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QSL policy

I’m still glad I worked my way through the huge stack of incoming QSL cards  last month. In the mean time I updated my QRZ info and have received a few QSL requests. I just need to log in to GlobalQSL, enter the data et voilà: done!

There is also the ususal wave of incoming cards from USA or Japan after the major contests. Most have 2US$ on board to cover postage. Japanese DXers mostly add an IRC and there is of course the occasional SASE with a Belgian stamp. But since last year I noticed more and more QSL cards travel alone. That is: just a card, no envelope, no postage. Although it’s his season par excellence , I am no Scrooge and write the envelope and cover the cost of the stamp myself. But it really strikes me that more and more direct QSL cards come without any form of compensation.

So now is the time to go Web 2.0 on you. I have always wanted to do a poll. So here it is:

How do you handle direct QSL cards that come without postage ($, IRC, SASE)?

  • Reply direct anyway and pay for the stamp yourself. (67%, 14 Votes)
  • Reply but with a normal (slow) bureau QSL. (29%, 6 Votes)
  • Reply but with a bureau QSL with a written note that replying direct means adding postage. (5%, 1 Votes)
  • Don't reply at all. (0%, 0 Votes)
  • Other? (0%, 0 Votes)

Total Voters: 21

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4 replies on “QSL policy”

Being a run-of-the-mill US station, I don’t get many direct cards from DX stations. Of those I do (mostly from JA), I pick up the tab for the return trip and send my card back direct as well. I’d probably change my tune if I lived in a rare and/or poor country.

I equate it to a beer in a bar – if I strike up a conversation with someone and they buy me a beer, I’m gonna buy the next round.

Well I’m very controversial with QSLing. I think you need to reply direct anyway if you don’t have a QSL policy. If you don’t want to, make it clear on all QSL info on the internet. So there is no doubt about it. But never ask for money. You can ask for a SAE.
I checked both your calls on QRZ.com and see that at least you will QSL 100% via buro. You don’t ask for money but for postage, I think that is reasonable. So, actually I think the QSL policy on your end is clear…in that case I should choose reply via QSL buro.
73, Bas

I made 1500 QSOs last June as KP2/K3TN and got many direct QSL requests. Only a few did not have IRC or $, and I just paid for the $1.05 (now $1.15) US postage. Same is true of my direct QSL requests for home call QSOs from the states – just a small number.

At that level of problem, I am willing to finance, but if it was significantly higher I would start to return via buro. I think these days (heck, really for the past 20 years) the default QSL policy for everyone is “I reply direct if you send SAE and postage, via buro if you don’t” and QRZ.com policy is only needed if you *don’t* have that policy.

I think if you still qsl then you should send like for like, too many people want you to send $$ so that they can enjoy your qsl and at your expense. You could always say you don’t qsl, or use the buro, same cost for both sides.

A dx pedition or rare dx i can understand the need to send a contribution, but not someone in New york or london.

A lot of people like myself find it hard to keep up with the cost of qsling, i recently spent $20 dolars fopr qsls from Afghanistan, Cambodia, Peru,The Caribean, Gabon ect…

I am working slowly to confirm Dx that i have worked but can’t always send out $ dollars straight away.

Steve MM0SGQ

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