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Speak Out: Is QSLing Dead?

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5R8GQ on 2008-12-27
"Is QSLing Dead?"

No, it just smells like it is.
Things about QSL'ing that get my goat:

1) You send a guy your card, an SASE and green stamps/IRC, and he sends it back via the Buro. Thanks, thanks a lot asshat!
1b)People who send you IRC's that are stamped incorrectly or worse yet, EXPIRED.
THAT card gets returned via the Buro.
They're useless folks, if you are going to QSL, please get with the program. There are "QSL Basics" posted all over the Net.
2) Guys who send you the same card for the same QSO over, and over and over again. This is usually through the Buro, and surprisingly, from countries who them selves have excellent Buros. (JA,D,F,G etc).
Come on guys, Buro cards take time. If you want it right away, QSL Direct.
3) Ops who don't keep they're QSL info current at QRZ.com. Or even their email info so you can confirm QSL info. (Or, as above, so you can email them "You've sent me 3 cards in 4 months for the same QSO, please knock it off and wait".
4) Ops who get royally peeved when you send their card back "SRI Not In Log". I search my log 12 ways from Sunday for your info. Date, time,different permutations of the call sign. It's usually from the middle of a huge pileup and HE thought I came back to him. I have attractive color photo cards, and I usually send one back marked "sample" anyway. Then I get an insulting email for my efforts.
5)I don't electronic QSL. (Maybe I'M the asshat for that?) I understand the argument that some ops have limited funds, etc. But I am a traditionalist and beleive in paper and postage. I LIKE opening my mailbox and seeing the cool overseas stamps on the envelopes. I LIKE holding a card in my hand that came from accross the world. If you want that card badly enough, you will find a way to scatch up the postage. I remember QSL'ing my first ever (and then only) QSO with India from my W6 QTH. I sent 5 SASE's with green stamps. The sixth I spent $8 to send Registered Mail, and FINALLY got the card.
6) Guys who load up their cards with phoney "Awards" they have won. Sure, there are a lot of award winners out there and they have a right to be proud and brag. I would. But when you print up "6BDXCC" "DX Honor Roll" and even "5BWAZ" (wow,I'm impressed..WAZ is HARD!)then I look you up and you've been a ham for 3 years, two as a Tech, you live in an apartment and use an indoor dipole....it's just WRONG! Granted it's a small minority who do this, but.....jeeze it just gets me. I guess I have issues.....
7) Soapbox is getting wobbly, sorry....

N0CRS on 2008-05-15
I do not have the cash to put down for printed Qsls that look like everyone elses.
I just confirm, using my printer and a piece
of paper .

AG0A on 2007-12-27
I QSL, via LoTW, E-qsl for what that is worth and "the origian real thing" when requested or if I hear that this was their first contact on a new mode for them or first qsl on a certain band. I do not request a SASE if it is a stateside address; and yes I am still chasing them myself for a couple bands and still a lot of countries out there. It is the last courtesy for us.

73 de Galen
AG0A

W5LXG on 2007-12-27
This ham answers every QSL received,only because of the days when I thought they were important. I could care less today. When ever someone tells me they are going to QSL,I tell them NOT to send me a card,as it will be thrown it away. However,I tell them to save their 26 cents and I will send them my card.My attitude comes from confirming 3077 counties for the USA-CA award. Cards today give me heatburn.

N2BIX on 2007-12-14
If I receive a QSL card ,I send one back.I do not QSL stations that I don't need for awards etc .I assume that if someone sends me a card ,they want or need mine and so they get one.If I need a card ,I generally will add a note like ,I need your card for WAS,etc.This is especially important in a contest because a person makes so many contacts that it gets expensive to QSL. I realize that postage has gotten out of hand and not everyone can afford to QSL every card they get.

KD8DUG on 2007-12-14
QSL. One of the best things about being aham,for me is sending and receiving a QSL card.I always try to send a self addressed envelope and stamp.Nothing better than getting a QSL card from some one i have talked to on the air,from far away or close by.I hope for sure that it never dies.I have gotten some great QSL cards.one example,from K0IZ Colorado realy nice card and very desriptive,THANKS.73

W4ASS on 2007-10-21
i qsl 100% most of the time i get a responce due the fact that my card is unque and 1 of a kind and soon to be a collectors item , not too manny w4ass calls out there and the card is always wanted

MM3XXW on 2007-09-22
Of course it's not dead, it's maybe got a wee bit on the slow side but dead, no I don't think so a simple browse through the many QSL designers/printers will show otherwise.

How long a contact takes to be confirmed ...... well maybe that's already been covered on another post!

KB6QXM on 2007-09-17
In my opinion, when postage was "cheap", it was a lot more attractive to send QSL's to everyone you desired. When the postage rates started going up, you started becoming much more selective on who you sent QSL cards to

2E0MCA on 2007-08-30
QSL'ing isn't dead, just a bit comatose. All of us have busy lives now and writing out / printing takes time. The positive is that there are still lots of Ham's out there who send before they receive and others that respond when they get a card. As proof, I have worked 97 DXCC entities in the two and a bit years that I have been a Ham and 75 of those are now confirmed by QSL.

There are problems which need to be addressed. The worst one is the Station that wants to QSL direct with greenbacks enclosed but doesn't respond, (and some of those are US stations).

In general most Hams continue to be very honest in their handling of QSL requests. QSL'ing will only die if we let it.

ps, if you speak to me on air I will certainly send you a card via the bureau.

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