Coupon & Trade Abbreviations

Advertising media use abbreviations (short forms of words) to save time typing. The most commonly used coupon related terms are listed below for you to refer to.

B0G0 or B1G1 = Buy One, Get One Free (this refers to a product which is purchased and a second product is given to the consumer (purchaser of the product) for no cost. Occasionally you will be responsible for the tax on the free item, read the fine print on the coupon or advertisement for details. Smart coupon tip: use a coupon to purchase your item (the one that must be purchased for the promotion) to save even more money!)

B2G1 = Buy Two, Get One Free (this refers to a product which is purchased in a multiple of two in order to receive one at no additional cost to the consumer). Occasionally you will be responsible for the tax on the free item, read the fine print on the coupon or advertisement for details. Smart coupon tip: use a coupon to purchase the items (one coupon for each item= 2 coupons total) to save even more money!)



B3G1 = Buy Three, Get One Free (this refers to a product which is purchased in a multiple of three in order to receive a fourth item in the promotion for no additional cost to the consumer). Occasionally you will be responsible for the tax on the free item, read the fine print on the coupon or advertisement for details. Smart coupon tip: use a coupon to purchase each item = 3 coupons, one per item which must be purchased for the promotion, to save more money!)

FPC = A coupon that allows you to obtain a for product free. (this term refers to a coupon or certificate which is allows the consumer to obtain a product at no cost, however taxes may apply depending on the coupon~ read the fine print on the coupon for each transaction. Smart coupon tip: use an FPC when you are short on cash, when the item is not on sale and you need the item.)

GC = Gift Card (or Gift Certificate) (this is any denomination, any store used in some trades, for RAOK gifts)

HV = High Value (this is a coupon which is considered a higher value during redemption, usually for several dollars off the consumer's product. An example would be: $4 off Carnation Instant Breakfast versus the $1 off coupon. A $4 off coupon is harder to locate and holds a higher discounted value at the checkout).

MIR = Mail In Rebate (this term refers to a form or promotion which requires the consumer to mail something (usually the receipt and UPC) as proof of purchase to the company, in order to receive a rebate back from the manufacturer. These are usually one per envelope and some have per household limitations. Smart coupon tip: purchase the items for the promotion when they are on sale to save more money, use coupons as well and only buy items that you typically purchase and consume. You aren't saving money if you are spending it on items which you don't use.

Peelie = A coupon that is attached directly onto the product and is 'peeled off.' (this type of coupon is sometime used with other coupons in store (if you have your own coupon and a peelie is also attached, sometimes the stores (even in Ontario) will redeem both types of coupons in one transaction). Smart coupon tip: etiquette would be not peeling off additional peelie coupons when you aren't purchasing that product, we all love our coupons but please leave the peelie's on the products when you aren't buying them!)

POP = Proof of Purchase (a proof of purchase could be the UPC on product (the bar code), a receipt, or specially marked area of a product's packaging. Any of which a manufacterer may require to complete a rebate promotion or for a refund, etc).

RAOK = Random Act of Kindness (this is when a person sends a gift to another person which is unexpected (not related to a birthday or other life event) and it is something completely random. 

SCOP = Scanning Code of Practice (this is the voluntary code which stores can 'opt-in' (participate) in order to give their consumers an assurance that their scanning procedures are accurate for each item. For more on the code click here: SCOP: Abiding by a Code. )

Stamps = Canadian, unused postage stamps. (these are sometimes traded for coupons. The stamps must be Canadian, new (never used) and the current minimum postage rate per stamp. Stamps are sold individually, and in sets or books with varying multiples at postal outlets, some pharmacies and corner stores.)

Tear-pad = A pad of coupons. (this is usually on the shelf or display where you tear a coupon off. Search for tear-pads hanging off of shelving, freezer doors and pop-up cardboard displays located in the middle of aisles)

UPC = Universal Product Code (this is the bar code located on nearly all consumer related packaging. This code consists of numbers and a series of black lines with various widths. The numbers can vary from a short sequence to longer 12 digit codes.)

WUB = When You Buy (this term refers to the consumer "you" purchasing an item. An example would be: Save $10 WUB 3 Oil of Olay products. In order to complete the sale promotion and save $10, you are required to purchase (WUB) 3 products. Smart coupon tip: purchase the items on sale and use coupons for each item. If you can purchase two of the items (as in the example) with a coupon/on sale, and the third in the transaction completes the promotional sale you will save more than $10 (as in the example).

Choo Choo! Coupon Train

Basics

A coupon train is basically an envelope of coupons which is sent to a list of 'passengers' or 'riders' (people who have coupons which want to participate).

The train is first advertised (on my website Coupon Train area to show we're taking passengers).

A conductor (the person responsible for organizing, initiating and monitoring the train) asks for people to participate with the upcoming train 'ride.'

The conductor adds coupons to the envelope and the list of passengers and addresses is usually also included.

The first passenger receives the train and follows whatever 'rules' the conductor has established during the initial advertising of the train. (for example: no save.ca coupons, no coupons under a specific value, etc).

The first passenger removes the coupons which they them self, will personally use. It is not generally acceptable to take coupons for other trades.

After removing the coupons from the envelope, the passenger totals the value of coupons selected. (This is a dollar and cents total, plus any additional special value coupons like B0G0, FPC, etc.)

From the passenger's personal coupon collection, they select coupons to add into the train envelope. This total is primarily based upon the total which they have removed, including B0G0, FPC, etc. The passenger has the option to add more coupons to the train above the amount they removed.

Optionally, the passenger may add coupons for other passengers either as "RAOK" or as a wish list addition.

A "RAOK" is when a passenger/conductor adds coupons for other train participants as a Random Act Of Kindness. This type of addition does not count towards the value of the train or what the passenger has added to the train as the replacement value which they removed. These are a GIFT for the intended people on board; they are not replaced by their value when the receiver of the RAOK gets the train.

A "wish list" type of addition is when a passenger/conductor adds to the train a coupon (or more) for a specific person because it is a coupon which that person desires (by means of a wish list). This coupon (or coupons) is added to the train with the person's name on it, in hopes that it will be taken out by the person 'wishing' for it. Occasionally, a person has a wish that is very easily filled and the recipient just can't use more of that coupon, and has the option to take it or leave it in the train. When you receive a wish, you replace it's value just as you would with the remainder of the train.

The train is sent to the next person on the list (usually a passenger list is included onboard the train) and information is sent to the conductor.

What A Conductor Likes To Know

Each conductor is different in what information they ask you to update them with in regards to their train. I have found that many conductors generally ask for the following about their train:

When you received the train (this is the date you got it in the mail).

When you sent the train to the next passenger (this is the date you dropped it in the mail box).

How much you removed from the train (this is the total value you took out, NOT each specific coupon) Plus: any speciality value coupons like B0G0's etc.

How much you replaced in the train (this is the total value you put in the envelope to replace what you took out, NOT each specific coupon) Plus: any speciality value coupons like B0G0's etc.

Any expired or near expiry coupons need to be mentioned to the conductor and a decision will be made if near expiry coupons will have enough time to travel to the next person on the list or not.

You are NOT responsible for replacing the value of the expired coupons, but telling the conductor is important.

Role of a Respected Passenger

A good passenger will be someone with a collection of coupons with reasonable expiry dates and values to add to the train.

A respectful passenger is someone who follows any rules or guidelines, themes, etc. which the conductor has established prior to the train boarding.

A responsible passenger is someone who gets the train weighed and mailed in a reasonable amount of time (usually 48 hours maximum).

If you have questions ask the conductor, it is their train and their job to make sure you understand how it works and what is acceptable to them.


A Great Conductor

A conductor's role is to inititate, supervise, stay informed and keep passengers up to date and knowledgable about the train's rules, location, etc.

Each conductor is different; each conductor's train is unique. Even with two identical trains leaving on the same day to the same list of people, the train will never really be the same for very long.


Who Can Start A Coupon Train?
Anyone could start one. Basically you don't need any special training  for being a conductor, you don't even really need to have been a passenger before on another train. What you do need is coupons, lots of coupons.