What is Standard Contribution?
47DX052 Tom raised a great point on one of the other threads recently about standard contribution and what it means in today’s hobby. Like Tom, I have heard that many ham activities now require $2 US or 2 IRC as standard contribution to receive a reply card direct and not via the Bureau. Obviously this is due to the rising costs of postage and the passed on costs to QSL Managers who reply to thousands of QSL card requests.
What are the ramifications for Eleven Meter radio use and the process of exchanging cards on the Freeband? Is standard contribution now $2 US or 2 IRC? What about SAE also? Are these put of the whole standard contribution package?
Please comment.
Admin
Lima Delta Contribution
Since 2009 LD has the following so called "standard contribution" for QSL requests:
* Non EU stations: send a SAE (Self Addressed Envelope) plus 2 US$ or 2 valid IRC (only new IRCs valid till 31.12.2013) (Note: at present the postage in Germany is very high we pay 1,70 Euro for a oversea letter)
* EU stations: send a SAE (Self Addressed Envelope) plus 1 US$ or 1 Euro or 1 valid IRC
* This postage allows us to send one letter with 20 grams = 1 QSL card + envelope
This was in 2009, but now we are close to 2010 and even $2 doesn´t cover the mail expense for an overseas letter.
At the present 1,70 Euro for an overseas letter, that's already 2.55 US $ !! ......?
So what to do?
Imagine cycle 24 comes up, you or someone from your group is running a nice activation.
When it´s done you receive lets say "only" 500 over sea letter & everyone sends 2$ (thats a dream hihi..)
then you still have to take 275 US$ out of your own pocket to send them back hm...
The only posibillity to save money would be to have different qsl managers for different parts of the world.
EU request from EU manager, US from US manager & so on...
73 & good DX
13LD001 Marc
Sample QSL Means DXTRA Costs
Hello Marc and All,
It is possible in Australia via Australia Post to send a QSL confirmation card for $1.25 AUD provided it is a 'Card Only'. You also must write 'Card Only' on the envelope to avoid being over charged.
Like most QSL Managers, however, I like to include some of the DA-RC's sample cards as a small gift to ops who have provided the necessary contribution, as well as a label or SAE. Unfortunately, any more than 1 QSL card, though, takes the amount up to $2.05. I know that this is my choice, however, and agree that it should come out of my pocket if that is the way I wish to operate my QSL Managerialship ;-)
At the moment, 1 x $AUD is equivalent to just over 90 US cents so the currencies are pretty much on par. That means a loss of about 50c AUD for each card I send as 'Card Only'.
Therefore, I definitely support Tom and Marc when they say that 2 x $US would be a more reasonable 'standard contribution'. Nevertheless, the best contribution for me would be 1 x IRC to cover postage, 1 x address label or an SAE and 1 x $US to contribute to the cost of the card. Have you seen the cost of getting QSL cards printed these days? Holy heck!!!
I also understand that some contributions suit certain managers due to differences in the world's post systems. So basically what one Manager prefers/requires will be different to another. Starting to get complicated isn't it?!?!?!
Due to rising costs, I will have to lessen the incidences when I provide these sample cards otherwise I will cast the family into bankrupcy ;-). Either that or win the lotto.
73 de Darren
43DA001/010
Admin