On Mon, 2009-12-14 at 08:39 -0800, Ron Stordahl N5IN wrote: > I have achieved very good results by buying foreign postage from > Plumb DX, then sending the SASE with that countries stamps applied in > the correct amount. I suppose there are some recipients who do not > like this, perhaps there are some special circumstances, but it is my > experience that this method is very effective.
I don't like it at all (as a DX station to some of you ;-0 ), In recent years here we have had a number of postal rate increases for international mail, some quite closely spaced. I have had a good number of pre-stamped envelopes over the years that have required additional stamps on my nickel to cover the reply because of this. I have also had a few that came with stamps that were unusable (wrong country or our pre-Euro currency..) Another issue is that most people use gummed envelopes that you moisten, not peal a strip off. This is not an issue except when it rains a lot, then the chances are that I have a pre-stamped envelope that is very soggy and difficult to use & that may have suffered from INK run making it hard on the postal system. I suspect that buying Irish stamps in the US to put on your SAE for my reply QSL is not much cheaper (any cheaper?) than using an IRC or $2. The thing is I can ALWAYS turn an IRC / $ into reply postage. I can rewrite a damaged / unusable reply envelope, but not if it has stamps already fixed to it. I always respond to QSL's but I don't as a rule send them out unless it's for a needed entity, if you make some attempt at covering my return postage it will go back via mail, if not then it will go back via the buero. IRC's or green stamps, on average, work out better for me than a pre-stamped reply envelope. If you just want a confirmation from me for DXCC then the ARRL LOTW system is by far the easiest way for all concerned. If you want a paper QSL then please include an IRC or green stamps (it's around $1.25 for an international stamp here) along with a self addressed envelope. Or just use the buero. -- 73 Brendan EI6IZ ______________________________________________________________ Dxbase mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/dxbase Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[email protected] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
