in the contest - without
any intent to submit a log. They're there because they want to make some
contacts. And they're there because they are award chasing. Maybe its for
a new county, or a new state, or for a new DXCC counter. Irrespective of
the reason, many casual operators have found contests to be a good place to
work on amateur radio awards.
Many of these operators are foreigners or young amateurs who 1) have no idea
what LoTW and/or eQSL are, 2) don't believe in LoTW or eQSL, or 3) are not
proficient enough to use LoTW or eQSL. So they send us a paper card.
Frankly, I think that rather discourteous to beg somone for a QSO (and even
to move them to another band) and then NOT reply to a QSL request - no
matter how it comes in.
Consider it the cost of doing business in a contest.
73 Rich NN3W
----- Original Message -----
From: "Carol Richards" <n2mm@comcast.net>
To: <cq-contest@contesting.com>
Sent: Wednesday, March 28, 2012 4:57 PM
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Is QSL Bureau pertinent in today HAM Radio
> Here are some of my thoughts on the issue>
>
> Qsl'ing can certainly be cost prohitive, especially when I average 30k
qso's
> per year. With that in mind:
>
> 1.I have up-loaded all 270k qso's to LOTW ( just since 1991) The other 30
> years of qsos are still in paper logbooks ( 35 log books and 20 years of
> paper contest logs) Maybe when I retire, all will go into LOTW.
>
> 2. I still answer all qsl direct requests. (with or without postage)
>
> 3. I generally will not answer bureau requests from contests. I make at
> least 15000 contest qsos/year At $70/1000 to print the cards and the
bureau
> fees + postage to send, I am looking at almost $1000 each year to answer
> cards from contests. I am sorry but I am not one of those 1%'ers.
> Furthermore, there are a number of dx stations that send me 5-10 qsls for
> every contest every year via the bureau.
>
> 4. If a dx station really needs my card, even from a contest, and sends
me
> an e-mail with his request, I will honor it. ( my e-mail address is on
> QRZ.com)
>
> 5. I will use the bureau as much as possible for my needed outgoing cards,
> but many stations will only qsl direct with $$/IRC's.
>
> 6. I counted around 100 band entities on LOTW that I need confirmed. The
> problem is that I have already sent direct requests to 85% of them. I
think
> that they are just keeping the $$. With that in mind, I refuse to expend
any
> more money for a non-qsl.
>
> 7. I enjoy the old-fashioned paper cards. Many are quite beautiful. Some
are
> comical, and some are close to being X-rated. I would miss all of that
> enjoyment with LOTW confirmations.
>
> I grew up in this hobby believing that the final courtesy of a qso is a
qsl.
> Obviously there are too many who do not share my beliefs. Enough has been
> written on the low percentage of returns from various countries and even
> here from our brethren statesiders.
>
>
> Carol
>
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