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Author Topic: BUYING QSL CARDS from OVERSEAS  (Read 22317 times)

K2LGO

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BUYING QSL CARDS from OVERSEAS
« on: October 24, 2011, 05:31:48 PM »

Can someone explain to me why with the availability of QSL printers in the good old US of A, why anyone would order from out of the country...Oh I know...this company overseas has better color, or better graphics, or better selection, or better stock....Hmmmm maybe so I'm not sure... But when do we stop and say, lets do our best to keep our hard earned US dollars in the US...
I have no connection with any US company, and I have no axe to grind with any company overseas, I just think we should think about supporting our own...
And before someone says, oh hell all our ham gear comes from out of the country, why not our QSL-s...somethings we can't help, others we can...
JUST ONE MAN'S OPINION...
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KC2VDM

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RE: BUYING QSL CARDS from OVERSEAS
« Reply #1 on: October 24, 2011, 06:06:30 PM »

I agree, we need to start buying more from our own country. It's a game of money though.

-Alex
KCVDM
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SWMAN

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RE: BUYING QSL CARDS from OVERSEAS
« Reply #2 on: October 25, 2011, 07:16:12 AM »

 You really should buy them from Jeff
K4JSG, I did and I really like the quality and the price. I shopped around and his was the best that I could find. Check it out, you'll be happy.
  73 Jim G. W5JJG
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N3QE

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RE: BUYING QSL CARDS from OVERSEAS
« Reply #3 on: October 25, 2011, 12:27:41 PM »

I do agree with you on the "buy american". I grew up in a era that resulted in me not having a single Japanese rig in my shack ever.

I've bought a lot of QSL cards through US suppliers over the past 30+ years I've been a ham. My first batch was made up at my hometown's office printer. Then my next several batches were from Russprint.

And then I went and bought several thousand cards from UX5UO a couple years ago, and then again last year. If there was a similar US product at the same or a little higher price, I'd do it. But UX5UO made ordering easier than it ever was than at any of my previous US QSL printers, it was cheap even including shipping, and the quality is truly top-notch.

On a couple occasions I've had special batches of 4x6" photo QSL cards made up by iprint.com in the past couple years. I honestly don't know if they're American made or not, for all I know they might be made in China and shipped here. But I would not recommend them as a "regular" QSL supplier because they don't do 3.5x5.5.
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WB6DGN

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RE: BUYING QSL CARDS from OVERSEAS
« Reply #4 on: November 01, 2011, 10:46:23 PM »

Quote
But when do we stop and say, lets do our best to keep our hard earned US dollars in the US...

Speaking only for myself, the answer is;  When US merchants can equal or exceed the QUALITY, SERVICE AND PRICE of those offshore dealers (China EXCEPTED, I would rather go without than buy Chinese)!  I'm sick and tired of American manufacturers/merchants hiding behind the "buy American" pitch.  AND, the quality and support of American products (not just ham) seems to be getting worse by the day.  Screw me once, shame on YOU; Screw me twice, shame on ME!
Tom
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W5DQ

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RE: BUYING QSL CARDS from OVERSEAS
« Reply #5 on: November 03, 2011, 02:43:39 PM »

I do agree with you on the "buy american". I grew up in a era that resulted in me not having a single Japanese rig in my shack ever.

I've bought a lot of QSL cards through US suppliers over the past 30+ years I've been a ham. My first batch was made up at my hometown's office printer. Then my next several batches were from Russprint.

And then I went and bought several thousand cards from UX5UO a couple years ago, and then again last year. If there was a similar US product at the same or a little higher price, I'd do it. But UX5UO made ordering easier than it ever was than at any of my previous US QSL printers, it was cheap even including shipping, and the quality is truly top-notch.

On a couple occasions I've had special batches of 4x6" photo QSL cards made up by iprint.com in the past couple years. I honestly don't know if they're American made or not, for all I know they might be made in China and shipped here. But I would not recommend them as a "regular" QSL supplier because they don't do 3.5x5.5.

For UX5UO QSLcards, count me too as a VERY satified REPEAT customer. I made my own for many years but decided I wanted some quality full color cards and went looking for suppliers in the US and abroad. Some of the stuff people were trying to pass off as quality QSL cards looked like my stepdaughter had made it in grade school art class. I would have been ashamed to send any of those out to anyone even as cheap bureau cards. The samples I got from Gennady UX5UO blew my socks off. And his prices were LOWER than his competition on similar quality cards and even some INFERIOR cards.

I created a layout I wanted to see on my cards and sent it via email to Gennady. I had a touched up master ready to print in hand the next day for review and after another tweak, placed the order. About 3 weeks later I had cards. They looked great, top drawer workmanship and the quoted price included shipping to the USA. No US vendor could even come close. I'm on my second 1000 qty box and will be getting another 1000 soon.

I am a believer in supporting my local community and my country but I will not be held up for higher prices for inferior products, US or not. That just isn't sound business practice no matter what the transaction. If any US vendor can equal or exceed Gennady's work for a similar price point, I'd be all over that deal. So far I haven't seen it anywhere.

W5DQ
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Gene W5DQ
Ridgecrest, CA - DM15dp
www.radioroom.org

AD6KA

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RE: BUYING QSL CARDS from OVERSEAS
« Reply #6 on: November 03, 2011, 06:06:56 PM »

Quote
But when do we stop and say, lets do our best to keep our hard earned US dollars in the US...

Speaking only for myself, the answer is;  When US merchants can equal or exceed the QUALITY, SERVICE AND PRICE of those offshore dealers (China EXCEPTED, I would rather go without than buy Chinese)!  I'm sick and tired of American manufacturers/merchants hiding behind the "buy American" pitch.  AND, the quality and support of American products (not just ham) seems to be getting worse by the day.  Screw me once, shame on YOU; Screw me twice, shame on ME!
Tom

I agree.

I bought 3,000 QSL cards (Two separate callsigns)
from an overseas printer who is no longer in business. Double
sided, color, heavy stock, EXCELLENT quality for %30 less
than I would have paid here. Sure I had to wait a few months
for delivery but it was worth it. AND the printer GAVE me an extra
1,000 cards as a donation to the Expedition.


I work hard for my money, I'll put it where the quality is.
When the US printers catch up, I'll consider their product.
73, Ken  AD6KA
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HS0ZJU

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RE: BUYING QSL CARDS from OVERSEAS
« Reply #7 on: November 04, 2011, 08:14:28 AM »

Quote from:  link=topic=78392.msg548948#msg548948 date=1319552172
You really should buy them from Jeff
K4JSG, I did and I really like the quality and the price. I shopped around and his was the best that I could find. Check it out, you'll be happy.
  73 Jim G. W5JJG
Can someone explain to me why with the availability of QSL printers in the good old US of A, why anyone would order from out of the country...Oh I know...this company overseas has better color, or better graphics, or better selection, or better stock....Hmmmm maybe so I'm not sure... But when do we stop and say, lets do our best to keep our hard earned US dollars in the US...


I have no connection with any US company, and I have no axe to grind with any company overseas, I just think we should think about supporting our own...
And before someone says, oh hell all our ham gear comes from out of the country, why not our QSL-s...somethings we can't help, others we can...
JUST ONE MAN'S OPINION...

PRICE PRICE PRICE....... k4jsg is one of the most expensive quotes I received
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SWMAN

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RE: BUYING QSL CARDS from OVERSEAS
« Reply #8 on: November 04, 2011, 01:29:26 PM »

Marc,
You said that the cards from K4JSG were the most expensive that you found, that is very odd, he was the least expensive that I found with the best color quality ??? I guess we shop at different places .
73 Jim W5JJG
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HS0ZJU

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RE: BUYING QSL CARDS from OVERSEAS
« Reply #9 on: November 09, 2011, 08:34:15 AM »

Marc,
You said that the cards from K4JSG were the most expensive that you found, that is very odd, he was the least expensive that I found with the best color quality ??? I guess we shop at different places .
73 Jim W5JJG

Please correct me if i am wrong.   K4JSG 1000 COLOR QSL CARDS  79.99 plus international shipping (i am assuming shipping will be extra to HS).............UX5UO 1000 including shipping $59.00.. I ordered 3000 for a min of $60 savings  ...... But since i have not seen either card personally maybe i am comparing apples to oranges..
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SWMAN

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RE: BUYING QSL CARDS from OVERSEAS
« Reply #10 on: November 09, 2011, 09:00:29 AM »

Marc,
 I guess I haven't seen that company, looks like good prices. But, the quality and superb coloring of K4JSG cards make them a better deal for me. Ask him for some samples. Send me one of your cards and I'll send you one of mine. He did a great job on desining mine.73 Jim W5JJG
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W5DQ

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RE: BUYING QSL CARDS from OVERSEAS
« Reply #11 on: November 09, 2011, 09:50:46 AM »

Marc,
 I guess I haven't seen that company, looks like good prices. But, the quality and superb coloring of K4JSG cards make them a better deal for me. Ask him for some samples. Send me one of your cards and I'll send you one of mine. He did a great job on desining mine.73 Jim W5JJG

As another UX5UO customer, I can assure you that Gennady's QSL cards are top notch and he uses the best quality materials. The photos he has shown as samples are sharp, with no shoddy graphics like some and his team provides excellent customer support. I'm sure K4JSG's products are great but since I have never seen or used them I can't directly compare. Given if they are same quality and quantity, it all comes down to pricing (at least for my wallet).

The fact that some postings seem to over look is if one was to order cards in multiple 100 and 250 count lots (like many US vendors seem to offer), the 10x and 4x pricing quantity causes the total to be higher in most cases than a single 1000 count box. If you only want 100 or 250 count order for cards, then perhaps using another vendor may be just the ticket but I would bet most hams will order in 1000 count lots. I know I would burn through 100 cards in no time at all. I hear many folks compare vendor A to vendor B, not seeming to take this sort of multiple pricing offset into account.
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Gene W5DQ
Ridgecrest, CA - DM15dp
www.radioroom.org

K8SI

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RE: BUYING QSL CARDS from OVERSEAS
« Reply #12 on: November 10, 2011, 01:52:25 AM »

Marc,
You said that the cards from K4JSG were the most expensive that you found, that is very odd, he was the least expensive that I found with the best color quality ??? I guess we shop at different places .
73 Jim W5JJG

Please correct me if i am wrong.   K4JSG 1000 COLOR QSL CARDS  79.99 plus international shipping (i am assuming shipping will be extra to HS).............UX5UO 1000 including shipping $59.00.. I ordered 3000 for a min of $60 savings  ...... But since i have not seen either card personally maybe i am comparing apples to oranges..

Well, I just looked online, and the color front and back cards from UX0UO were $89.95USD, while K4JSG's price is $79.95USD.  I know I have received cards printed by UX0UO, and Jeff printed mine, and as far as color and graphics quality, Jeff's look a little better, and the card stock is about the same between the two, nice and heavy.  Jeff does 3.5 x 5 OR 4 x 6 for the same price BTW.
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HS0ZJU

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RE: BUYING QSL CARDS from OVERSEAS
« Reply #13 on: November 10, 2011, 02:58:22 AM »

Marc,
You said that the cards from K4JSG were the most expensive that you found, that is very odd, he was the least expensive that I found with the best color quality ??? I guess we shop at different places .
73 Jim W5JJG

Please correct me if i am wrong.   K4JSG 1000 COLOR QSL CARDS  79.99 plus international shipping (i am assuming shipping will be extra to HS).............UX5UO 1000 including shipping $59.00.. I ordered 3000 for a min of $60 savings  ...... But since i have not seen either card personally maybe i am comparing apples to oranges..

I was using the cards which i purchased as an example....color front only

Well, I just looked online, and the color front and back cards from UX0UO were $89.95USD, while K4JSG's price is $79.95USD.  I know I have received cards printed by UX0UO, and Jeff printed mine, and as far as color and graphics quality, Jeff's look a little better, and the card stock is about the same between the two, nice and heavy.  Jeff does 3.5 x 5 OR 4 x 6 for the same price BTW.
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WS4E

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RE: BUYING QSL CARDS from OVERSEAS
« Reply #14 on: November 14, 2011, 06:39:16 AM »

I gotta say I used a company in china to order my last batch of QSL cards.. They were  HALF what others charge for full color glossy cards.

And the real reason I liked them was their website.  They made it super easy to just upload images of the front and back of my card design and show me what it would look like before it was printed, and then it clearly showed the status of my order.

I have not seen many other QSL printers put that much effort into their website.

Total cost of $45USD ($25/500 printing + $20 shipping) to get printed 500 full color glossy cards with my own full color photo design just can't be beat.

http://www.qslprinter.com/about.php

http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/5616
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