[Dxbase] Mail Drops

Mon Dec 14 20:38:23 EST 2009

On Mon, 2009年12月14日 at 08:39 -0800, Ron Stordahl N5IN wrote:
> I have achieved very good results by buying foreign postage from
> Plumb DX, then sending the SASE with that countries stamps applied in
> the correct amount. I suppose there are some recipients who do not
> like this, perhaps there are some special circumstances, but it is my
> experience that this method is very effective.

I don't like it at all (as a DX station to some of you ;-0 ), In recent
years here we have had a number of postal rate increases for
international mail, some quite closely spaced. 
I have had a good number of pre-stamped envelopes over the years that
have required additional stamps on my nickel to cover the reply because
of this. I have also had a few that came with stamps that were unusable
(wrong country or our pre-Euro currency..) 
Another issue is that most people use gummed envelopes that you moisten,
not peal a strip off. 
This is not an issue except when it rains a lot, then the chances are
that I have a pre-stamped envelope that is very soggy and difficult to
use & that may have suffered from INK run making it hard on the postal
system.
I suspect that buying Irish stamps in the US to put on your SAE for my
reply QSL is not much cheaper (any cheaper?) than using an IRC or 2ドル. 
The thing is I can ALWAYS turn an IRC / $ into reply postage. I can
rewrite a damaged / unusable reply envelope, but not if it has stamps
already fixed to it.
I always respond to QSL's but I don't as a rule send them out unless
it's for a needed entity, if you make some attempt at covering my return
postage it will go back via mail, if not then it will go back via the
buero. IRC's or green stamps, on average, work out better for me than a
pre-stamped reply envelope.
If you just want a confirmation from me for DXCC then the ARRL LOTW
system is by far the easiest way for all concerned. 
If you want a paper QSL then please include an IRC or green stamps (it's
around 1ドル.25 for an international stamp here) along with a self
addressed envelope.
Or just use the buero. 
-- 
73
Brendan EI6IZ