[Dx-qsl] Bureau works well again! QSLs received today and questions.

Wed Jul 3 23:53:00 2002

Steve,
You highlight one thing I've never quite understood. I know of a several
domestic QSL managers who cry havoc over the alleged cost of handling bureau
cards, yet you seem to manage them quite efficiently. So it makes me wonder
what the real motive behind the complaints truly is.
There's one domestic manager I've had some email with lately that's made me
think. While I don't want to publicly say who it is, he's made his position
quite clear & in writing about what it "costs" him to handle bureau cards,
and he often cites many famous & semi-famous DX who supposedly also decline
to handle them. Yet he also openly solicits donations to pay for the
printing cost of the DX QSL cards, so some of that financial burden is
alleviated. He also recently made some inquiries to me about the artist for
my revived QSL design from many many moons ago (I know you've seen it!), and
although he backed away when I asked him why he was so interested, he
mentioned that he has multiple printers available to design & print cards on
the fly if needed (more than I have). So if he has the $ to have all this
at his disposal, why such a fuss about bureau cards?
...and then there's the contest station who refuses to answer QSL requests,
be it via buro or direct, beyond your first band/mode QSO on the grounds
that it's too manpower intensive and laser printer toner is too messy (and
those pesky labels keep jamming!), but please keep working them in contests
anyway. But that's another story...
73, ron wn3vaw
"And they give you cash,
which is just as good as money!"
Yogi Berra, AFLAC Commercial, 2002
----- Original Message -----
From: Steven Wheatley KU9C <[email protected]>
To: Stuart Santelmann <[email protected]>; Wendell Wyly W5FL
<[email protected]>; <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, July 03, 2002 9:24 PM
Subject: Re: [Dx-qsl] Bureau works well again! QSLs received today and
questions.
A QSL manager that cannot "afford" to reply to bureau cards either:
-manages a station that is very common variety DX and does not get many
direct requests.
-does not carefully keep track of the finances that comes in and out in
terms of donations, the 'extra' that an IRC can be sold for over the stamp,
etc.
or, is known to have a reputation to not answer bureau cards, or direct
cards, and thus does not get donations.
I manage many 'common' dx stations....each one of them is 'cash flow'
positive....some very slightly, I'll grant you. When I get a donation, I
make sure to thank the person that sends it, and the cash generated goes
back to the station in one form or another.
I get bureau cards (thanks NIDXA!!!) in BIG boxes. I answer them
all...albeit slowly....this is a hobby, and part of what I signed up for
when I decided to be a manager. If I wanted to make money doing this, there
are many other ways to make money that is much more gratifying than trying
to do it with QSL management.
73
Steve KU9C
Please help QSL.NET . Send your donation now.
If you have already donated, thanks !