... from Columbia, South America none the less. Made contact with a 6ET member over the weekend. He readily provided an email contact (which I like). The shocker turned out to be was that he was asking for $10 PayPal for shipping to get his card!!
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QSL extortion ...
- Thread starter Klondike Mike
- Start date
Yeah right! It is common practice to enclose a US buck or two for some overseas stations,especially those in rare countries, but nothing like $10 and especially for Columbia.
Wasn't there a thread about a few countries that had recently raised their postal rates?
I recall it being outrageous. So maybe this dudes request is reasonable.
I recall it being outrageous. So maybe this dudes request is reasonable.
No. $10 for a QSL card is in no way an accurate depiction of increased postal rates even for Columbia.
Not saying it's correct...
Maybe I read that on QRZ.
Not even sure which countries they were even talking about.
Maybe I read that on QRZ.
Not even sure which countries they were even talking about.
I know Germany had a big increase but everything is relative. A big increase may be 50% more of something that was already low to begin with.
Whether it is warranted or not by the sender, $10 to ship a card is out of line and I won't be paying it. As with everything else with inflation driving prices up, this "old fart" who knows better will scoff and keep his money in his pocket.
While the next Mr. Richie Rich will come along and think nothing of it and pay the "price" and keep the system going. This is just a microcosm of whats going on out there.
While the next Mr. Richie Rich will come along and think nothing of it and pay the "price" and keep the system going. This is just a microcosm of whats going on out there.
I can remember when we used to a have a post card postal rate. It was the cheapest means to send something besides bulk mail rate. I received a couple of QSL cards recently. In the ENVELOPE contained the QSL card, the clubs card, and a sticker for the club with the call of the op on it. Sending postcards in an envelope. Brilliant. Not.
Don't know why it needs to go there. It is supposed to be really nothing more than a postcard that has the station's call and information about the QSO verifying the contact. What am I do with this sticker? Who needs it? I can use the card. Just a cheap post card at a cheap rate will do just fine please.
If you get a QSL card from me, it will be sent as a post card. Nice looking postcard. Full color postcard. All the needed info. No nekked babe lying on some beach. Sorry.
Because it all came in an envelope, the cost to mail it from point A to B goes up from the postcard rate. Not to mention, the cost for the extra card and the sticker. And suddenly the value goes up. But $10? Bringing HIS cost of the QSO to the receiver? No sir; that won't do . . .
Don't know why it needs to go there. It is supposed to be really nothing more than a postcard that has the station's call and information about the QSO verifying the contact. What am I do with this sticker? Who needs it? I can use the card. Just a cheap post card at a cheap rate will do just fine please.
If you get a QSL card from me, it will be sent as a post card. Nice looking postcard. Full color postcard. All the needed info. No nekked babe lying on some beach. Sorry.
Because it all came in an envelope, the cost to mail it from point A to B goes up from the postcard rate. Not to mention, the cost for the extra card and the sticker. And suddenly the value goes up. But $10? Bringing HIS cost of the QSO to the receiver? No sir; that won't do . . .
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Why are you complaining about what it cost someone else to do? As for the sticker, lots of operators really enjoy getting a bit more than a QSL card. Something to consider when you send your cards as a simple post card is that you may be putting the other operator in jeopardy if his operations are not legal in his country. Pretty much all 11m operators operate outside their country's regulations when DX'ing and not all countries are as slack at enforcement as yours. I always sent my 11m cards in an envelope and now all my amateur cards are sent either in an envelope direct or via the bureau and they send it in bulk in packages.
an envelope with no callsign on it is the way to go, all thats needed is the op's first name and his unit number in brackets after it, it will get to the right person if the rest of the address is ok, as Garth says, few if any countries allow legal operation on the prime 11m dx frequencies, and many countries actively pursue pirates.
all you do when including a full callsign is put your contact in jeopardy of a visit. in the uk in the past they were well known for intercepting qsl's that had any mention of 11m on the envelopes, probably not as big a problem here these days though, but i would imagine many countries are much worse.
Thanks for that info ... never considered it before. I do provide an envelope with my card just because it is has some graphics that match the card. I also request from the OP a shipping label as they would like to see it on the envelope.
The OP in my question also gave the option of contacting his QSL manager in the UK and then it would probably be the more reasonable $2. But, this QSL manager operation does take away some of the romance of receiving a card sent from where the OP lives.
Cap'n KW and Klondike Mike -
$10 for a letter out of Colombia is fact, not fiction. There is no govt postal system here. It was closed down about 5 years ago because of massive theft and corruption. Private shippers are the only way now, and their rates are exorbitant . I paid $18.00 american to send a letter to the IRS from here via DHL. People who ask for a QSL card from me get a printable version via Email.
-399
Thank you 399 for clearing this up. Case Closed! Therefore, ALL countries that have a Gov't run postal system should now be thankful that we do and it only costs us $1.75 to mail a letter internationally. Just shows us what will happen if the couriers are the only player in town.
BTW, the couriers here charge the same amount, if not more. Fortunately, we have have an option.
Well this is all very eye opening.
Are there any other South American countries where this applies?
Or is it just Colombia?
Are there any other South American countries where this applies?
Or is it just Colombia?