"pd" wrote in message
...
One aspect of our hobby that I have always enjoyed is collecting QSL's. I
have a certain amount of interest in various operating awards. Currently
my
goals are 6 and 2 meter WAS & DXCC and 80 and 160 meter DXCC. Overall, my
rate of return on QSL's sent is good for DX stations, but it is dismal for
US
stations. I always include an SASE and a personal note, and generally
engage
in the type of QSO the other person seems to be looking for, such as a
quick
exhange of reports on AU or MS or an opening or a more lengthy QSO when
conditions are appropriate. In the past I have even included contact
cards
already filled out with the QSO information so the repcient only had to
sign
it and return it in the enclosed SASE.

I would like to hear others' opinions as to the reasons for not returning
a
QSL and on how to improve the rate of return.

Compared to the '80s, currently the rate of return is altogether slow and
little.
In the '80s 50% of my QSL came back in less than 2 years.
Today, less than 20% of my QSL came back after... 3 years, 3 times slower. I
have no really explanation.
Even from near countries (for ON it is DL, F and LX) I am waiting about 6
months to receive the first QSL back and about 9 months to get some more...
Now each month I receive between 10 and 30 QSL back, sometimes nothing
although I know that about 2500 QSLs are still somewhere in a distand post
office.
But for all DX I contacted for the first time I send a QSL direct.

Here are some information :
http://www.astrosurf.org/lombry/qsl-gs.htm
http://www.astrosurf.org/lombry/qsl-chasing.htm

73
Thierry, ON4SKY