For those wishing to claim credit for October 2009 contacts with C91VM (AF-061, AF-066, AF-088), please be aware that, in response to the operator's current published QSL policy, these three operations will not be accepted for IOTA accreditation. Clarification is awaited from the operator that a policy change will be made immediately to the effect that payment of USD 5 is not obligatory and that cards sent direct with sufficient return postage will be answered direct in a timely fashion. A prompt amendment to the policy notice on QRZ.com is therefore required if accreditation is to be reconsidered.
G3KMA, 7 Nov 2009 http://dxing.at-communication.com/en...vm_qsl_dxnews/
I can see where you're coming from but I'm not sure that I agree.
If someone travels to far-away islands so that you the armchair DXer can put a little tick in a box on your IOTA record without getting out of your nice comfy seat in your nice warm shack, what's wrong with you giving them just a little funding towards what will have been a huge amount of expenditure to get there? The operator doesn't want your card, or cards of ten thousand Italians or Russians - but you want his.
If the operator demanded $50 per card then I'd say that's unreasonable. I also appreciate that not everyone has a lot of money to spare, but surely $5 isn't too much to ask? If everyone donates just a little, then the operator can probably cover most of the cost of the trip. He doesn't get bankrupted and you get your card. And you can put a tick in the box on your IOTA record. Woo-hoo.
Or maybe you (or G3KMA) would like to go and operate from those islands, paying your own air fare, carrying all your kit, negotiating (for which read "bribing") African customs, braving travel illnesses and mosquitoes etc? No? I thought not.
The DXpedition guys are doing it because that's what they want to do. I'm contacting them because that's what I want to do. We're both doing exactly what we want to do and are happy. The $5 is just a rip-off.
The DXpedition guys are doing it because that's what they want to do. I'm contacting them because that's what I want to do. We're both doing exactly what we want to do and are happy. The $5 is just a rip-off.
-Dick-
So don't send for a card, then. No-one's forcing you to. They went, you contacted them. They didn't charge you to contact them. All happy campers.
Personally I don't mind funding the operation a bit. We each make our own decision as to what we think is reasonable, I guess :-)
Hi all.
So, any $ request for a QSL is a rip off or, simply, it's a matter about how you ask those green stamps?
Just on the borderline between personal understanding and what's going on since than, not only for today. Severals if not all the DX expedition have almost the same policies: pay for yours QSL or wait for the bureau, if any. But this wouldn't be theirs problem.
Nobody have any needs of my words, I am sure, and this for several reasons. But I read the QRZ.COM page of C91VM:
"I suggest, and hope, s.a.e. 5 usd (or more……)
ALL your donations, and sponsors' gifts, will be used for the project,
(except stamps costs only)";
"The qsl's recived whitout (or very lowly) contributions, will be send via bureau after october 2010."
On the VK...., just to name one, site I read:
"Any QSL CARDS managed by ..DX.. inc., or B...., VK.... can be sent to you utilising this system as outlined below. This is a FREE service if you request your cards be sent via the BURO.
A minimum payment of $5 USD via PAYPAL is required if you request your cards be posted DIRECT TO YOU.
It is a simple as ABC!, Download the QSO Document, fill out the info, SAVE it, and attach the file to an email to one@com
So, for DIRECT QSLing, click onto the PAYPAL button below and enter your CALLSIGN in the Box as requested after you have filled out the QSO Document.
Do you need more example? Crawl any DX expediton site, name one. Words may change, but $ are there. I don't see all those differences from one to another.
May be things are different for IOTA, but yes things are different in real life.
It could be that there is something more in a grey area not covered very well by nobody right now.
I am not involved in any way with any of the subject here. I am alone and this writings reflect uniquely my personal opinion. For this reason and other puzzling things I am confirming ONLY via LoTW and eQSL, until it make sense. SWL are welcome.
OK, so they are asking people to fund a school (noble cause, but whats that got to do with Amateur Radio) the QRZ entry is merely suggesting or hoping for 5 US dollars as well as an SAE, but in the smallprint a little further down its suggesting that QSLs sent with lowly contribution (their words) will be replied via the bureau after Oct 2010
I have read the QSL requirements for this operation. I applaud the IOTA organization for not allowing credit for this operation. As I read his QSL posting this is a fund raiser for a pet project the merits of which are not under discussion here. I have no problem with a DXpedition requesting funds to support there operation, I do have a problem with someone soliciting funds to support there pet projects. In addition the threat is if you don't contribute then you'll get his card via the burro. I wonder what happened to the s.a.s.e you might have sent? He very clearly states this is a:
"I.O.T.A. tour for aid the project (A school for Malangute) by CCS Italy"
"ALL your donations, and sponsors' gifts, will be used for the project,"
The qsl's recived whitout (or very lowly) contributions, will be send via bureau after october 2010.
Sorry but this is a good call by the IOTA organization and I would hope that other organizations would not give credit for this type of operation. You want to solicit funds to support your DXpedition fine and what you do with the funds afterwards is your business. Don't hold the QSL card hostage contingent on our donating to your pet project.
If you don't want to contribute $5 to get a card, then don't. I didn't mind making the contribution to the K5D and the VP6DX operations; I needed their cards, and chose not to wait forever to receive it. I could have waited a year to receive the verifications on LoTW, but I made the choice to help those operations. No one held a gun to my head. I could have chosen to wait for the next Desecheo or Ducie operations, but I may not live to be 100! I'd be disappointed if ARRL were to ever adopt similar rules for DXCC verifications.
Its clearly showed that C91VM team like to support people there and thats very good but I dont think they are need to push people to send them 5 USD and more
Its better if somebody will give donation with goodwill instead of the way with no choice and thats not support reputation with my opinion
On the same time story is start with C91VM but there is many other DX Peditions or qsl managers not spending money for humanitarian needs and charging people some time even more then 5 USD
73 Al 4L5A
One thing is to ask for donations and another to demand donations. "Send me 5 bucks or you wont get your card"... these kind of cases we are talking about. No one held a gun to dxpeditioner's head and forced him to go on a dxpedition at his own expense. Demanding more money than needed for a card is simply racketeering. I am sure, if asked kindly and not in demanding manner most of us would contribute a little for the cause.
We appreciate your support.
Bravo G3KMA GREAT
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