Team 10: 21 Things to to be an Epic Couponer

[lucy16076]

Trading and trains are a wonderful way to discover new coupons I've also noticed that all you have to do is mention a coupon you're looking for and, chances are, someone will offer them to you as either a trade or a RAOK!

When I was first building my coupon stash I traded stamps for coupon bundles- great way to get a bunch of coupons without having to do many smaller trades. And watch the Welcome section on here- many times someone will host a give-a-way for an envie of coupons! I have won a couple of these as well as the most gorgeous coupon bag It's also a great way to get to know your fellow SCers!

Looking forward to my first trading train to get this concept down pat!

[lucy16076]

If you look at the top of the screen while you are in this post, you can see our 'path' which is to click on the 'Forum' then Canadian Shopping Section, Discuss and Request Deals and Coupons, Team 10: Things to be an Epic Couponer.

'bump' means that someone is moving their thread back to the top of the unread list as they want more people to look at it again. As a thread gets older and read by more people, it may move down the list a fair bit and is less noticeable to people coming to that particular forum section the first time.

THank you Kate! Much appreciated!

[sheetsofemptycanvas]

How do you find the people that have these coupons & want stamps instead of trades? I don't have a whole lot of coupons stashed yet, so stamps might be the way to get started on that.
Thanks for your suggestions!
Rhonda

You could start a thread in the trade section and say you're willing to trade stamps for coupons- list the coupons you're looking for! You're thread title could be something like "LF: Bicks, Laughing Cow, etc. FT:Stamps!

You could also check out the coupons people have up for trade and offer stamps for them. There is a sticky at the top of the trade section that has some rates posted but use your own discretion! Just offer what you think is fair... if someone asks for stamps and you think the amount they're asking for is too much don't be afraid to ask someone what's fair.

[Giving-Small]

Feel free to pm SheetofEmptyCanvas or me if you want to run it by or post (keeping the other trader anonymous on here for advice/comments).

[Giving-Small]

You're wandering around SC and you find a great thread about:

• value of coupon trades
• or news of an upcoming flyer that they plan to post
• this fabulous crazy 8 group thread
• couponers in your local town/city

How do you find it again?

Well you use your excellent memory and the top tabs listing the major sections and either retrace your steps or figure out "where" the post would be filed. You can look at the "path" in the breadcrumb trail at the top of the page:
Canada's Shopping Bargains, Freebies, Deals, Offers, Flyers, Coupons, and Contests Forum > Canadian Shopping Section > Discuss and Request Deals and Coupons > Team 10: 21 Things to to be an Epic Couponer

Or you can try to remember the category - ie. title of the post and the type of post. For example new store flyers are under Deals and a new coupons are Coupons.

Trouble is there's a lot of places it could be once you forget where you saw it. Also there are so many new posts you may have to scroll down 2 or 3 of more pages scanning for what you want.

The Good News

Your account automatically comes with a feature that will subscribe you to any thread where you post a comment. This is a thread -- series of posts on a particular topic where people are talking away.

#1. Login

#2. Click on Private Messages link under your name. See below.



#3. You'll notice that your mailbox opens up and there is a side menu with lots of options. The top sections let you personalize your account, messages etc.
We're interested in a section a ways down with the title "Subscribed Threads". See below



#4. My "Subscribed Threads" little menu will look different than yours because I have created some special folders (folders are like file folders in a file cabinet). I can put a thread into a folder.

Why? Well I can create a "reference" where I stick things that I want to look up like "abbreviations for coupons" or "trade value" or "how to stack at London Drugs".

I also have a folder for all the EPIC groups which is handy -- I can see if there's anything new posted in any of the groups.

#5. Super cool features

Suppose I click View All on the Subscribed Folders menu.

I get a long list. The list is ordered in "reverse chronological order" by last update. So this means that any thread that has just had a new post will rise to the top.

Any threads with new posts will also have the title bolded to indicate there is something you have not yet viewed. See screenshot below, button #1 for example.

Button #2 shows the SC Name of the person who posted and the time.

Button #3 shows some check boxes which you can click to take actions on folders such as "delete" or "move to folder".



Power User Subscription Tips

#1. If you spot a thread you like but don't want to post, subscribe anyway. Click on thread tools and pick subscribe. You can also select type of updates - like send you email alerts on updates.

#2. Create a reference or tips folder. When you to add a subscription using thread tools, choose to add to your tips folder.





#3. You are subscribed to the thread already but would like to move it to tips. Click on the checkbox of all the threads to move, scroll down, see the last burgundy line with the words "Selected Threads" and choose "move to folder" from the drop down menu. Select folder. Voila you're done.

#4. Once a week or once a month, go in and delete old threads. Use the checkboxes, scroll down, see the last burgundy line with the words "Selected Threads" and choose delete threads.
__________________

[dahliagrower]

Learning stuff here every day. This site is really well laid out - way more complex than it looks at first sight. This is a great name for our train --

The Team 10 Terrific Traveling Express!!

[Giving-Small]

It's so super to have another senior who is willing to do so much. The train is going to get on the road weeks sooner thanks to Tami.

I'll post a couple of things about trains for your information and then we'll go back to coupon shopping and onwards to trading too.

Loving this team.

ACK I mixed up bad stripes day.
We need a team name too - We have a name.

I love the train name.

[Giving-Small]

So what's a coupon train?

A train is an envelope with coupons in it that travels from stop to stop. At each stop some coupons get off and some other coupons get on.

Riding a train can help build up your trade rating because the conductor will rate each rider. Each rider will rate the conductor. This is typically how its done except for VWT Virtual Wish Trains which run differently.






The person who starts the train -- the conductor, typically, asks for a boarding pass - coupons from their wish list, stamps, etc. The people who take part in the train are riders.

To find riders, the conductor usually creates a post in the Canadian Coupon Trains thread.

The post spells out the train rules. The thread's title is updated to full when all the riders have signed on seats are filled.

Some trains are "invitation only" and a conductor pm's a select group of people to join.

The conductor collects everyone's mailing addresses and creates a route for the train that helps it to speed it along.

The conductor sends out a big envelope of coupons to the first rider: see pic above to see the flow.

The first rider takes out some coupons and replaces them and mails it to the next ride and so on.

Eventually the train returns home to the conductor. And I do mean eventually. It is surprising (and discouraging when you're new and excited about trains) to discover how long these trains take. It takes about a week to make it from stop to stop so if you're a fourth rider - four weeks from now.

Read more about trains here in the Sticky post.

.




Types of Trains

There are all shapes and sizes - anything the conductor wants to do.

- Basic coupon train (we'll do this)
- VWT -Virtual Wishlist Train (more about this later)
- Package Train
- By geography - alberta only
- By type of coupon - brandsaver insert


Activity
Take a look at the trains.

Canada's Shopping Bargains, Freebies, Deals, Offers, Flyers, Coupons, and Contests Forum > Canadian Shopping Section > Canadian Coupons > Canadian Coupons Trains

..

[katie333]

We need a team name too - love the train name.

What could be a team name ... post your suggestions and we'll pick the one we like best.

Hey Darlene

You already put out the post for this and the votes appear to show that Deal-iminators is the winner (I think I may be spelling that wrong). Not sure if everyone has actually voted yet though.

[katie333]

So how did everyone make out getting their Red Plum? I got one in my local freebie newspaper (along with the FPC 2L coke, yay) and one in the free subscription I took out for National Post.

If you didn't get it, you didn't miss too much, only 2 in there I will likely even use, but it is always good fodder for trading.

There was a facebook contest link posted by another SC member for a coupon for Juicy Jumbos, I was unreasonably excited by this. My DH used to refuse to eat hot dogs, but now he will eat them but it has to be Juicy Jumbos All Beef. We have paid at times almost $5 for a package, so any savings is well appreciated. I know hot dogs are terrible for you, but I do love them. We try to eat them with salad to help balance the badness.

PS - Thanks so much Tami for getting our train going. I've got quite a LARGE number of duplicates and coupons I don't want to get trading.

[sheetsofemptycanvas]

It's no problem at all Darlene, I had a train ready to go out anyway I love helping, this is such a great idea for newbies- there's so much to learn about SC and I'm sure I'll learn some things as well!

Red Plum- I can't seem to find it in any of our papers Ottawa sucks for coupon inserts lol!

[sheetsofemptycanvas]

OK, I have all the address but one so I'll wait until tomorrow morning and if I don't hear from her I'll send the trains out- I can always add her after!

I'm going to send out 2 trains to ensure they move quickly, one out West and one out to Alberta and Ontario. Here's the tentative order- I'll tweak it in the morning if I need to.

Train #1 (Off to the Wild West)
1. Ml Gel- MAILING MAY 19
2. banana- MAILED
3. Out_of_the_Loops MAILED June 1
4. dahliagrower
5. lmwst77
Home to sheetsofemptycanvas

Train #2 (Good things grow in Ontario (and Alberta!)
1. NicMoon- MAILED May 18
2. freebie fan- MAILED
3. katie333
4. onlybluemomma
5. lucy16076
Home to sheetsofemptycanvas

I will let you know if the order changes but for now this is the rider list!

[NicMoon]

I'm so excited for the coupon train!

[freebie_fan]

Help! I have some MIR forms that I offered for trade & they were snapped up fast - my problem is that I have NO IDEA what I should be trading these for.
They are 2 of the current PepsiCo buy $20 get $30 PC gift card. They are both going to the same person - does that change how things work?


Red Plum - Got one from my boyfriends Mom who gets the Toronto Star & won't be using most of the coupons in there (but yay for watermelon )

I'm also looking forward to our train!

[katie333]

Wow, I'm surprised people are that into the MIRs. It's only one per household but perhaps people are being creative about using them.

While it is worth $30, it takes purchasing the items at specific stores, specific times etc. I'd ask the person to make any offer, and take just about anything they are willing to give you.

I'm excited about the train, good post from Darlene that it may take longer except for those of you who are lucky enough to get it first. Did you guys post your wishlists?