QSL cards from the bureau. A delivery…
VP2MCC QSL card |
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Last week I received my first batch of cards from the bureau this year. I’m not particularly active so I don’t expect many cards - I’d guess that about 250 to 300 a year come in via the bureau.
I usually get 80-90 cards per delivery and at least one or two exotic ones. Not this time though. I have to say that this most recent delivery was a bit disappointing - 58 cards and nothing in the least exotic, just the usual EU stuff, a hefty proportion of which are Spanish, German or Italian. |
Interestingly, while updated my log for those cards received, I noticed that most cards seem to correspond to contacts made almost exactly a year ago. An interesting measure of bureau turnaround times and broadly in line with most peoples expectations where 12-24 months is considered ‘normal’.
I’ll console myself for now with this nice card received (also last week, direct) from VP2MCC (Montserrat) for a contact back in March where Nick (G4FAL) operated from Gingerbread Hill, St Peters, in the British Commonwealth Contest. Interestingly, a 3 month turnaround.
Over time it’s interesting to see how different QSL routes ‘perform’. My experience is that it is usually (but not always) quicker to QSL direct. However, whenever possible I do use the bureau, and it does work well. It’s not the system that’s the problem - it’s managing your own expectations because not every delivery will include cards confirming new ones or hard fought DXpedition contacts.