In the dead horse beating catagory, here I go:
Why take the time to fill out a qsl, put in some cash or whatever, pay to
mail it AND THEN INCLUDE A RETURN ENVELOP WITH BADLY WRITTEN RETURN ADDRESS
on it ?????????????
You are likely to have your own address for some time, maybe years even.
Just invest in a clearly printed label set or rubber stamp. Many times the
postal employees are reading your words in what is to them a VERY foreign
language.
And, for the last time: PUT YOUR HOME ADDRESS COUNTRY name on ur return
envelop!!!!
Joe the master QSL mgr must have the patience of a real saint not to
complain of these and the many other QSLing ills.... like mailing a wet gum
envelop to a wet country, etc etc....
I know u know, but pse send this msg to ur ham friends:
HOW TO QSL TO DX:
Your card--- Your call sign on the same side of card as the info. Include
date and time of QSO CLEARLY. Clearly mark the day and the date-- is
02-06-05 June 2 or Feb 6????. No funny call sign lettering. Keep the
"via" call separate from the target call sign. (JAs: could u just print
horizontal not vertically????)
Your return envelop-- best is a little larger than a post card. Has ur
complete return adr on it with country name spelled out in full in English.
Use kind of envelop that has the pull-off strip that covers the glue. Do
not fold it, but if you must fold it, do not fold it exactly in the middle.
Turn the flap backwards and open. Do not put anything inside your return
envelop. Do not mark it for air mail nor anything else--just put ur
address. Write your call letters on the inside of the flap. Be sure that
when the outer envelop is torn open that the return envelop is so small that
it will miss the tearing action.
Your outside mailing envelop---- Print clearly. Do not seal the flap nor
the edges so securely that it takes a can opener to get the envelop open.
Believe me, your little sealing and taping job deters NO ONE except the ham
who gets ur mailing. Leave a little slack in the seal to allow insertion of
letter opener or thumb.
Inside your outer mailing envelop---- Include your QSL, not attached to
anything. Your SAE not attached to anything. Money, not folded and not
attached to anything. Covering money with other paper or whatever DOES
NOTHING to deter theft--postal thieves are not that stupid, they just tear
everything open, steal the cash and throw the rest away (do u think they
take time to stop and "candle" ur envelop?).
Extra tips--- If you just must send an SAE with exposed glue/gum, place the
glue strip against the dollar bill which resists sticking better than ur
card, and fold the exposed glue backwards so that it can not be accidently
glued shut upon arrival (Do u know the humidity level in Thailand?).
--- Use international reply ENVELOP rather than IRCs. I save IRCs only to
send out again like a Christmas fruitcake that does the rounds--they are
much more trouble than worth EVERYWHERE in the world. For me, and IRC is a
nice but empty gesture.
--- Do not send foreign cash to the countries where it is illegal for the
receiver to have it.
--- Do not send anything except USA cash anywhere unless you are sending
local cash to that country--OK example is Franc to France. Otherwise, Small
value Francs in Thailand, for example, are very difficult to change to Baht
(the exchange fee is greater than the face value of the Franc--for example).
---Do not send your domestic postage stamps on an SASE to another country
where they are worthless to THEIR postal systems.
Overall: In ur imagination, go through the steps it takes to handle and
answer your QSL request. See if you like it.
Meanwhile, I really enjoy TOUCHING and looking at and savoring later real
paper QSLs. Real fun, no kidding. 73,
Charles Harpole, HS0ZCW
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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