Buying QSL cards from DX stations

I received the confirmation paper QSL cards from my WRTC 2018 contacts via bureau last week. Now I ask myself, was it necessary? Is it a waste of paper? Yes, I did the request for these QSLs myself and I regret. What am I doing with all this paper? I don't really collect paper QSL anymore. Paper QSL is a thing from the past. There are other ways to confirm a contact now. I already have these contacts confirmed by LOTW. Think of eQSL, LOTW and many others. There is no need for a paper QSL anymore except for those who collect them.

Well. collect them or buy them? There is another trend going on in QSL world. Many stations are not a member from any club or society anymore and QSL bureaus are receiving less QSL cards every year. Those who still want that paper QSL in the past were proud to send them, QSL bureau or not, since the receiver would have the same costs to send a QSL in return. But these days it looks like it is big business. Not for those that want QSL exchange only but also for the post providers. Postage is expensive and a excuse for not sending any QSL. I see a trend that DX stations especially, even if they are not really rare, ask several US dollars for postage. I fact you can pay by paypal and that way it is just a matter of buying your confirmation. Personally I don't like that, I might be old fashion. But this is still a hobby and if I would buy all the QSL I need for DXCC confirmation that would a considerable amount of money. There are other ways but I know several (DX) stations that don't confirm at any online QSL service so if you want to have your contact confirmed you have to pay them first. So unfortunate....

The final courtesy of a QSO is the QSL....

These days that would be:

The final courtesy of a QSO is the confirmation...

Treasured QSL

 Tell me, what are you doing with received paper QSL cards? Personally I never look at them once when I answer them and put them as received in my logbook. After that I never look at them again. Sometimes I scan the nice ones to keep them on the computer. I actually did throw a box full of cards away. Why keep them? I know people that have boxes full of cards stored on the attic. That means not 1000 or 2000 but more then 10000-20000 QSL cards they never look at.

Recently I wrote this on my QRZ page:

"QSL will always be answered 100% as long as you are in the log. SWL QSL welcome, please note the callsign of the station I was contacting and the right log info.

I prefer QSL via the digital way it is cheap, easy and much better for the environment."

Yes I prefer my QSL the digital way via the internet. I think paper QSL is nice and something you can touch. I still respect people that want my paper QSL card. I can imagine you find them valuable and when you make about a hundred QSO a year you can handle it and it is like you have a treasure in your hand when you receive them. But what about 2000-3000 QSL a year, imagine that. So much paper is not a treasure anymore but a weight that is burning your hobby budget. 

Digital QSL like eQSL and LOTW is much easier, cheaper and....when you think about it, much better for the environment.

But keep in mind one of the QSL Code Of Conduct rules:

• If you receive a QSL card via buro, reply via buro. If you receive QSL card direct, reply direct.

Of course if you receive a digital QSL reply the same way. And try to find out what sort of QSL someone prefers before sending that first QSL.