Canada's Ham Radio Price SHOCKER!

[@bwillan]

Canada Post has been bleeding money for many years, and the postal strike didn't help. So it was inevitable that the cost of stamps would increase.

[@outnaboot]

You're absolutely right! It's tough to see how economic factors can impact everyday things like postage. Hopefully, they find a way to balance their budget soon.

[@KF0PBP]

I enjoyed getting an electronic QSL Card from you in late 2024. I've still not set up my electronic QSL account but hope to soon. Thanks for the great content. May God help Canada and USA.

[@outnaboot]

I'm glad you enjoyed the QSL card! Setting up your electronic account will definitely streamline things. Thanks for watching and supporting the channel!

[@W2IRT]

Former W2 bureau sorter here). Thanks for running the N.B. bureau! Canada Postage and Storage's rates have always been astronomical, especially internationally (expat Canadian here). At least Uncle Sam's Finest Turtles still charge far less than $1 for a domestic 1oz letter, but out int'l prices have been going way up recently as well. These days I prefer all my QSLing to be via LoTW for all but the rarest of QSOs. According to Canada Post's site it's "only" $1.75 for a single 20g mailpiece from Canada to the U.S.

[@outnaboot]

Thanks for sharing your insights as a former W2 bureau sorter! It's interesting to hear about the challenges with postage rates, especially for international QSLing. LoTW is definitely a great alternative for keeping things simple!

[@W2IRT]

@@outnaboot Curious about your bureau's rate structure. W2 charges mailing credits per unit weight, and we supply the envelopes and other items. I also hold a VE3 call and that bureau just asks for a few dollars here and there in much the same fashion. Other bureaus here in the U.S. ask for SASEs. I enjoyed sorting and mailing but at 16 years it was time to pass the torch along. I only need 3 for the Top of the Honor Roll, and I already hold 10-Band WAZ, 10-Band DXCC, and 10-Band WAS so there aren't many more physical QSL cards that I still need!

[@JimCliffe]

There's a basic misconception at play here. The Post Office, Canada Post, isn't a for profit business. It's only a business because of a politically motivated change from a crown corporation to it's current form. Postal service is just that, a service! It's not intended to make a profit, it's intended to provide service to Canadian citizens and businesses. Think of fire, police, public health, roads... none of them are intended to make a profit, they're intended to facilitate business, life, and society in general.

[@cthoadmin7458]

Yes, exactly. It worth pausing to think of exactly what it is the postal service does. For a modest fee, a uniformed representative of the government will deliver in person to your door any letter or parcel from just about anywhere... What a service! Perhaps providing that service to everyone will never be a viable business, but that isn't a reason not to have it. Not everything is best served by the market.

[@outnaboot]

Not arguing the fact of the service...but it should at least be accountable to the taxpayer for the extreme losses every year....but what am I thinking, government and accountability never go together.

[@JohnTarbox]

Drive across the border and mail from Maine, USA. ;-)

[@outnaboot]

@@JohnTarbox 3.5 hours away..not an easy task

[@bwillan]

The exchange rate on the USA/CAD dollar is horrible at the moment and then mailing back to Canada would be an international stamp. So no further ahead.

[@2e0hpi]

To post to Canada and USA here is £2.75 , I used $3 and still had to pay £0.70

[@outnaboot]

It is not getting cheaper anywhere in the world. If I don't get postage or there is not enough postage, I will send it back via the bureau now.

[@JohnHill-qo3hb]

When did the price of anything go down?

[@outnaboot]

Never

[@claudem.p.7969]

Wow never ending the increase

[@outnaboot]

Very true

[@TomSherwood-z5l]

Not interested in lots of QSLs here. I am only interested in card from maybe an unusual or unique QSO. Not doing electronic QSLs or chasing DXCC. But I will return a card if I get one, which is pretty damn rarely now. Several years ago. I do not care about pileups for rare countries. But I am proud of my card from a midnight chance contact with the South Pole, for instance. With just a vertical. OK, and that sweep tube amp I had at the time that might have managed 400W PEP rather than the imagined 600.

[@outnaboot]

It sounds like you have a unique approach to QSLs! Those rare contacts can be the most memorable and rewarding experiences in ham radio. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!