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Imperial County

National Traffic System


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Delivering the Message

Here are a few guidelines for delivery, and if you keep these tips in mind, you and the party on the other end of the phone will enjoy the delivery.

1. Ask for the person named in the message. First, make sure you have the right party. Telephone numbers on messages are not always correct, you might have a wrong number. If the addressee is not at home, ask the person on the phone if they would take a message for that person.

2. Introduce yourself. Don't you hate phone calls from people you don't know and don't bother to introduce themselves? Chances are they are trying to sell you something, and you brush them off. Most people have no idea what Amateur Radio is about, and it's up to you to give a good first impression.

3. Tell who the message is from before you give the message. Since the signature appears at the end of the message, most hams give it last, but you will hold the deliveree's attention longer if you give it first. When you get a letter in the mail, you check out the return address first don't you? Then you open them in some sort of order of importance. Likewise, the party on the phone will want to know right away who the sender is. It is always a good idea to say "this is a message greeting from_____ via amateur radio". The "greeting" part will calm any fears of receiving bad news, something telegrams were known for.

A good way to start off a delivery is to say something like, "Hi, Mr/Mrs/Miss_____, my name is______, and I received a message for you via Amateur Radio from____". Mentioning the sender's name will give you credibility and get their attention. They will usually respond by telling such-and such is their relative, college friend, etc. At that point, you have become less a stranger in their eyes, and now they don't have to worry about you trying to sell them aluminum siding or something else.

4. When delivering the message, skip the preamble and just give the text, avoiding ARL text numbers. Chances are, Grandma Ollie doesn't give two hoots about the check of a message, and thinks ARL FORTY SIX is an all purpose cleaner. Always give the "translation" of an ARL numbered text, even if the message is going to another Ham. TIP: Have the translation handy before making the call.

5. Ask the party if they would like to send a return message. Explain that it's absolutely free, and that you would be happy to send a reply if they wish. Experienced traffickers can vouch that it's easy to get a lot of return and repeat business once you've opened the door to someone. It's not uncommon for strangers to ask for your name and phone number once they discover Amateur Radio is a handy way to tell relatives "Arriving 3 PM on Flight 202 next Wednesday." You will not always get a reply on delivery of a message. Most people just say that they will write or call later. Sometimes you can break the ice by saying that you can send a message back saying "Message received, many thanks, will write later".

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