What is a COUPON TRAIN / How does this work ?

[bonnie]

-- > There can be numerous types and sizes of coupon trains.

-- > Some people prefer to have local trains, where then the riders save on mailng costs, some prefer to
have across Canada trains, where you will see a much larger variety of coupons be added to the train package.
Others can be province or area specific.

-- > Trains can be general in content (the coupons contained), where others can be more specific
( like a baby product train, cleaning products, a food product train, or even Gluten Free trains, and so much more )

--> Some train groups/members / conductors may insist upon experienced riders, where others will be open or even plan
for "Newbie" type trains (Riders with little to no experience with Coupon Trains)

--> There can be any number of riders ( this is usually up to each train group as a whole, or up to each conductor)

--> Trains can run perpetually ( around & around the riders cycle, stopping only when all the riders or the conductor decides to do so)
Or be a one time ride train, where each member gets one turn and then once the train is back at the conductor that began the train, it is
then completed.

-- > There will usually be rules set ( recommended ) for each train in regards to the time each rider has to keep the package
in order to keep the train moving along at a good rate. If each rider were to keep the package for more than a few days on
a mid - large sized train, the time it takes to cycle through each rider would take much too long in regards to expiry dates and so on.

-->> Another point that is usually important to keep in mind for rules is one that ensures each rider is aware of what limit
of expiry dates the coupons they add to the package can have.
A good rule of thumb for most types of trains is a minimum of 3 months from the date you mail the train to the next person.

-- > Normally, the dollar amount / number of coupons each rider decides to remove and keep from the package, will
have to be matched by what they are required to put back in.
ie: if I took out 20 coupons valued at $15, that is what I would have to add back into the package during my turn with the train.

-->> Some train groups / conductors will insist upon having a postal tracking number on the train package to ensure
the coupon package does not get lost ... this is a great idea, especially for the Trains travelling across Canada.

-->> Please be sure that each rider is clear on the rules set for your train, and to also have an agreed upon method of updating
your train group as to where the train is at any given moment.

[My3peeps]

Sounds great Bonnie! I love coupon trains!

[Saveyshoppergirl]

I would love to ride one or more of the trains...count me in

-- > There can be numerous types and sizes of coupon trains.

-- > Some people prefer to have local trains, where then the riders save on mailng costs, some prefer to
have across Canada trains, where you will see a much larger variety of coupons be added to the train package.
Others can be province or area specific.

-- > Trains can be general in content (the coupons contained), where others can be more specific
( like a baby product train, cleaning products, a food product train, or even Gluten Free trains, and so much more )

--> Some train groups/members / conductors may insist upon experienced riders, where others will be open or even plan
for "Newbie" type trains (Riders with little to no experience with Coupon Trains)

--> There can be any number of riders ( this is usually up to each train group as a whole, or up to each conductor)

--> Trains can run perpetually ( around & around the riders cycle, stopping only when all the riders or the conductor decides to do so)
Or be a one time ride train, where each member gets one turn and then once the train is back at the conductor that began the train, it is
then completed.

-- > There will usually be rules set ( recommended ) for each train in regards to the time each rider has to keep the package
in order to keep the train moving along at a good rate. If each rider were to keep the package for more than a few days on
a mid - large sized train, the time it takes to cycle through each rider would take much too long in regards to expiry dates and so on.

-->> Another point that is usually important to keep in mind for rules is one that ensures each rider is aware of what limit
of expiry dates the coupons they add to the package can have.
A good rule of thumb for most types of trains is a minimum of 3 months from the date you mail the train to the next person.

-- > Normally, the dollar amount / number of coupons each rider decides to remove and keep from the package, will
have to be matched by what they are required to put back in.
ie: if I took out 20 coupons valued at $15, that is what I would have to add back into the package during my turn with the train.

-->> Some train groups / conductors will insist upon having a postal tracking number on the train package to ensure
the coupon package does not get lost ... this is a great idea, especially for the Trains travelling across Canada.

-->> Please be sure that each rider is clear on the rules set for your train, and to also have an agreed upon method of updating
your train group as to where the train is at any given moment.

[lzussino]

Count me in Bonnie, I love coupon trains.

[Wendi]

I would love a ride on a coupon train, count me in!

[LindaL]

Would love to join in on a train!!!

[miyabitamago]

Please let me join the coupon train.
I live in BC, but across Canada train sounds nice too.
I'm not sure if there will be different set of rules for different trains,
but I personally really like the rules Bonnie has set for the trains in the past,
because the rules are very straightforward to follow and the rules protect the people on the trains

[bonnie]

I will not be personally running / conducting any of the trains within the next few months ..
this thread was created so that others can get together, discuss , start & run their own trains from here..

I would be happy to post and/or forward the sets of rules I have used in the past for any of the trains I used to run
Just let me know.

[Rita]

Still don't get it. Rules aside - what is a coupon train?

[bonnie]

Still don't get it. Rules aside - what is a coupon train?

@Rita .. did you read the very first post ( by me) in this thread ?
I posted pictures with descriptions that describe the process of a coupon train.
The conductor starts the train with the amount and type(s) of coupons decided upon.
the people that desire, join that train group.
The conductor mails the pack of coupons to the first rider (person) on the train group list.
That person takes out whatever number of coupons they wish, but must replace those with
the same number of different coupons, they mail it on to the next rider, and so on it goes, until
all the riders / members of that group have had a turn, then the last person mails the package
back to the conductor that started the train.
Does that explain it for you ?