[CQ-Contest] QSLing

[Ted Melinosky]

I manage QSLing for EY8MM and 4L8A, and the bureau cards come in by the 
pound (at least when conditions were better).  The new ARRL Outgoing 
Bureau charges are going to be a heavy burden in the future.  I know 
that sending cards by the bureau is/was the least expensive way to get 
all those band/mode cards, but having to pay $75-100 every few months 
will be prohibitive.

There seems to have been very little comment from the DX community so far.

Ted Melinosky K1BV


On 12/30/2016 6:50 PM, Bill Parry wrote:
> I just finished my QSLing duties for the months of December and November.  I
> ended up with about 150 cards to the Outgoing Bureau.  I have always QSLed
> 100% to cards I get via the bureau because I remembered how I I loved to get
> cards back when I was younger. It is a sort of a chore these days.  I have
> thousands of QSLs and I don't need them anymore. I printed out the cards and
> look into the ARRL website and find that the Board of Directors has approved
> a substantial increase in cost. For years the bureau has been the QSLing
> route of choice of young folks and people without a lot of money, since the
> cost was very nominal. Now, when I calculated the cost of using the bureau
> it is $1.15 per ounce and a $7.00 service charge.  In my case $23.10 for
> less than 150 QSLs. (This doesn't include the cost of the stamps to get the
> cards to the bureau.)
>
>   
>
> I have been a life member of the ARRL since 1979 (and I might add a major
> supporter). When I paid the membership fee it was substantial for a young
> school teacher.  Now I am finding that the ARRL is continually reducing the
> value of the Life Membership by continually adding charges for things that
> used to be free.
>
>   
>
> I believe that the ARRL is so invested in LOTW that they are trying to force
> everyone to use it instead of paper QSLs. I love LOTW and use it for ALL my
> QSLs but a lot of DX still don't use it.  Not sure what the solution is.
> Maybe I'll just start tossing the incoming bureau cards in the trash (no I
> won't do that). I am very disappointed in this decision by the Board of
> Directors. Another one of the "services" that are no longer services but are
> something you have to pay for.  I am sure glad my cost of my prescriptions
> aren't set by the Board of Directors.
>
>   
>
> Bill W5VX
>
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