Decision Made....No more QSL cards.....

[KA3NRX]

.....to be sent for major Dxpeidtion qsling.....The wait is just too long and painful, and the postage hassle is just that...a hassle....From now on, I will be using online qsl requesting if it is offered......I think that is probably the most effective and quickest way to obtain a (non e-qsl) card for confirmation.....Besides, I am under the impression that some of these qsl managers take all those received cards and line them in the bird cage or for the cat's litter box after they are answered.....Seems like the waste of a good card.....I will be using my qsl cards to exchange with friends/qsos overseas to garden variety places that/who are not involved with expeditions......What a shame it's come to this, but it's still a good thing as the return time involved will be greatly reduced.....

V
KA3NRX

[NU4B]

Vince,
 I use the OQRS all the time. (I'm not sure why I didn't with T2T.) But I have used OQRS since it first came out. It really makes sense when you think about it. By the time you pay for postage, a couple green stamps or IRC, the envelope, the card, filling out the envelopes, the card  - its worth it (not to mention when your out of stamps or envelopes). And I save my cards for those that want them or those that don't have an OQRS.

 These big DXpeditions most likely don't want a card - and its probably much easier to make a few clicks and print a card or label, and the associated envelope. The Club Log OQRS is nice because its fairly standard and it feeds right off of the DXpedition logs. You look up your QSOs on the online log, and if you have any there's a QSL button right there. You have a choice of direct or bureau and the option to make an additional contribute if you want.

Good DX'ing - Larry

[KA3NRX]

Vince,
 I use the OQRS all the time. (I'm not sure why I didn't with T2T.) But I have used OQRS since it first came out. It really makes sense when you think about it. By the time you pay for postage, a couple green stamps or IRC, the envelope, the card, filling out the envelopes, the card  - its worth it (not to mention when your out of stamps or envelopes). And I save my cards for those that want them or those that don't have an OQRS.

 These big DXpeditions most likely don't want a card - and its probably much easier to make a few clicks and print a card or label, and the associated envelope. The Club Log OQRS is nice because its fairly standard and it feeds right off of the DXpedition logs. You look up your QSOs on the online log, and if you have any there's a QSL button right there. You have a choice of direct or bureau and the option to make an additional contribute if you want.

Good DX'ing - Larry

Yeah Larry, the more and more I think about it, the more it does make perfect sense...Especially for someone as impatient as me.....This expereince waiting for T2T has just sinshed it....No more mail deliveries...especially if it's an all time new one....There is no alternative than OQRS from this point forward regarding a new entity where a major dxped is taking place.....And I picked up a new QSL design in the fall that is too nice to be wasted as the QSL manager's pooch's papers......By the by, I used OQRS for HK0NA, so I am keeping my fingers crossed.....

V
KA3NRX

[K6UJ]

I understand the rationale for the decision of no more QSL cards.
I have a question though.  What are you going to do in a case where the ONLY way to get a
confirmation is to exchange QSL's ?
(and it is an all time new one :-)   

Bob
K6UJ

[KA3NRX]

I understand the rationale for the decision of no more QSL cards.
I have a question though.  What are you going to do in a case where the ONLY way to get a
confirmation is to exchange QSL's ?
(and it is an all time new one :-)  

Bob
K6UJ

Um..I am only shunning sending my card to major dxpeditions that have OQRS....If they don't have OQRS (which in this day and age is pretty much unheard of), I will send my card.....

[K2MK]

Vince,

I hate to burst your bubble but the OQRS, while very convenient, is hardly fool proof. I've had two failures in the last few years, S21YZ and 5W0IW/5W0NM. All of the DXPedition QSLs have been sent out and those handling the QSL duties no longer respond to any e-mails. If I now send them a QSL via the bureau they will probably see that they have already sent me a card and ignore the bureau request. The only resource left to me are direct mailings with a copies of my PayPal receipt. But since I have a LoTW confirmation from S21YZ and another 5W0 QSL it isn't worth the postage.

73,
Mike K2MK

[KA3NRX]

Vince,

I hate to burst your bubble but the OQRS, while very convenient, is hardly fool proof. I've had two failures in the last few years, S21YZ and 5W0IW/5W0NM. All of the DXPedition QSLs have been sent out and those handling the QSL duties no longer respond to any e-mails. If I now send them a QSL via the bureau they will probably see that they have already sent me a card and ignore the bureau request. The only resource left to me are direct mailings with a copies of my PayPal receipt. But since I have a LoTW confirmation from S21YZ and another 5W0 QSL it isn't worth the postage.

73,
Mike K2MK

Mike...If there is one thing I have learned in life, it's that nothing is fool proof....but I ask you, two dissappointments with OQRS as opposed to how many successes with a not so long of a wait time???....Sounds to me like your two mishaps were due to some form of mismanagment on the expedition's part......My mind is made up....Dxpeditions offering OQRS no longer get a mail request unless absolutely necessary......

V
KA3NRX

[W5DQ]

.....to be sent for major Dxpeidtion qsling.....The wait is just too long and painful, and the postage hassle is just that...a hassle....From now on, I will be using online qsl requesting if it is offered......I think that is probably the most effective and quickest way to obtain a (non e-qsl) card for confirmation.....Besides, I am under the impression that some of these qsl managers take all those received cards and line them in the bird cage or for the cat's litter box after they are answered.....Seems like the waste of a good card.....I will be using my qsl cards to exchange with friends/qsos overseas to garden variety places that/who are not involved with expeditions......What a shame it's come to this, but it's still a good thing as the return time involved will be greatly reduced.....

V
KA3NRX

Vince,

As a interesting sidepoint to your comment, at the Int'l DX Convention in Visalia, CA, almost everytime the topic of QSLing to DXpeditions comes up, ops from MOST DXpeditions plainly state that they DO NOT need NOR do they want our cards. They usually just dispose of them anyway or file them away in some manner, not like most of us who love to show them off as 'trophies'. IMHO, the use of the OQRS is a godsend for QSLing the majors. It allows you to get the QSL for awards and not have to hassle with the outgoing effort to send an unwanted card.

I don't see where you come by the idea it is a shame that QSLing has come to this. From what I read and hear, the big DXPeditions don't apply for awards themselves so they do not need incoming cards. Their 'profit' from all of this is the rankings of number of Q's and other top of the pile stats. You're right in keeping your QSLcards and using them where they are best needed. That is one of the main benefits of OQRS.

Now if I can just get everyone who has incoming DX cards at my "L" segment of the W6 Buro to pony up for their postage to send their cards to them I'd be much happier. I have a few who get lots of cards (one guy is a club rep yet he lets a 6" stack go fallow) yet don't seem to give a rats patooty about them, even after repeated pleas to come and save them before I drop them in the wastecan.

Gene W5DQ

[W2IRT]

Gene, I'm in the same boat here in the 2nd District. I had a few guys who got a bunch but weren't subscribers. I mailed a couple of courtest envelopes a year apart, emailed them a few times to no avail as well. Before I trashed the cards I made one last effort and phoned them up at home. Two of them subscribed the other didn't want them.

As a sorter I don't have to pay to get my own bureau cards but even so, they're a PITA to deal with sometimes. Frankly I prefer LoTW hits, especially from the big contest stations that I work 10 or 15 times a season. As a DXer, give me OQRS any day of the week, preferably with the option of not even getting a paper card; just upload to LoTW ASAP and here's your donation, with sincere thanks. The only exception to this is for 160m bandfills and All-Time New Ones, when I really DO want the card.

[KD8MJR]

I am still waiting for 2 OQRS Cards out of 5 from DXPeditions, it's been 6 months plus since I paid my $5 on those two.
On the other hand I have received 95% of cards I have send out with SASE and $2.  I am very methodical in picking who I send my money to but if it's a Rare one I take my chances and so far it's paid off.

[CBISBACK]

I am still waiting for 2 OQRS Cards out of 5 from DXPeditions, it's been 6 months plus since I paid my $5 on those two.
On the other hand I have received 95% of cards I have send out with SASE and $2.  I am very methodical in picking who I send my money to but if it's a Rare one I take my chances and so far it's paid off.

Does the whining from you people ever stop?

You guys can dream up the most bizarre things to complain about.

KA3NRX  you need to get a life, preferably one where you're taught patience.

I guess this is representative of the instant gratification generation that seems to have evolved over the past 25 years.

Chill out folks, DX-peditions have to handle tens of thousands of cards If you've never been on the receiving end of that many QSL cards from all over the world than you don't know what you're talking about,  all you're doing is aimlessly talking and whining.

Let's not be so critical of major Dx-pedition QSLing....

Maybe you should volunteer to help handle the cards?

Oh yes, that would be a lot of work and interfere with your constant whining on E-ham.

[NU4B]

I am still waiting for 2 OQRS Cards out of 5 from DXPeditions, it's been 6 months plus since I paid my $5 on those two.
On the other hand I have received 95% of cards I have send out with SASE and $2.  I am very methodical in picking who I send my money to but if it's a Rare one I take my chances and so far it's paid off.

Does the whining from you people ever stop?

NO - this is the DX forum. Its where we come to talk, get info, and yes - whine - about whatever DX related subject we decide we want to whine about.

[K9SRV]

Pardon me, but what exactly is OQRS? I too would like an easier
method of confirm.
Thanks,
John
KB9ico

[WW3QB]

Pardon me, but what exactly is OQRS? I too would like an easier
method of confirm.
Thanks,
John
KB9ico

OQRS is an Online QSL Request Service. It is offered by most major DXpeditions. There is no standard way, each DXpedition does it a bit differently, some much better than others. Examples are at http://df3cb.com/oqrs/hk0na/ and http://manihiki2012.de/OQRS.html

I have had great success using them so far for many DXpeditions, getting a card within six months.

[CBISBACK]

I am still waiting for 2 OQRS Cards out of 5 from DXPeditions, it's been 6 months plus since I paid my $5 on those two.
On the other hand I have received 95% of cards I have send out with SASE and $2.  I am very methodical in picking who I send my money to but if it's a Rare one I take my chances and so far it's paid off.

Does the whining from you people ever stop?

NO - this is the DX forum. Its where we come to talk, get info, and yes - whine - about whatever DX related subject we decide we want to whine about.

And you are doing a fine job of it...