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From: dls@genrad.com (Diana L. Syriac)
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
Subject: Re: Do QSL bureaus actually work?
Message-ID: <44668@genrad.UUCP>
Date: 11 Nov 91 15:04:15 GMT
References: <9111081225.AA01153@s5000.RSVL.UNISYS.COM>
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In article <9111081225.AA01153@s5000.RSVL.UNISYS.COM> bert@s5000.RSVL.UNISYS.COM writes:
>I got back on HF just about one year ago. This time I decided I'd be a DXer.
>The second thing I did (after ordering new QSL cards) was to send a buck and
>some address labels to the Zeroth District QSL Bureau.
>Since then, I've sent out hundreds of cards via the ARRL outgoing bureau.
>I've received exactly nothing in return.
>I realize that the bureau is SUPPOSED to be slow; that's why it's cheap. But,
>NOTHING? For a WHOLE YEAR? And not even anything that might have dribbled in
>from my other sporadic efforts over the past 15 years of being a W0?
>Thinking back, I can't postively recall ever getting ANYTHING from the bureaus
>in any of the districts I've been licensed in, and that's for over 30 years.
>Is this typical? Am I just expecting too much? Anybody care to relate their
>experiences?


For the betterment of all hams out there, I'll relate a few things about the
Incoming QSL bureau.  I am a sorter (ie, I'm one of the ones that sends hams
their foreign QSL cards from the bureau), so I do have first hand knowledge
of this.  Note that all bureaus and sorters are slightly different, but most
of this applies to all.

EVERYTHING YOU EVER WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT BUREAUS BUT WERE AFRAID TO ASK

*How long DOES it take to get a card thru the QSL bureau???
	The AVERAGE time is 6 months to a year.  I've seen cards come thru
	in as little as 3 months....but not often...I've also seen cards come
	thru TEN YEARS LATER...but not often.  Two years is not an unusual
	time, so do be patient.

*Why does it take so long????
	Well, let's start at the beginning, the FOREIGN ham.  Definitely, you
	won't see a card until he sends one out.  And some don't do this but
	once every three months, where they might sit down and send out all
	the QSL contacts they've made in the past three months.  Some foreign
	hams wait YEARS before sending out their QSL cards!!!  Then we have
	the FOREIGN QSL bureaus.  Many foreign QSL bureaus don't send the cards
	until they have a specified amount, for example 10 pounds going to the
	US.  This may take six months to build up that amount, and if your 
	card happens to come in right after they just shipped a bunch....well,
	you figure it out.

	Eventually, it reaches the incoming QSL bureau.  You get them in a few
	days, right?  WRONG.  Next, the incoming QSL bureau does a "primary
	sort" to separate the QSL cards into 26 letters, the letter immediately
	after the number.  Now, these "letter" cards have to get to the letter
	sorter (like me) somehow.  Either the sorter goes to pick them up, or
	the cards are delivered to an intermediary, who delivers them to 
	another intermediary, who calls the letter sorter, who comes to pick
	up his cards.  Up until 6 months ago, there were two intermediaries
	between me and the QSL bureau.  Now there is only one.  But figure
	one to three months between the time when the cards get to the QSL
	bureau and the time it gets to the sorter.

	Ok, now the letter sorter does a "secondary sort" to sort the QSL
	cards by the SECOND letter after the number (or first/second letter 
	before the number for 2x1 calls).  The letter sorter also has to 
	process all the new "credits" (cash, stamps, envelopes) that have 
	come in that month from US hams who want their cards.  Finally, the
	sorter starts sending out QSL cards IF the ham has money/envelopes
	on hand.  Depending on his schedule, this may occur anywhere from
	1 week to 1 month after he gets the cards from the bureau.  Remember,
	he may have been on vacation for two weeks, his work schedule may
	be too busy, there may be three THOUSAND cards to sort, any number
	of reasons why it takes so long.  The letter sorter IS A VOLUNTEER
	and gets nothing in return for doing this job....except an occasional
	nice letter from thankful hams and an occasional nastygram from those
	not so thankful hams who think THEY know better than he how to do his
	job.

	If you add all those times up, you'll see why it takes an average of
	6 months to a year.

*OK, assuming that the letter sorter does get QSL cards for me, do I get
 them immediately?
	Not necessarily.  Different sorters work differently.  I used to send
	ALL QSL cards out if the ham had an envelope on hand.  But after 
	getting a number of nastygrams complaining about only one QSL card
	in the envelope, I have changed my methods.  Now, I send out cards
	if there is an ounce of cards (about 5) OR if I've held the one or
	two cards for 90 days.  I figure if I've held it for 90 days and there
	are no more coming in, the ham probably still wants the cards.  I
	have a few hams who have specifically requested that I send their 
	cards every month regardless of how many they have, and I do this.

*Oh, gee, you HOLD cards?  Then I'll just put 5 ounces of postage on and let
 you send me the cards when you get 5 ounces worth!
	DON'T DO THIS, PLEASE!!!!  When sending in envelopes, ALWAYS only
	place one ounce of postage on the envelope.  Sure, send along extra
	postage or cash for additional ounces or postal increases, but don't
	attach it to the envelopes.  Remember, it's your money, and if you
	want to waste 5 ounces of postage on 1 ounce of cards, that's your
	business.  But why not make it easy for the poor sorter who sorts your
	cards for no pay?  Many (like myself) don't have room to store many
	thousands of cards for many months.  They get sent out after 90 days
	regardless of how many you have.

*I don't have any 5x7 or 6x9 inch envelopes, I'll just send a small envelope
 instead.
	Another DON'T DO THIS.  The small personal envelopes are TOO SMALL
	for QSL cards.  The business size envelopes are just marginally 
	better and work for most QSL cards.  But foreign QSL cards vary in
	size and many will not fit in a standard business size envelope 
	either.  If you're looking for a better compromise, there's some
	oversize business size envelopes that are about 1/2" larger, or
	use number 6 size envelopes (Christmas card size envelopes). 
	Obviously, I prefer 5x7 or 6x9 inch envelopes, since they are easier
	to keep track of. 

	The other alternative is to let the sorter "buy" envelopes for you.
	Most (not all) bureaus will allow you to send in money instead of
	envelopes.  The sorter then charges a set fee (for our bureau, it's
	10 cents an envelope or 3 for 25 cents) for envelopes.  And before
	you croak about how expensive that is, check the local prices of 
	6x9 inch envelopes....I think I saw at the local store three 6x9 inch
	envelopes for 79 cents.....I'm really making a bundle on selling
	envelopes, aren't I?

*What happens to QSL cards if the ham doesn't have any money/envelopes at the
 sorter?
	This varies.  But, most sorters will hold the cards for up to 45 days.
	After this point, they will get disposed (thrown away) or sent back
	to the QSL bureau.  Some sorters may send out postcards to notify
	the ham that he has cards on file; I do.  However, if the ham doesn't
	respond IMMEDIATELY, the cards will get destroyed.  Figure there is
	about 3 month return trip between the time you send something to the
	QSL bureau and the time the sorter actually receives it, so don't 
	expect your cards within a month.  I hold cards for about 90 days, 
	then throw them away.  I have some "accounts" that I don't even hold 
	them for 90 days.  These are hams that I've sent a postcard to in the 
	past and got no response....or got a response that says "I don't QSL,
	don't bother me!"  No interest in QSL cards, so out they go.
	This means that when you change your address or call, send your new 
	address	to the bureau!  If the cards bounce due to "Address Unknown", 
	you'll receive no more cards and cards will not be stored for future 
	posterity.

*What do I do when I get a new callsign?
	Send the QSL bureau a letter indicating your OLD callsign(s) and your
	new callsign.  The "old" sorter will transfer your account to the "new"
	sorter.  It will take a couple extra months the first time, but then
	it will settle down again.

*I sent some envelopes in to the bureau a year ago and still haven't received
 any cards, what do I do?
	I'd say be patient and wait longer.  Maybe there were no QSL cards
	for you.  The envelopes/money is still there, so you should be set.
	HOWEVER, if you wish to find out what your "account" is like, ASK.
	Send a Self-Addressed Stamped Envelope (this can be any size, but
	business envelope is best, cuz you might get some enclosed QSL cards
	with your response!) and ASK for the status of your account.  You can
	also ask for information on the incoming and/or outgoing bureau at
	the same time.  I have flyers that describe both of these.  And if
	you're smart, you might also send along a dollar at the same time
	to update your account....JUST IN CASE you're receiving no cards 
	because there is no money in your account.  I mean really, you can
	afford a dollar, right?

	Do keep in mind that QSL bureaus are human too.  Sometimes they lose
	money/envelopes.  This happened to me once.  The bureau "found" the
	lost envelope behind a sorting box six months later.  Meanwhile, I
	coughed up the cash from my personal checking account, figuring it was
	I that had lost the money.  Sorters are very nice persons in general.
	Treat yours nice, and you'll get good service.


Hope I answered all your questions (and more!).

Diana


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