Letting the rest of the train know about expirations...

faerieflr · **Letting the rest of the train know about expirations...**

I do not mean to be offensive at all so if this is just tell me to SHUT UP!!!

Do people post in their coupon train threads when they have gotten expired or near expired coupons? I don't think I have sent any but I'm not sure. Can we do that? Just post when we have received expired coupons? I really want to know if I have done that!!! I'm careful, but we all have distractions in life, ya know?

LuvMySoldier · 10-30-2007, 03:58 PM

Usually riders will let the mods know by PM if they have been receiving too many expired or soon-to-expire coupons. Recently I have received a TON of PMs regarding this.

This is why I thought it was so important to highlight that portion of the rules - The "15-day Rule" - which states that no coupons that will expire within 15 days are to be sent along on trains. And there are a few reasons for this rule.

First of all, alot of people plan AHEAD in their shopping. OR they wait for sales to get even better deals. If a rider receives a coupon that expires within the next few days, they barely have a chance to comparison shop for the best deal.

Some couponers like to double up on coupons, or use one with a BOGO!! I know I do! So, instead of having to use "x" coupon by "x" date or forget about saving anything at all, I would rather save it and wait for a BOGO to go with it. Can't do that if you only have one coupon that expires within the next few days.

Another reason is so that not every rider would be burdened with having to replace so many coupons in each train they receive. Trains do take longer than expected to reach their destinations sometimes, so basically it's just courteous to the next rider to not send coupons that expire too soon.

Another problem I've heard alot about lately is riders not being aware of the "non-everyday coupon" rule. This was posted a while back, and most members agreed that these "non-everyday" coupons should NOT be included in trains. Examples of these would be: restaurant coupons, medicines, geriatric products, rebate forms, coupons for suppliments, vitamins, etc...These types of products should only be sent along in trains where another rider has specifically ASKED for them.

We just want riders to feel like they are receiving valuable coupons (on each round) that they are more likely to be able to use. That's all.

faerieflr · 10-30-2007, 04:03 PM

I totally understand and agree!!

Upon occasion I have sent non-everyday things, but hopefully make up for it by send lots of the others too...however, I won't do that any more. I just want to know if I'm messing people up I guess.

I try not to do that and I have weeded out a lot of soon-to expire myself. IT happens and I'd love to know it. Just a suggestion, but I totally understand that I'm the new comer and you have tried and true train rules. Thanks for letting me know.

EDITED TO ADD: What is up with all the smilies? -->eye roll

LuvMySoldier · 10-30-2007, 04:40 PM

OH!! I see what you're saying!! Or maybe I just didn't understand your first post.

You're asking if you CAN post if YOU receive expired/expiring coupons? Or if the other riders WOULD POST to let you know if you sent them the same?

I think that as long as what you send are not mostly 15 days from expiring, and the rest are good for longer, you should be fine - at least with the next rider. It's the next riders' responsibility to then go through the train and take out what coupons will expire before 15 days past once they reach the next person, and so on. (Adding 15 days onto the amount of time it should take for their envie to reach the next rider.)

Leighann or Amy - Did I explain that right? Or do you have anything to add?

faerieflr · 10-30-2007, 05:37 PM

right! like if i get the train from bob, i put in the thread that i got the train and (x) were close to expiration. it's not meant to insult anybody just an fyi i guess.

LuvMySoldier · 10-30-2007, 08:57 PM

This should be done by Private Message to the Train Mod....Not posted in the thread where we communicate sending and receiving. KWIM?
Whoever the Moderator is should take care of any problems such as this.

momof2boys · 10-30-2007, 09:04 PM

I try very hard to stick to the 15 day rule, BUT there are of course exceptions every now and again. For example if I put some to expire in say 10 days I live in Ohio but I know my envelope only takes a couple of days to PA (such as MegNAbbysMom) and that coupon is on her wishlist I will take a chance she will use it and send it! NOW when I get trains on say 10-30 with coupons that expired on 10-15 or even 9-30 that bothers me. We just ask riders to use their best judgement and as long as its not 40 coupons set to expire than I don't think its a problem

faerieflr · 10-30-2007, 10:08 PM

Okay! Cool. I love you guys for organizing all this. It's such a help to have coupons you can USE instead of 100 for some crazy product you never heard of.

Thank you thank you thank you!!!!

LuvMySoldier · 10-30-2007, 10:09 PM

When I receive a train that has as many as 3-4 expired coupons, that's not even a big deal. But when there's 6 or 7 of these, along with 10 coupons for Ensure, Geritol, and Joint Juice (for example), several for restaurants that I've never even HEARD OF before, and a rebate form or two...THAT'S when it becomes a problem for me.

And I think what Leighann said is key...Use your best judgement on what to send, in what time frame. If you have a coupon for someone two riders down from you on your train, and the coupon is set to expire even within 2 weeks, don't send it! Especially if you're on a Reg. Train where riders have up to 5 days each to send the train along. Add postal time to that, and your coupon may not even make it to that rider until 3 weeks later!! As long as there's communication between riders about things like this though, things should go smoothly.

I just wanted to thank you though faerieflr, for bringing this up!!

It shows your concern for the rules, which is MUCH appreciated, and maybe we've been able to answer some questions other members may have had too!! So, thank you for posting about this!!

LuvMySoldier · 10-30-2007, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by faerieflr

Okay! Cool. I love you guys for organizing all this. It's such a help to have coupons you can USE instead of 100 for some crazy product you never heard of.

Thank you thank you thank you!!!!

Exactly! And that's the reason we try to keep everyone on track about the rules. (No pun intended!! lol). We're not trying to be brow-beaters here!!

We just want to ensure that ALL riders have the best couponing experience possible with the trains, and that everyone has FUN with this!! That's what it's all about...the FUN of it!!

So, on that note...

..."HAPPY COUPONING EVERYONE"!!