This is very interesting Charles. I have spent some time trying to maximize
my efficiency in QSLing and you seem to have done a great job. I have
received cards from you and I really appreciate getting them. I am pretty
sure that my expenses are greater than yours and I feel sure that you send
out far more QSLs. One thing that has lowered my QSLing problems is LOTW. I
estimate that my QSLs from the bureau have dropped 30-40% because of LOTW.
Another trick that I use is that when someone sends a green stamp and SAE, I
include as many contacts as I can (I am limited to 20) on that card so that
I won't have to send one card after another as they dribble in. One thing
that reduces the cost is the inclusion of $2 by some folks (mostly Jas)...my
return postage costs are about $1.
I think some folks make money QSLing by only answering QSL requests that
include $5, I know one north African that does this. I sent him $3 and a
sase and never heard from him. A friend sent $5 and got a prompt return.
Bill W5VX
-----Original Message-----
From: CQ-Contest [mailto:cq-contest-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of
Charles Harpole
Sent: Saturday, August 31, 2013 7:04 AM
To: CQ-Contest Reflector
Subject: [CQ-Contest] making $$$ on QSLs
I now have two years of good $ records of income and outgo for answering QSL
cards direct and via buro for my Thailand call sign.
The answer is I can account for $11.00 USD net cost to me per month.
That is eleven dollars times 12 months = $132.00 USD per year.
This includes printing cards, paying for Air Mail stamps, and answering buro
cards. That includes cards resulting from CONTESTS*. I do not send any
card that is not requested, direct and buro.
It does not include travel to post office, a P. O. box rental, envelopes for
some, and such misc.
It is via the generosity of direct mailing hams including green stamps that
cuts my costs and very cheap local printing of color cards, as cheap as
plain other places.
I can not see how hams who respond faithfully to all card requests can
possibly make money on QSL cards. I guess my costs are low which means the
net cost/loss to hams in other locations must be higher.
I enjoy so much getting cards and responding that my costs are a tiny price
to pay for the joy they give me. That is especially true for those that
say, "I am 70 years old, a ham all my life, and you are my first Thailand
QSO, pse QSL."
There is just no substitute for touching real things, 73,
--
Charly, HS0ZCW
*See how this message is relevant to contests! Ah ha!
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