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#1
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Problems with ARRL Incoming buro?
I've been wrestling with the incoming W4 two-letter prefix buro for
over two years. Have sent out hundreds and hundreds of cards, have sent multiple batches of stamped envelopes and extra postage (just in case), but have received only 7 cards in the last 2 years. I've done the legwork to find out where the problems are, and loads of DX stations tell me they've sent a card via buro. Maybe some of them are pulling my leg, but I doubt that a few hundred are. I've been an ARRL member since the mid-70's, and the buro worked well until sometime around '03. At this point, I can't even get a reply to emails to check on the problem. I posted this question on my local club reflector (120-ish members), and got several replies from people with the same exact experience, some who simply gave up and only QSL direct now, as a result. I find it hard to believe the problem is localized, but perhaps it is...hence this question. Over the last year I've written to several other ARRL officials' email addresses from the ARRL website, in hopes of getting someone to look into the problem, but I've never received a reply from ANYONE else at the league. Please reply if you are also having problems. You may email me direct at , if you don't want to post in a public forum. I'd like to get to the bottom of this problem, or just quit giving the ARRL money (after 30+ years!), if the league has no interest in taking corrective action on behalf of it's membership. Dave Hockaday WB4IUY |
#2
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Problems with ARRL Incoming buro?
W9 bureau is working fine - I've received two stuffed envelopes in the
last few weeks. Didn't the W4 2-letter-prefix bureau just recently change hands? (or am I imagining things?) Are you sure you're writing the right WB4 bureau? Can't say I've ever had a problem getting answers from Newington, though the DXCC desk and the Contest Branch are the only parts of HQ I've really dealt with. My director has also been quite responsive though I usually write him via USPS. -- Doug Smith W9WI Pleasant View (Nashville), TN EM66 http://www.w9wi.com |
#4
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Problems with ARRL Incoming buro?
I hope your problem isn't typical; I'm going to be depending
on the bureaus more now than previously. I just sent a couple of direct requests and in addition to the increased costs for the DX station's postage, I see an airmail stamp is now $0.84 here. Lucky for me I work so few new countries-- I can't AFFORD much direct QSLing! :-) Hey Ken, I recognized your call right away :-). I've been emailing Dick and messing with this for the last 2+ years. I sent batches of SASE's to them 3 different times over the last 2 years, and they seem to be loosing them. After sending out over 1100 cards in the last two years and receiving only 7 back, I started emailing hams I'd worked. I gots lots of replies from people who said they'd replied via the buro. I was recently sending emails to Dick and my particular handler shown on their website, but was getting no response. I was getting pretty frustrated and I emailed a PILE of folks at the ARRL, and got 1 response. Like magic, an envelope with 21 cards was postmarked to me the very next day. Magic. I realize the buro isn't a paid position, but it is supposedly a 'benefit' of being an ARRL member. It's really the only reason I join the ARRL anymore, so I'd like to have it work. Hopefully, it'll work for you... Dave WB4IUY |
#5
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Problems with ARRL Incoming buro?
Please don't generalize this to the entire ARRL incoming bureau.
There may be a few isolated folks in the bureau who don't keep up with things as they should, but I can assure you that in the 8th area bureau, things run smoothly And Especially I can assure you that the 8E callsigns (which I handle) are handled very quickly and carefully. Bob W8ERD In article .com, "Dave WB4IUY" wrote: I hope your problem isn't typical; I'm going to be depending on the bureaus more now than previously. I just sent a couple of direct requests and in addition to the increased costs for the DX station's postage, I see an airmail stamp is now $0.84 here. Lucky for me I work so few new countries-- I can't AFFORD much direct QSLing! :-) Hey Ken, I recognized your call right away :-). I've been emailing Dick and messing with this for the last 2+ years. I sent batches of SASE's to them 3 different times over the last 2 years, and they seem to be loosing them. After sending out over 1100 cards in the last two years and receiving only 7 back, I started emailing hams I'd worked. I gots lots of replies from people who said they'd replied via the buro. I was recently sending emails to Dick and my particular handler shown on their website, but was getting no response. I was getting pretty frustrated and I emailed a PILE of folks at the ARRL, and got 1 response. Like magic, an envelope with 21 cards was postmarked to me the very next day. Magic. I realize the buro isn't a paid position, but it is supposedly a 'benefit' of being an ARRL member. It's really the only reason I join the ARRL anymore, so I'd like to have it work. Hopefully, it'll work for you... Dave WB4IUY |
#6
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Problems with ARRL Incoming buro?
Bob Dixon wrote: Please don't generalize this to the entire ARRL incoming bureau. Bob W8ERD HI Bob, I know there's lots of folks in the buro, but I guess the "proof is in the pudding". Maybe it's time for the ARRL to hold the buro accountable, and do a little field survey. I've been dealing with crappy service, unansered emails, and a less than a 1% return rate since '03. I've taken the time to email a few HUNDRED hams I've worked, most of whom responded said they replied via the buro (yet the cards never made it to me). When I asked a similar question on our local reflector of only 140 uses, several people spoke up with similar problems. I posted the message on this forum and got 41 negative replies in less than 48 hours. Seems strange that little old me can cause all this trouble all by myself. Darn, this muct be all my fault, what the heck am I thinking... I've sent three batches of envelopes and additional postage to my incoming buro over the last 2 years (just to make sure that wasn't the problem), yet when I _do_ get a reply from the buro it's as if they've lost my envelopes as well as my incoming cards. I didn't just fall off the tater truck, yesterday. I've been an ARRL member since 1974, and have used the buro for decades. Everything went well until recent years. When I posted my question locally, the same expecience as mine was described by folks with different handlers, so it's not isolated to that. These responses were from old-timers and greenies alike, so there's no commonality there. I sent emails to MANY MANY MANY ARRL addresses (right off of the ARRL website), and only got one reply..and it said "I'll be back in touch with you" ... NOT! That was it, another dead end. What's with that? Maybe no one at the league wants to deal with a problem...dunno, just my experience. Must be my email account, spam filter, etc...can't possibly a real problem. I'm tired of trying to save the world with Ham radio. I've taught classes, started and ran the local VE team, built and maintained loads of repeaters, held positions with ham radio clubs, run club contest stations, managed many field day operations, held code practice sessions on the air, etc. I've done my time. Yet, when I tire of having to fight for 3+ plus years to get some little piece of the ARRL "benefit" package, some want to point out that my dues help to get some oddball sliver of spectrum, fight off BPL, etc. I only want to get my cards handled as promised in exchange for my dues. That's all... Maybe there's no problem at all... I'd love for someone to point out how this is my problem or fault. Personaly, I'm pretty sure this can't be done. Hey, a slightly bright side of this... after sitting up half the night and emailing every email address I could find (AGAIN), a small envelope of cards was magically dropped into the USPS and postmarked to me. The very next day. Why should an ARRL member have to make so much noise to get something working? It simply should be. If I ran my own business in this way, I'd have been out of business many years ago. Dave WB4IUY |
#7
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Problems with ARRL Incoming buro?
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#8
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Problems with ARRL Incoming buro?
Well, all the people who have done the 5B sorting over the last
20 yrs have done a fine job of keeping me supplied with cards, and the W5 buro sent many tens of lbs of cards when I was manager for two active contest stations, so I have no complaints. People get tired of the job - I would, and I'm sure you would if you tried it! Derek aa5bt |
#9
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Problems with ARRL Incoming buro?
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#10
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Problems with ARRL Incoming buro?
Anyone know why Dick's reply was removed?
Win, W0LZ |
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