[Dx-qsl] When does it make sense to mail directly to anincomingDX bureau?

Tue May 16 17:49:00 EDT 2006

In may QSL Bureau practice I have seen a lot of 
different behaviors. Here how I categorize 
QSL Bureau users:
1. Prefix Chasers. Those are people who take each 
 and any opportunity (like 25-th anniversary of 
 the sprinkler being commissioned in my garden)
 to use the special prefix.
 They are keen on sending QSLs, and are by far the
 heaviest QSL Bureau users. They are ready to pay 
 no matter what the surcharges/costs are.
2. Contesters. They simply print off all QSOs in contest
 logs, and frequently state: "No return QSL is required".
 The only reason why they send QSL cards, is that in 
 the next contest, they may loose potential callers
 if they do not send the QSL cards. People tend to avoid
 non-QSLing contest stations.
3. QSL managers are heavy bureau users, if they decide to 
 send cards via bureau. The 'sticky' point is if the 
 QSL client needs to be the QSL Bureau member. In the 
 same category fall the managers of special event call
 stations, museums, clubs, that are occassionally very 
 active.
4. DX-ers. Typically they do not work very much, and than
 they are extreemly selective on what do they work. Even 
 when they send something via the bureau, it is 
 typically in small volume. They know who are the managers 
 who respond bureau requests, and send only to them.
5. Occasional operators. These are the real 'hobby-sts'
 and send very small number of QSLs.
Regarding the topic, "sending QSLs to foreign QSL bureaus", 
categories 1,2, and 3 shold do this as a rule.
73 Nenad VE3EXY ...
-----Original Message-----
From: dx-qsl-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:dx-qsl-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Kz2i at aol.com
Sent: Tuesday, May 16, 2006 5:13 PM
To: dx-qsl at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Dx-qsl] When does it make sense to mail directly to
anincomingDX bureau?
ok, guys, maybe it's a bit more than 200-300. but i've been sending
most of 
those i need direct (or via them there aforementioned manager folks).

 the biggest chunk of the buro pie is for those after contest efforts.
since i'm a little gun, that amounts to 1000 or so qsos in the cqww ssb
and less 
than that in the arrl dx test. 

had used wf5e and got some returns but that's leveling out after about
5 
years, so i'm to the point of reqsling some of them direct. ever
notice that 
you get 87 "DL", "OK" or "I" cards via the buro but they're never the
WARC band 
qsos you need qsled? even direct, i'm having trouble getting certain 
"common" ones. oh, well, part of the game. 

73 de Steve, KZ2I
Charlotte, NC
Carolina DX Association - South Jersey DX Association
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