What exactly is a coupon train ?

[granviewgran]

New to couponing forums and trading.

I have a vague idea but how does it work? take some, add some send it on?

[Sylvia]

A coupon train is a group of couponers that agree to give and receive coupons while following a list of addresses called a route.

The first person... typically called the conductor recuites participants then creates a list and sends out the first envelope (car) to the first name on the list. The list is organized so that the route goes from one town to the next closest town. The first "rider" Takes a few coupons and generously adds a few more and some extras... then sends it to the second name on the list. etc, etc. Eventually the envelope arrives back at the conductor's house who will strip the expired coupons from the envelope and add new ones and sends out the envelope again. Each person agrees to send the envelope out within 2 days or so.

I personally found that it was more of a pain than it was worth but many find it helpful.

[cavelady]

What is a Coupon Train:
It is a group of people who share coupons together. It you look at my profile page you will see a box on the right with a picture of a Train in it - I am the "conductor" of The Dollar Express.

As the conductor I organize the group, put together mailing list of the people who want to "ride" on the train as "passengers" and I start coupon envelopes ie the "Train". The train moves from passenger to passenger - with each person taking out of the envelope the coupons they can use and replacing them with ones they don't want or need.

The idea is to get more coupons for the things you want and from different parts of the country where ads vary. It helps with coupon stacking and you also may get coupons that you never see in your local paper.

You can also benefit from the knowledge of the people on the train. And develop relationships with people you can depend upon for good information.

It does require that you get the Train right back out once you receive it - as of course the coupons inside do expire as they travel down the tracks.

I started this train in February of 2009 and we currently have 58 people on the train, from all over the country. It can have it's bumps and people are all in different learning stages so that can make it fun also.

Please feel free to take a look inside the train and see what we are about. Again if there is anything I can help with please ask

[granviewgran]

Just one more question.

Are the coupons all clipped coupons or are IP coupons allowed too?

Thanks everyone who replied for the info.

[bethanyam]

Originally Posted by granviewgran

Just one more question.

Are the coupons all clipped coupons or are IP coupons allowed too?

Thanks everyone who replied for the info.

That usually depends on the conductor, but the ones I've participated, all were allowed as long as they were not expired.

[Find2Shop]

I want to get on the coupon train. It sounds like fun. Who do I participate?

[Sylvia]

regarding IPs. You are being trusted by the others on the train that you will not copy and fraudulently use the internet printables. There have been times when riders have discovered they are no longer able to print SS ones because someone they trusted on the train copied and passed IPs. Obviously you want everyone to be trustworthy in dealing with those.

YMMV as they say.

Good luck I hope it's everything you hope it wil be.

[cavelady]

On the Dollar Express Coupon Train we allow IP's but see very few - for the reason stated above about trust that they will not be copied.

HOWEVER what many of my trains riders have been able to do is to really get to know people and build solid trading relationships - so that they will feel comfortable with printing IP's for one another. I trade coupons with several train passengers weekly and I know others do - getting more cpns for the things I'm looking for and they do too. We have "wish lists" posted inside the train - letting each other know what we are always looking for - so when I see cpns that I know a train passenger is looking for I can decide if I feel comfortable in printing the IP's for that person.

Each person on a coupon train gets a different level of benefit from being on the train. Several of my passengers also regularly participate in starting envelopes from their homes and thus the envelopes will come back to them and again increase the number of cpns they have access too.

Don't get me wrong "Training" has it's problems and trains do sometimes get "derailed" and sometimes a passenger must be asked to "get off" for causing too many delays etc. But overall I have found it a wonderful experience and would welcome anyone who has more specific interest to PM me.

[Djane]

Originally Posted by granviewgran

Just one more question.

Are the coupons all clipped coupons or are IP coupons allowed too?

Thanks everyone who replied for the info.

Becarful trading IP coupons if someone copies the Q's and uses them multiple times the IP source will block you from reciving any more Q'S they have a serial number that traces them back to the computer that printed them and if multiple Q's with the same serial number show up they can block your computer from printing any future Q's from their site.

[Kathypoo]

I am on many trains with Cavelady (Dollar Express), and I must say I really enjoy this aspect of couponing. I have developed friendships with riders, and get all types of coupons that are not only useful, but also for products I don't usually see coupons for. Each time a packed envelope arrives, it feels like Christmas! Most riders post "wish lists" of products they use regularly, and wish to have q's for. It's fun going through the lists and sending out q's to people you know will make good use of them. I send IP's to the riders I know I can trust. HTH!