> Perhaps I'm a bit paranoid about QSLing, but as I always send
> a couple of green stamps along with direct QSLs and those go
> away with LoTW, maybe a bit of dis-incentive to go digital????
It may be a disincentive if one is "making a profit" on the cards.
However, I did an analysis of the "cost of confirmation" a few
weeks ago and it looks like this:
Including the cost of printing a card, envelopes, postage, labels,
etc. for a US station to a US manager I figure the cost:
Low High
QSL Card $0.04 $0.25
Labels (QSO/address) .00 .10
Envelopes (2) .15 .15
Printer consumables (?) .00 .05
Postage (SASE) .74 .74
------ -----
Total: $0.83 $1.29
>From a US station to DX station/Manager:
Low High
QSL Card $0.04 $0.25
Labels (QSO/address) .00 .10
Envelopes (2) .15 .15
Printer consumables (?) .00 .05
Postage (air) .80 .80
IRC/G$ 1.00 2.00
------ -----
Total: $1.99 $3.35
Even if the DX station were simply replying to a card using
the postage/SAE provided, there is still the cost of card,
labels, etc. I suspect most DX stations are lucky to "break
even" on card requests at $2 per.
For US stations, the "round trip" cost of a bureau card is
probably around $0.50 (based on the cost to cards, postage
to ARRL outgoing bureau and the "per pound" charge) and I
doubt that DX station costs are much cheaper.
Thus, unless one is VERY rare and can command $5 per card,
I suspect there is an incentive to "go digital" for most
"common" DX stations.
73,
... Joe, K4IK
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