[Dx-qsl] QSL costs from VK

Sun Feb 10 22:42:24 EST 2008

I was very sorry to read of the VK amateur who was making a complete jackass
of himself, and doing very little for the reputation of the rest of us, to
boot, in asking for US3ドル via Paypal for QSL card back to the states.

My apologies gentlemen - yes, we breed 'em over here as well!

FYI, the normal international letter(first class airmail letter, of 50
grams) costs AU1ドル.95 to send to pretty well everywhere. At today's exchange
rate, where the Aussie dollar will buy about US0ドル.90, that is about US1ドル.73.

So, in my opinion, a US2ドル.00 ask would be OK. But US3ドル.00, via Paypal, is
someone asking for a free holiday.

As an aside, what many Aussie amateurs do not themselves realize is that you
can post a QSL card ( which Australia Post defines as the same thing as a
Postcard or Greeting card) for AU1ドル.25, or US 1ドル.13. You are supposed to put
only the card in the envelope, but I have been putting a card, a return
envelope, and an IRC, in that AU1ドル.25 envelope for quite a number of years
now, and nary a problem.

The one thing extra I have to do to use that cheaper rate in to hand print,
in red ink, the words 'Card Only' above the Airmail sticker so that it does
not get 'challenged' in the sort process.

But it works, and real good - and the extra words I write on the envelope
don't seem to have had any effect (negative, I mean) on my return rate.

If I need to send two or more QSL cards, I will use the 1ドル.95 stamp, as my
view is why ruin a good thing. 

Also interesting to note that Australia Post allows 50 grams for its basic
airmail letter weight - many other countries only allow 25 grams! 

Regards to all DXers.

Ernie
Ernie Walls VK3FM
vk3fm at wallsy.com.au
vk3fm at arrl.net

Mobile 0418 301 483