The Hunter Gatherer One of the most frequently asked questions I hear, is "Where do you get all these coupons?" My response has become pretty much a stock answer, "I usually trade them online and find them in stores."
In order to better enjoy a shopping trip, which to some may seem like a bore or work, I have my soon to be eleven year old son be a hunter and gatherer of coupons for me. He really enjoys finding the ones which he thinks I have missed (on lower shelves or way up high).
The biggest chore for him is trying to carry his new found booty. The bounty of coupons can be somewhat more than his hands can hold at times. With more excitement then you'd probably expect from a preteen boy, he brings stacks of paper to me in another aisle where I continue to shop. The young coupon-hunter holding his plunder with much happiness, shows me ones that he feels are "better," "higher value" or "people are so going to want to trade you for this one mom!" Off he goes to conquer the rest of the aisles in the store. The limit of coupons, (per item) is reasonable and he generally respects the limits I've set for taking coupons in stores. One skill, I just really have to get him checking the dates on the coupon before he brings it to me, unpopular items or coupon pads that are really out of date tend to be forgotten for months beyond expiry.
Just where do we find the coupons in stores?
Coupon pads hang from shelving in aisles of the stores, window displays in the freezer and dairy sections may have a suction-cup display with coupons on a pad, laying on shelving/between items and attached to the physical container or item which you are purchasing (a peel off label sometimes called a "peelie").
Another place to find coupons 'in store' are at the cashier/check outs for special promotions there may be coupons which are only redeemable at that particular location.
Stores and pharmacies like to promote their stores by offering a calender near the turn of a new year. These calenders sometimes have coupons in them and it's worth asking if the store has any calenders left when you are shopping again. One local pharmacy was giving out calenders well into May of 2009, (not many customers need a calender for 2009 by then), so it's just for the coupon savvy shoppers at that point to ask for a few extra.
The cashier's would load me up with 3-5 calenders per shopping trip (which is good for the store too; the coupons are getting used and the store knows that they can order a certain number of calenders the following year for distribution). When the Pharmacy-store recycled the last box of calenders, the one cashier said she thought of me when she saw the manager take them all away; she wanted to ask for them, but didn't know how to contact me, (I'll be sure to give her my email for next time a coupon stack is about to go to waste in the recycle bin!)
Local 'free' newspapers have inserts "Smart Source," "BrandSaver" and "Red Plum" are three that come to mind. Magazine subscriptions play host to several varieties of advertising media including coupons and mail-in-rebates (MIR). Coupons are also found inside and printed on packages of consumer goods (like food, beverages, clothing, etc).
Manufacturers place contact information on most packaging, making it easier to request coupons (and even samples) from companies. A politely worded email or handwritten letter also go a long way with some companies because many reward customer loyalty and sincerity with coupons.
Swap then Shop!
Trading coupons with coupon-collecting friends is a great thing to offset your stash; but just how do you meet other coupon-collectors? Internet groups are the best suggestion. Membership should be free to groups and have at least one active moderator. There are a few groups, I am working on making a simple website to use for this purpose. In the meanwhile, I would recommend advertising on Kijiji or talking to your co-workers, mom's groups, or other people you interact with.
Top 10 Check-List for Initiating a trade
1. Message the person you would like to propose a trade with after you have read over their available trade list and wish list. (you may have to ask if anyone on Kijiji or other online communities have wishlists).
2. List the coupons you are interested in (totalling them up is a nice thing to do, but not required) and propose a trade either from your trade list or your personal coupon stash, which matches as closely as possible to items on their wish list (totalling them up is a nice thing here as well, but not required by all traders).
3. The person you are proposing a trade with, will contact you (usually it doesn't take too long) and accept, modify or decline your propsol. NEVER take it personally if you are turned down or asked to modify a trade. It's not about you personally, it's about coupons and the value each of us places on them.
4. Assuming an agreement is reached, you exchange addresses for the coupons to be sent.
5. Have your envelope weighed at the post office to ensure correct postage.
6. Send your envelope.
7. Message your trade partner to let them know that you sent your side of the trade.
8. Message your trade partner to let them know that their side of the trade arrived.
9. Start the car, you have coupons to use and savings are in your future!
What happens when a trade goes wrong?
The trade never shows up, the trader stops communication, the trade envelope is not what you traded for? Before jumping to conclusions to take the matter to a moderator of the website (if you are using a forum style online community). If you are trading on Kijiji, you may have made the trade in person, so you could just refuse the trade or ask for it to be modified. Be fair, honest and remain mature about the circumstance. Give the person on the other end of the trade, the same benefit of the doubt that you would appreciate.
How long should I wait until a trade is declared MIA?
A missing trade is something none of us appreciate, but at some point it can happen.
Factors to keep in mind when calculating the length of time that an envelope "should" take to arrive: day of the week, time of year/season, strikes and holidays.
For example, if an envelope is mailed on a Thursday, you have to consider what time does the mail LEAVE that mail box. If it's picked up on Friday and travels that day, then sits for two days on the weekend, you have gone from Thursday to Monday, (5 days) with only two days the mail was physically moving towards it's destination. Add in there, a holiday (like Easter) where you have mailed it on Thursday, it sits in the mailbox Friday through to Tuesday, it won't start moving until Tuesday (out of six days, the mail didn't move until Tuesday, so one day in six that it really moved anywhere!).
Honesty: The Best Policy
Basically, be honest about when you send your end of the trade and report when the trade was received on your end. Have patience with the mail system, because as much as a trader would like to instantly have the mail arrive in your hands, it's not going to happen.
I usually would consider a trade missing after about fourteen working days (these are days that the Canada Post is physically moving my mail, not holidays or weekends.) I would contact my trade partner and inquire about the trade, verify when it was sent (things happen and being realistic is reasonable) and keep an open dialogue with your trade partner. This type of event is not a common occurrence and really needs to be discussed between partners. I can't stress enough honesty, patience and maturity when dealing with trades. It's easy to blow things out of proportion, keep a cool head and a favourable outcome is much more likely.
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