[CQ-Contest] QSL Practices and ZK1ETW

[Barry]

I reply to all buro cards as long as it's a new band-country.  I 
typically receive 2000-2500 cards/year and I ship to the buro once a 
year.  One way to save a little money is ship to the DX buro directly if 
you have a sufficient number of cards.  The break-even point is 1/2 
pound.  You can ship up to 1 lb. via Economy Letter Post for $4.10 
(that's the new rate, effective tomorrow). 2 lbs. is $6.85, etc.  So, if 
you're shipping 1 lb, it's ~$4 instead of the ARRL rate of $8.  Shipping 
cards once a year, I usually do individual shipments to DL, I, and JA 
buros.  Occasionally, I have enough for other countries, too.
73,
Barry, W2UP

Alan Zack wrote:

>Bill,
>
>I agree with Claudio.  Even if a person uses the Buro you still have 
>printing costs plus the cost to send a box of cards to the ARRL to be 
>sent out, plus the time involved.
>All my Buro cards are from me making replies to QSL requests I received 
>VIA the buro.  I just sent a 4 lb box off to the ARRL at a cost of $8.00 
>per lb.  That was 6 months worth of cards.  I am catching up on a big 
>batch of cards I received via my home call for contests I did from the 
>Philippines.  Included were almost 100 SWL cards.
>
>However, if I need the other guys card I will send him my request direct 
>with a SASE, SAE with GS or IRC, depending on the country.
>
>There is one op who has traveled to several rare IOTA's in OC-159, 
>OC-013, and OC-083.  When you look him up on qrz.com he states he does 
>not print QSL cards.  He states if you want a QSL to go to eqsl.com and 
>look for his eqsl to you there.  Then print out the eqsl card and mail 
>it to him in Sweden with a SAE and GS's and he will verify the contact 
>and send you back the eqsl card.  I have worked him in Oct 2001 and 
>again in Oct 2005 and have never seen a eqsl for me posted.  He also 
>states that he will NOT reply to any direct QSL requests as he has no 
>cards to send out.  Check it out yourself at www.qrz.com/zk1etw.  I 
>could live with his special requests IF he did post his contacts on eqsl 
>but I have yet to see them.  I have sent my QSL to him for the 2001 
>contacts but never received a reply as per what he has posted on qrz.com.
>Has anyone ever been able to get a QSL from him via eqsl or any other 
>source?
>
>73
>  
>
-- 

Barry Kutner, W2UP             
Newtown, PA