08-15-2008, 11:16 AM
|
 |
Sr. Moderator
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,002
|
|
How Trains work and rules for trading on Trains--Please read!!
Hi train fans,
What is a coupon train?
A coupon train is a great way to get coupons you can use and pass along the ones you can't use.
How does a coupon train work?
When someone decides to start a train, this person is called the Conductor. The Conductor will set all the rules for the train -- name of the train, how many passengers, how many coupons, and what type of train it is going to be (see below for types of coupon trains). The Conductor will make a post in the Train Forum setting the rules, and if you are interested in joining their train, you will send them your info (Name and address) and they will add you to the list.
Once the list has the set number of passengers, the Conductor will make up an envie of coupons and send them out to the first person on the train list, with an enclosed list of all the other passengers. When the first person on the train receives the envie, they will take out all the coupons they think they can use, and take out any expired coupons, or soon to expire coupons. Then they add any coupons they can't use and send it off to the next person after them. This continues until the last person on the train sends it back to the conductor and the train is complete. Usually then the conductor will ask if all the passengers would like to go around again.
There are many different types of trains people create:
*Baby Train - This train only involves baby coupons
*Pet Train - This only involves pet coupons
*Non-Insert Train - This train only has coupons that are not found in the Sunday paper inserts
*Food Only Train - This train contains only food coupons
*Potluck Train - This is a train that has a little bit of everything.
The above trains are called a basic style train.
There is also a simple style train where there is usually one mail out date and you mail out several envies at one time to different riders on the train as assigned to you by the conductor. Once the train is full every person will mail out envies to there assigned riders and once every one has received their envelopes the ride is over--simple!!
There is also a Round Robin train, which is a bit more complicated, but a lot of fun. The way this works is the Conductor will gather a list of people who wish to join the train. The conductor will assign everyone a NAZ, and instead of just the conductor mailing out one envie to the first person, everyone will mail out an envie on a set date to the NAZ assigned to him or her. When you receive your envie from the person who was assigned your NAZ, you will take out the coupons you want, take out all the expired coupons, and add any coupons you don't want and send it to your assigned NAZ. The result of this is everyone on the train will be receiving and mailing out coupons every couple days, as opposed to a regular train where it might take several weeks to make a round because it has to wait and go to each person one at a time.
If you are new to the whole coupon train idea, then I suggest being a passenger on a couple of them first, until you get the hang of how they work.
Due to the growing popularity here on the train forum I am putting into place some general guidelines/rules for every one to keep in mind when joining a train ride.
First, I just want to make clear that there should NEVER be Negative comments left on a train thread post about a train envie you have received!! The threads are just a way of keeping track of where the trains are and who has received them and mailed them. I will be leaving a link to get to a forum that you can leave feedback for your trade partner if you so wish to.
Please read through all the train requirements before you sign up--if you can not fill all the rules please don't hop on.
If you sign up for a train and do not mail out an envie when it is due or you go MIA a conductor has the right to bump you from his or her train. You also may be bumped from any other train you are riding as well.
If you are bumped from a train for any reason I will be leaving negative feedback for you and you will no longer be able to hop on train rides here.
Also, I personally will not be making any more make up envies for a rider that goes MIA or does not mail out an envie as agreed upon by joining a train. The rider as stated above will just be left negative feedback and be unable to catch any more rides. If another conductor on here wants to do make ups that is his/her call.
On that note I do understand people have lives and stuff happens. If you for any reason you are on a train and run into a problem just PM your conductor or me and let us know what is going on. As the riders that have been here a while know I am really easy to work with. I will make adjustments to help you out.
I want the trains to be fun for everyone and every one here wants to save money so we get the opportunity to do both!!
For conductors--please when your train ride is over mark your thread as "complete" or "ride over" so I will be able to keep the board clean!! The will help new riders be able to find rides.
Here is the link to leave feedback for your train partners:
http://deals.families.com/itrader_main.php
After the page loads you will see a search box--type in the traders screen name and when it pops up you will see a that person with (a number) next to their screen name hit that and the you will see a "Submit Feedback for ___" hit that and then follow the directions from there. It is really easy and only takes a minute. Also, the person you are leaving feedback for receives a PM letting them know you have left feedback
Thanks for every one's understanding in this matter and any questions please feel free to PM me!!
Kristy
__________________
Last edited by dominicsmama : 05-04-2009 at 07:37 AM.
|
Threaded Mode