[Dx-qsl] A Scoundrel in our Midst?

Fri Mar 18 23:23:58 EST 2005

I pretty much figured I would hold my tongue on this subject but after 
what happened this week I feel compelled to bring this up.
Over the past several years I've worked and have tried to qsl a certain 
Lithuanian amateur. For several years I tried direct with IRC's, green 
stamps and through the Buro. It was not until I sent a letter 
indicating that I had tried numerous times, gotten no response, and this 
would be my last attempt that I finally received his card.
About 18 months ago I again sent him a QSL card to confirm a band/mode. 
My card came back from an amateur in California indicating that my card 
had been forwarded with his card. What got me thinking was that there 
was no reason for the Lithuanian amateur to forward my card with the 
Californian's card as I included an IRC with my submittal to the 
Lithuanian. I did not follow up with the amateur in California to see 
if he included sufficient return postage with his submittal. It 
appeared to me that the Lithuanian Amateur was pocketing the money saved 
by sending two separate cards in the same envelop expecting the good 
will (and $.37) of one amateur to forward the card to the next amateur. 
The more I thought about it began to realize that this could explain why 
for years I did not receive his card. The people he forwarded my cards 
to did not have the same sense of goodwill and did not forward my card.
In the last few months I again worked this Lithuanian amateur and this 
time I included 2 green stamps and a note asking him to not forward my 
card in someone elses submittal. I got my request...sorta....he sent a 
card and SAE along with my card and a quick note asking me to forward 
the card to another amateur. I was just about to dump the card into the 
round file when I thought I would inquire via email with the other 
amateur about what he included for return postage. He told me he was 
working really hard to complete his DXCC and though he could not find on 
the internet what the cost of return postage was from Lithuania he 
decided not to take a chance and sent along 2 green stamps. Knowing 
what it is like to try and put together that first DXCC I dropped his 
card with a $.37 stamp into the mail but it became plainly clear what 
the Lithuanian amateur was doing......he is taking advantage of the 
goodwill of fellow amateurs for his own profit.
Lets add this up. For two cards the Lithuanian Amateur has received 4ドル 
US. The return envelop had a 1.7Lt stamp. At current exchange rates 1ドル 
US buys 2.57 Litas (Lt) or in this case a 1.70Lt stamp will cost him the 
equivalent of $.67 US. He effectively pockets 3ドル.33 US and also expects 
the goodwill of the amateur on the other side to put out the $.37 US 
stamp to the the other card to the other amateur. Now $.37 has never 
broken me and never will but it does get under my skin when he's making 
3ドル.33 and by looking at the antenna farm on the card I would suggest 
alot of us have been subsidizing his hobby. It really makes me wonder 
how many others he's done this to and how many have put up much more 
than just 2 green stamps to get a card when a fellow amateur would not 
forward the card.
Folks, in my opinion, Jonas Paskauskas, LY2ZZ aka LY5A is a scoundrel 
who is using the goodwill and fellowship of Amateur Radio for his own 
profit. I encourage each of you to consider when making a contact with 
this person whether, in your opinion, he represents the spirit of 
amateur radio. I have decided that I will never add his call to my 
logbook again.
At the risk of being flamed
Brian Spindor
KA7KUZ