Coupon Trading Online: An Introduction
What is coupon trading?
Trading coupons online is a process that helps you to multiply your savings when shopping. Trading your coupons with other coupon users over the Internet is very simple and can be extremely profitable. If you need a discount coupon for baby formula, for example, but cannot find it in your Sunday paper, all you have to do is visit one of the many online resources where you can turn the coupons you have but don’t need into coupons that you do need.
Have you ever watched, in awe, as the person ahead of you in line at the cashier deftly whisked out the appropriate coupons to buy a week’s worth of groceries for a fraction of the price? How was this person so well prepared and where did he / she get all the right coupons for the items they needed? Trading coupons is the answer.
While people have been trading coupons for years, doing so over the Internet is a recent (and increasingly popular) development. To start trading coupons, follow the steps below:
* Actively start to collect different kinds of coupons. Or, if you have a drawer full of unused coupons, now is the time to put them to good use. Even if you do not have children, do not discard baby item and diaper coupons, for example.
* Set aside the coupons you know you will use.
* Organize the coupons you do not need into categories (baby items, food, household supplies …). You will need them to trade for coupons on items and products your family needs.
* Prepare a list the types of coupons you use and need the most (grocery store coupons, personal care item coupons, pet care coupons etc)
How do online coupon trading networks and forums work?
There are many online coupon trading boards or forums. Most are free, but a few charge a small membership fee. You may only trade coupons for coupons on these forums. You may not sell your coupons. Some online coupon trading sites divide available coupons by product categories, stores or the locations where the coupons are valid. Below are some guidelines on how to participate in coupon trading networks.
* Search coupon trading forums and networks on the Internet. Frugal Village and Coupon Forum are two of the more popular trading websites, but there many more. Read the website’s rules and FAQ before you create your account.
* Do not enter your address or phone number. All you need to enter in order to participate is your first name, e-mail address and zip code (optional).
* Offer (post) some of the coupons you have and do not need. Provide all details of the coupons you are offering to trade (exact discount, brand name, expiration date, whether it is specific to particular retailers etc)
* Search online databases to know what coupons other people are willing to trade.
* At this point, you could simply wait and see what trade offers will come your way, or you could list the coupons (bread, toothpaste, pet food …) you would like in return for yours. If you have located coupons that you need, you may also immediately make an offer to trade for them. If you find a coupon you badly need, you could offer several coupons for just one.
* Do not post the same offers on several trading forums simultaneously.
* Reply immediately (within 24 hours) to any response you receive even if you are rejecting the trade offer.
* Once you have agreed to a trade, mail out your coupon promptly. Delays will affect the coupon’s with expiration date.
* Check online coupon trading forums regularly for the best chances of getting what you are looking for. Sometimes, people post notices of special sales and deals at online stores.
* Learn to recognize popular coupons. Items like baby formula are costly, and coupons for baby food are highly sought after by coupon traders. Even if you have no children, these are valuable coupons for trading. Grocery store coupons are also extremely popular.
The principal benefit of coupon trading (online and off) is that it allows you to collect multiples of the coupons you need (16 coupons for your favorite cereal, for example). As you get more accustomed to the process of Internet coupon trade, you can join several forums or trading groups, thereby enhancing your chances of obtaining coupons you need.
By combining coupon trading and other shopping strategies, you can cut down drastically on your spending. Many stores allow the use of a manufacturer coupon and a store coupon on the same item, for example. Another strategy is to watch for sales, match the coupons you have to the sales and then start trading for coupons that you need. To obtain maximum savings out of coupon trading and shopping strategies, however, you may have to abandon some of your brand (and store) preferences.