QSLing Costs Becoming a Problem?

[we9m]

Please excuse my complaining, but I feel this is a subject that is an ever-increasing problem. It is the exchanging of QSL cards. It is so nice to get cards from contacts confirming a QSO. These cards not insure conformation, but are an added personal touch from the person which you had the QSO. These cars range from simple to complex to funny and very beautiful. We often get out old cards and look through them, bringing back fond memories of QSO’s we had with old dear friends made long ago.

The major problem today is the large and ever growing expense of postage here in the States as well as foreign postage rates. Many DX locations now require 2 IRCs for return postage and I believe IRCs here in the States are now going for $2.00 US. Right now that is only a few but the to get a QSL from one of these places would run you $2 for the IRCs $0.90 for the outgoing postage. That is $4.90 for the postage not including the cost of the card and the envelope. This is only a few DX locations. The majority of locations will still get you a card for 2 green stamps or 1 IRC for the return postage plus $0.90 for the outgoing postage. This is a total of $2.90. Even at this rate 100 QSLs sent will cost you $290.00. Many of us over time make thousands of contacts. The cost can be overwhelming.

I think one way to help with this is to use outgoing & incoming QSL bureaus. Here in the states I use the ARRL & WF5E QSL services. This method is much less expensive, but take more time. One major problem with this method is, many DX stations do not use there countries bureau for one reason or another. I would suggest those stations look into using their respective bureaus. The cost of belonging to their bureaus and their outgoing costs are much lower that the cost of individual postage. Then there are the countries having no outgoing or incoming bureau. Well if we want a card from these countries we will just have to bite the bullet and pay the price.

Another way, but as yet has no way to print cards is the ARRL’s Logbook of The World (LoTW). http://www.arrl.org/lotw/ This method is growing in popularity. It seems to be working well for awards from the ARRL. This service is FREE to use. The only cost is when you are applying for awards. The only thing you have to do is upload your log/s to the server and if you log/s match the log/s of the contacts you have made you receive credit for the contact. Again there is currently no way to print out QSL at this time. I encourage use of this method for ARRL Awards.

There is also eQSL. http://www.eqsl.cc/ This method also is an electronic QSL method. It is very similar to LoTW. They also have awards. With eQSL you can print your QSLs or have them print them for you for a small charge.

Some Hams don’t have the internet to use these services, but if you are reading this you have this capability. I use LoTB and eQSL. I encourage you to use the services. I use all of them. Electronic and paper QSLs. QSLing is & always been a major part of our hobby, let's keep it that way.


73,
WE9M Greg
http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[K8MHZ]

Quote[/b] ]Another way, but as yet has no way to print cards is the ARRL’s Logbook of The World (LoTW). http://www.arrl.org/lotw/ This method is growing in popularity. It seems to be working well for awards from the ARRL. This service is FREE to use.

Not so as membership in the ARRL is required, is it not?

[KC0PKA]

I still enjoy direct QSLs, and the foreign stamps that come with them.

[wg7x]

K8MHZ asks: Quote[/b] ] Not so as membership in the ARRL is required, is it not?

From the LOTW website FAQ.


Quote[/b] ]Do I have to be an ARRL member to use LoTW?

No. Anyone can submit log data to LoTW. U.S. Amateurs must be ARRL members to obtain DXCC, WAS, or VUCC awards. Amateurs residing outside the U.S. can participate in any awards.

I guess that's a mixed answer yes/no. It seems a bit strange that stateside Amateurs, who were willing to pay for the award would not be allowed to participate unless they also joined the ARRL.

Even as an ARRL member and long time user of LOTW, that provision seems a bit off.

73 Gary

[WS2L]

During the mid to late 1980's I did a lot of QSLing, mostly for awards like W.A.S. and DXCC. I thought the prices then were bad but can't begin to imagine what they are now. I have long since earned the awards I was seeking and have pretty much given up on QSLing. Of course if I do receive a card from someone I always without fail to send a card back using the same method that I received them. After all the paper chasing, buying stamps and IRC's and waiting for the return I'm extremely happy to have earned all the awards that I wanted to try. However I have recently become active on 2 meter SSB & CW I might consider going for VUCC so it will be back to the grind. For the most part I won't have to worry about DX stations so it will be done via SASE.

[kg4hlv]

Would the postal service let us use QSL's as a post card? I think this would eliminate packageing. unless U R looking for Dx credit. I just like collecting cards. :0

[KC0PKA]

I have recieved QSLs as post cards, although sometimes they arrive beat up!
I would rather display a nice looking card then a beatup one!

[VE3LXL]

I agree that there's a problem, but I don't think it is actually due to the rise in the cost of postage, because it really has not increased as much as it seems.

At the inflation calculator site, http://www.westegg.com/inflation/infl.cgi, I checked to see how much inflation has raised prices since 1970. It says that what cost $1 in 1970 would have cost $5.31 in 2006. In other words, on average prices were 5.3 times higher in 2006 than in 1970.

Next I went to this site, http://www.johnstonsarchive.net/other/postage.html, to see how much U.S. postage has increased. In 1970, a first class stamp cost about 6 cents. In 2006 it was what, 36 or 37 cents? If you multiply 6 by 5.3, you get about 32, which means that if the cost of that first class stamp had merely kept pace with inflation you'd be paying only about 5 cents less than you actually were. Yes, it's a slight increase, but not one that would break the bank.

My opinion is that it is differences in how we operate that have lead to the increase in the cost of postage. In 1970, how many DX stations expected you to provide full return postage? How many of the DX stations that you worked did you work in ragchews, as opposed to in contests or in quick 30 second DX contacts? Did you work as many stations back then as now?

Of course, I wasn't around back then and I'm sure many of you weren't either. But my impression is that the way hams operate has shifted over the years, at least for DX contacts, so that we tend to make a lot more contacts which are a lot shorter. If the volume of QSOs you make has increased a lot over the years, this would lead to higher postage costs, not because postage is more expensive but because you're sending out more QSLs.

[VE3LXL]

Postscript: I realize that I was using the cost of domestic postage in my previous post, not international. I was assuming that international postage costs have increased at about the same rate as domestic ones. Hopefully that's not too far off the mark.

[w3irl]

Greg et al. I agree qsl mailing costs can get out of hand. I use LoTW for anything I want award credit for and email for all else. Email? Yep, not just a note but the actual .jpg of my card with the contact data filled in. A simple graphic program, an internet connection, and QRZ to look up email addresses and I'm up and running.

I've sent 100's of these for virtually zero cost and find the response rate to be very high. If you want an actual card from me you have only to print it out of your email package.

I know I'm not the only one doing this. What I don't understand is why this hasn't become overwhelmingly popular. Any thought on that?

Oh yeah, if the contact doesn't have an email address I'll print and mail. I never send anything for the return. Too many times these prepaid coupons never make it to the ham I've worked if they live in a third-world nation. I'm sure I'm missing some beautiful cards but such is life. At least the DX station gets mine.

73, John

[kl7aj]

QSL cards are about the only hard copy mail I send any more. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif Someone has to keep Cliff Clavin in business.

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[kd6wky]

Nothing is free. If QSLing is important to you, then pay for it. If you don't think it's worth the cost, then stop QSLing. It's very simple.

[aa3ej]

Been using eQSL for years with Logic 8 logging..the only way to go, ..saves $$ and is immediate, try it-you wil like it at www.eqsl.cc...73's Dave, aa3ej

[w5jao]

I send all cards I send as post cards, state side for 26 Cents Overseas cost 90 Cents. I never send a card to anyone who thinks my getting their card is worth me paying for postage both ways.
I find LOTW to be a pain to use! e-QSL is easier, I use it for all contest contacts and only send cards to those I have QSOs with, where we have long enough conversations to know who each other is.

[KG4RUL]

Quote[/b] (wg7x @ Aug. 06 2007,09:57)]K8MHZ asks: Quote[/b] ] Not so as membership in the ARRL is required, is it not?

From the LOTW website FAQ.


Quote[/b] ]Do I have to be an ARRL member to use LoTW?

No. Anyone can submit log data to LoTW. U.S. Amateurs must be ARRL members to obtain DXCC, WAS, or VUCC awards. Amateurs residing outside the U.S. can participate in any awards.

I guess that's a mixed answer yes/no. It seems a bit strange that stateside Amateurs, who were willing to pay for the award would not be allowed to participate unless they also joined the ARRL.

Even as an ARRL member and long time user of LOTW, that provision seems a bit off.

73 Gary
Could it be that the awards are offered as one of the benefits of ARRL membership?

[n3ixq]

Domestic I send the PostCard!! Others I ask to use the Bureau. I try to keep 3 envelopes with the bureau and I occasionally add additional postage for the person to use. I do like getting those envelopes with my own handwriting on them, with 20 or more cards though. Always great memories..