Friday, April 12, 2019

ARRL Rolls Back Rate Hikes for Outgoing QSL Bureau

The ARRL has decided to scrap the price increases it imposed in 2016 for its Outgoing QSL Bureau service. 

In an e-mail on April 10, CEO Howard Michel, WB2ITX, wrote: "Effective May 15, 2019, the new rate will be: $2 for 10 or fewer cards in one envelope; $3 for 11-20 cards in one envelope, or 75 cents per ounce, for packages with 21 or more cards. For example, a package containing 1.5 pounds -- 24 ounces, or about 225 cards -- of cards will cost $18. No transaction service fees."
 
The email did not include an explanation. Many DXers – including CQ DX Editor N2OO (see his December 2016 column) – were unhappy with the price increase, which disproportionally affected the small DXer.