Train rating system!

hi!

I am pretty new and joined my first train in December. I just got my envelope yesterday and was a bit sad that I had been sent several (7) expired coupons (I am very grateful for many great coupons that I'll make good use of). I posted the following on the train forum yesterday but didn't get a reply. Does anyone have any advice?

Hi everyone!

I was very excited to get my envelope today :)

While I did get some great coupons (yay!), I also got a number of expired ones (7). I don't want to be ungrateful, but since this is my first coupon train I'm not sure

1. Why I got expired coupons and
2. What (if anything) to do or say about it....

Advice please! Thank you :)

Thank you everyone for posting here; I am about to board my first train and really want to do it right. The comments here are helping a bunch.

I am new and will have to learn more about this coupon train stuff

if a train is not derailed, sent timely, $ for $ or more replaced, but a few rules were not followed, is that enough for a negative rating? is a conductor required to try and work with the "offender" before giving negative feedback? i didnt notice a train rule saying no go coupons or websavers. i am told i put some in....could be, i do alot of trading. but feel its pretty unfair to be slapped with a negative over it. oh yeah, and bashed in public too...

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i can't ask a question about ratings in the rating section? as far as i can read, the negative trade rating is for people who did not pass on the train at all....i find it unfair, and i wont let it go, its MY trade rating that will be affected. i have a right to enquire into this process.....i am a union worker by trade, and i am not the kind of person to take something like this laying down. i have not mentioned anybody by name in any thread, except the original one. many people have asked similar(although not the exact same) types of questions in this thread. i read the whole thing looking for my answer before i posted. as i have said before, i have a right to enquire. bottom line.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mrsfreeman

if a train is not derailed, sent timely, $ for $ or more replaced, but a few rules were not followed, is that enough for a negative rating? is a conductor required to try and work with the "offender" before giving negative feedback? i didnt notice a train rule saying no go coupons or websavers. i am told i put some in....could be, i do alot of trading. but feel its pretty unfair to be slapped with a negative over it. oh yeah, and bashed in public too...

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generally the conductor should work with the rider to try to wprk things out before giving a neg rating BUT they are not required to depending on the rules they stated for their train ....for example if it is a posted rule * no save.ca coupons or you will get a neg rating* and you put in save.ca coupons well you knew the consequence before you put in the coupons and chose to ignore the rules..

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jezebel

generally the conductor should work with the rider to try to wprk things out before giving a neg rating BUT they are not required to depending on the rules they stated for their train ....for example if it is a posted rule * no save.ca coupons or you will get a neg rating* and you put in save.ca coupons well you knew the consequence before you put in the coupons and chose to ignore the rules..

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"choose to ignore the rules" ? people make mistakes. life happens. thats pretty harsh if you ask me. i've never been so beaten up over a simple mistake in my life!!!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mrsfreeman

"choose to ignore the rules" ? people make mistakes. life happens. thats pretty harsh if you ask me. i've never been so beaten up over a simple mistake in my life!!!

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Wow, I hope you can work this out. Contact Sally, I think she will help you

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jezebel

generally the conductor should work with the rider to try to wprk things out before giving a neg rating BUT they are not required to depending on the rules they stated for their train ....for example if it is a posted rule * no save.ca coupons or you will get a neg rating* and you put in save.ca coupons well you knew the consequence before you put in the coupons and chose to ignore the rules..

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With all due respect, why should a conductors rule cancel out the SC official rating rule? A lot of ppl rely on coupons to get by and to have a bad rep due to one mistake is not only unfair, but is contradictory to what this community is supposed to be about.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mrsfreeman

"choose to ignore the rules" ? people make mistakes. life happens. thats pretty harsh if you ask me. i've never been so beaten up over a simple mistake in my life!!!

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I didn't mean to sound so "harsh" as I have NEVER given a neg rating because mistakes were made on a coupon train.... perhaps "chose to ignore " were the wrong words I more like meant for example..I ran a Food Only Train and recieved it back with pet and cleaning....so someone didn't follow the rules ....but a few wrong coupons added by mistake...well yes life happens and ppl make mistakes...I am truly sorry if I came off harsh and hurt your feelings.:(

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Tinkerbella

With all due respect, why should a conductors rule cancel out the SC official rating rule? A lot of ppl rely on coupons to get by and to have a bad rep due to one mistake is not only unfair, but is contradictory to what this community is supposed to be about.

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I am unsure what to say as I see many conductors putting in whatever rules they feel like...I haven't been running trains lately since they seem not to come home...but even then I 99% have never left the last rider where the train was last recieved a neg rating since I don't know how/why it never came home....

I think there should be one set of rules for all trains but not everyone agrees with me and I do check to see what kind of ratings have been left by the conductors as I certainly do not want to get on a train where should it get lost I may get a neg rating !!

I am sorry once again if I didn't properly explain myself and came out sounding so harsh...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jezebel

I didn't mean to sound so "harsh" as I have NEVER given a neg rating because mistakes were made on a coupon train.... perhaps "chose to ignore " were the wrong words I more like meant for example..I ran a Food Only Train and recieved it back with pet and cleaning....so someone didn't follow the rules ....but a few wrong coupons added by mistake...well yes life happens and ppl make mistakes...I am truly sorry if I came off harsh and hurt your feelings.:(

I am unsure what to say as I see many conductors putting in whatever rules they feel like...I haven't been running trains lately since they seem not to come home...but even then I 99% have never left the last rider where the train was last recieved a neg rating since I don't know how/why it never came home....

I think there should be one set of rules for all trains but not everyone agrees with me and I do check to see what kind of ratings have been left by the conductors as I certainly do not want to get on a train where should it get lost I may get a neg rating !!

I am sorry once again if I didn't properly explain myself and came out sounding so harsh...

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thank you for explaining. you seem fair, and like a very nice person. i am just frustrated with my current situation. which, i totally understand is partly my own fault due to my mistake and my reaction after. i'm just disapointed that all the work i have done to get where i am was for nothing...and again i am being dramatic, ;) lol, i met some great people, and got some great coupons while i was here, i learned a lot, and i will continue to save with coupons for as long as i can! :)

urrrg

As a conductor I think the problem lies in the sheer number of people making errors. I myself have had to sub in so very many of my own personal coupons (for vwt's) or deal with wrong coupons (on traditional trains) that it's quite annoying. I dont even run traditional trains anymore because of the errors, de-rails, etc. For VWT's, a lot of the time I dont even get a TY for adding in my OWN coupons to help out a rider. Lately it seems like a lot of people are in the mind set of I'm entitled to one or two mistakes - Everyone is human. For the most part I think conductor's realize everyone is human and mistakes happen, but when the errors are many or seem blatant (totally not even trying to follow the rules) then I can see why they would give a negative. Especially when the person is combative.

I myself, keep track of the "combative" people I interact with and never deal with them again. It's not worth the hassle. They make mistakes and then you're roasting for just bringing it up. Yes, SC is a friendly and supportive site but that goes both ways. I'm always more than happy to help out, sub in coupons, raok, answer questions, etc. Whatever I can do to help my fellow SC'ers but sometimes that is abused. I can't explain how happy I am when someone replies with a simple "my mistake, I'm sorry".

No one wants to receive a negative but what do you do? If you dont leave a negative to warn of a possible problem then if the person scams tons of other sc'ers or de-rails many trains, people are upset you didn't leave a proper truthful rating. Afterall isn't that what the rating system is for?

In summation, I'm not commenting on any one issue at all. Just my experience overall as a conductor. I'm not saying conductors should jump to leave a negative rating but they shouldn't be roasting for doing what they truly think is right. Rules are set for a reason, and riders know the rules when they join. Sally is the trading mod so if you (general you) have an issue, you should contact her directly and work it out.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bargain_hunter_lola

As a conductor I think the problem lies in the sheer number of people making errors. I myself have had to sub in so very many of my own personal coupons (for vwt's) or deal with wrong coupons (on traditional trains) that it's quite annoying. I dont even run traditional trains anymore because of the errors, de-rails, etc. For VWT's, a lot of the time I dont even get a TY for adding in my OWN coupons to help out a rider. Lately it seems like a lot of people are in the mind set of I'm entitled to one or two mistakes - Everyone is human. For the most part I think conductor's realize everyone is human and mistakes happen, but when the errors are many or seem blatant (totally not even trying to follow the rules) then I can see why they would give a negative. Especially when the person is combative.

I myself, keep track of the "combative" people I interact with and never deal with them again. It's not worth the hassle. They make mistakes and then you're roasting for just bringing it up. Yes, SC is a friendly and supportive site but that goes both ways. I'm always more than happy to help out, sub in coupons, raok, answer questions, etc. Whatever I can do to help my fellow SC'ers but sometimes that is abused. I can't explain how happy I am when someone replies with a simple "my mistake, I'm sorry".

No one wants to receive a negative but what do you do? If you dont leave a negative to warn of a possible problem then if the person scams tons of other sc'ers or de-rails many trains, people are upset you didn't leave a proper truthful rating. Afterall isn't that what the rating system is for?

In summation, I'm not commenting on any one issue at all. Just my experience overall as a conductor. I'm not saying conductors should jump to leave a negative rating but they shouldn't be roasting for doing what they truly think is right. Rules are set for a reason, and riders know the rules when they join. Sally is the trading mod so if you (general you) have an issue, you should contact her directly and work it out.

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i agree that if there is an issue, sally should be contacted, but if this is an issue, its a good idea to post in the thread, so the question can be answered for all to see, and therefore sally receives less PM's. she is a busy lady. generally people should try to work it out themselves before she is contacted. i agree with a lot of what you are saying, but it certainly works the other way too! if you are joining a train, check out the conductor and see if that is someone you really want to be working with. i both ride and conduct a lot of trains, and i, quite honestly, usually have wonderful experiences. and if i was giving someone a negative, especially someone who is a regular SC'er who has a great track record, i would expect a certain amount of "combat" from them. i agree a negative should be used if the person isnt showing up, hasnt passed on a train, or sent out an agreed upon trade. if somebody makes a mistake on a train i do not believe they should receive a negative. the closest i can find in this thread to a real SC rule, is that if the train makes it to the next rider, the person should get a positive... the rating system was designed, (as far as i can tell) to indicate if someone isnt making good on their trades. i feel some people abuse the trade rating system for their own agendas, which is wrong. and i would also like to put in, that as a conductor i have worked with a ton of great people, got great coupons, and dealt with very few mistakes (knowing that as a conductor, you are collecting a BP from each rider, and should be expected to deal with train problems as they arise. when i have received bad coupons, i had PM'd the rider, dealt with it privately, and generally received many thanks from greatful and bashful SC'ers. thanks for listening!