Topband: QSLing

[Thomas Hoeppe]

Unbelievable, but true: In Germany we need 1,70 Euros for a oversea letter. 
So if you add 3 dollars to a QSL request to Germany, the 30 cents left will 
just cover the costs for the QSL, not more! There is no "donation" left! 
Nobody gets rich, hi.
I know a German manager, who is collecting the letters with unsufficient 
postage (2 dollars mostly), prepares the letters and takes them to a trip to 
the Czech Republik. It takes a bit more time, but the everyone gets his 
card...even without postage covered! A perfect service, I would say...

So I am happy about every manager, who just wants the costs covered!
Otherwise I ask myself why there are so much managers without using 
buro-systems! When I made my license I learned: "A manager is a HAM in a 
land with QSL service, making the QSL traffic for somebody in a land without 
QSL service."
That seems not be true nowadays...in too much cases you don't have the 
decision if you send direct or via buro!

73s from Bavaria!

Tom, DJ5RE/DL0AO
www.hoeppe.name


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "F8BPN" <f8bpn at wanadoo.fr>
To: "TopBand-list" <Topband at contesting.com>
Sent: Saturday, October 31, 2009 11:51 AM
Subject: Topband: QSLing


>
>
> Hi all
>
>>>at 3 bucks hes not getting rich on our dollars
>>>with cards and return postage. In many Eu countries its over 2 bucks
>>>for return postage.
>
> Sure not! 1 $ = 0.6756 Euro (Today change)
> It coast in France 0.85 Euro to send a 20g letter every where outside the
> European union countries, means 1.258 $
> If you add the QSL printing with 2 $ you just cover the coast.
> With 1$ you don't even cover the coast for European union as the postage 
> is
> 0.70 Euro.
> I know in others EU countries the postage is even more expensive than in
> France.
>
>> I'm with K8FC -- I won't pay ANYONE for a QSL, and I won't QSL direct
>> with green stamps, no matter how badly I want the card. If a station
>> won't use either the Bureau or LOTW, I won't bother trying to work him.
>> I'm retired, and I want to spend my limited free cash on things that
>> matter, like a better antenna, the research that I continue to publish,
>> Lester Young records, or a six pack of decent beer.
>
> I am not my self QSLing direct very often, I use the REF Buro, it works 
> very
> well and doesn't coast me any extra money. Just need to be member of the
> national society, just as it is in the Netherland and in many EU 
> countries.
> But, I do sometimes, when I work a new one on Top Band for exemple, or an
> all time new one, as it won't happen too many time every year, I can do 
> it,
> and I am pleased to get
> my card in hand quick. Because I am also pleased to get a real card for 
> some
> contacts. Thanks again Merv KH7C for your QSL received this week for our 
> 160
> m QSO.
> I do also for some rare DX expeditions either on the online request, or by
> post to participate to the coast of the expedition, sending a bit more 
> than
> the necessary for the return postage.
>
> I agree that this QSL business can be very expensive at last, but as long 
> as
> there is the possibility to choose his way to confirm a contact by the QSL
> buro or/and LOTW, I don't find anything wrong by the QSLing direct, that's
> your choice.
> When you send a QSL request direct, you must make sure that there is 
> enough
> for the return postage, or pay the price requested.
> Just turn upset on these expeditions or guys who are "QSL only direct" 
> THIS
> is not fair, and THIS is some kind of business which is NOT acceptable!
> My point of vue is that this should not be accepted, and these expeditions
> not valid not DXCC or any kind of others awards.
>
>
> See you on the band!
>
> 73/88 de F8BPN, Mau, Also FO8RZ (Direct, buro or LOTW), F6KLO, TM5MEM and
> TM2E (2002)  (Direct or Buro) manager
> f8bpn at wanadoo.fr
> http://perso.wanadoo.fr/ph-martin/f8bpn
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> 160 meters is a serious band, it should be treated with respect. - TF4M