[CQ-Contest] WPX and LOTW

[Bill Parry]

The original subject of this thread was actually regarding the cost of using the LOTW confirmations for WPX. Somehow it has morphed into a criticism of the sorters of the QSL bureau. Frankly I am not sure how that has happened but as a response I would like to point out that I have never heard a sorter complain about doing this "FREE SERVICE" for us.  I use both the outgoing and incoming bureau frequently and it saves me tons of money, particularly since sending a card to EU costs more than $1 these days. The bureau is one of the best things the ARRL does for us.

Frankly my suggestion for anyone that doesn't like the ARRL QSL bureau (incoming or outgoing) service is to simply not use it. The ARRL could not increase revenue by hiring more volunteer incoming sorters because the service is free!

I suspect that the decrease in incoming QSLs has a lot to do with LOTW which is also a wonderful service and is also free until you decide to use the cards for an award. I just passed a milestone of 18,000 LOTW confirmations.  Can you imagine what the postage for all those cards would have been?!

Bill W5VX

-----Original Message-----
From: cq-contest-bounces at contesting.com [mailto:cq-contest-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Radio K0HB
Sent: Tuesday, July 24, 2012 11:00 AM
To: Jim Cassidy
Cc: cq-contest at contesting.com
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] WPX and LOTW

Excellent.  We all owe them thanks.

But if the workload is too much, I suppose they could un-volunteer.

My domestic QSL's run about 5:1 over my DX QSL's.  ARRL could use the increased revenue to hire more sorters as needed.

73, de Hans, K0HB

-----Original Message-----
From: Jim Cassidy
Sent: Tuesday, July 24, 2012 3:48 PM
To: Radio K0HB
Cc: cq-contest at contesting.com
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] WPX and LOTW

A lot of the sorting for the ARRL outgoing QSL Bureau is done by volunteers. 
I have a couple of friends who have done quite a lot of it.

73  Jim KI7Y

----- Original Message -----
From: "Radio K0HB" <kzerohb at gmail.com>
To: "Michael D. Adams" <mda at ab1od.org>
Cc: cq-contest at contesting.com
Sent: Tuesday, July 24, 2012 12:09:35 AM
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] WPX and LOTW

Two points ---

1) A number of US organizations have their own internal "bureaus".  Haven't heard of any of them going to prison.

2) The card sorters at Newington are our employees.  If they object to the workload, they are free to consider other opportunities.

73, K0HB

On Jul 23, 2012, at 6:10 PM, "Michael D. Adams" <mda at ab1od.org> wrote:

> On Mon, Jul 23, 2012 at 5:52 PM, Oliver Drse <droese at necg.de> wrote:
>
>> I also ever wondered why ARRL is only handling international cards 
>> for US operators but not US to US. Anyone an explanation? Can be off 
>> list, of course, not to bother anyone here. ;-)
>
> Traditionally, the U.S. Postal Service was very jealous of its 
> monopoly on mail service.
>
> Even though those postal regulations have been interpreted a bit more 
> liberally the past few years, I have the pleasure of knowing some of 
> the card-sorters in Newington.  They seem busy enough as it is without 
> being asked to work through a mountain of domestic cards as well.
>
> --
> Michael D. Adams (AB1OD)
> Poquonock, Connecticut | mda at ab1od.org 
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Jim Cassidy

KI7Y


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