Attention Target Shoppers: The Swagbucks Saga

Coupon Lingo

ALA = As low as
B&M = Brick & Mortar
B1G1F/BOGO = Buy One, Get One Free
Blinkie - Coupon from small machine on shelf that blinks!
BTFE = Boxtops for Education
Catalina = Fmg coupons from machine atop/beside register.
C/D = Complete Deal
C/O = Cash Off or Cents Off (essentially a "coupon")
CRT = Cash Register Tape (Receipt)
DND = Do not double
DCRT = Dated cash register tape
ECB = Easy Care Bucks (CVS store dollars)
EPOP = Each Pays Own Postage
EXP = Expiration Date
FAR = Free After Rebate
GDA = Good Deal Alert
HBA = Health & Beauty Aids
HT = Hang Tag
IP or IPQ = Internet Printable Coupons
IVC = Instant Value Coupon
LSASE = Long Self Addressed Stamped Envelope
LTD = Limited
MBG = Money-back gurarantee
MIR = Mail-in Rebate
MQ = Manufacturer Coupon
NAZ = Name, Address, Zip
NB = National Brand
NBQ = National Brand Qualifer
NED = No Expiration Date
OAS = One Any Size
OOP = Out of Pocket
OOS = Out of Stock
OYNO = On Your Next Order
PSA = Price Starting At
POP = Proof of Purchase
P&G = Proctor & Gamble Coupons
P/H = Postage & Handling
PP = Purchase Price
Peelie = Coupon attached to product
Purchase = Buying an item(s). Many purchases can be inside ONE transaction.
Q = Qualifier (usually UPC)
Q = Coupon
Raincheck = Form from store with a promise to sell at sale price due to out of stock condition.
RAOK = Random Act of Kindness
RP = RedPlum
Transaction = The completion of a purchase of one or more items where the exchange of money for goods occurs.
S or SS = SmartSource Coupons
SASE = Self Addressed Stamped Envelope
SMP = Specially Marked Package
SS = also Sunday Supplement
Stacking = Using 1 store coupon and one MFG coupon on the same item.
Tear Pad = A pad of refund forms or coupons found hanging on/near a shelf or display.
Coupon TMF = Try Me Free
UPC = Universal Product Code
V = Valassis
WSL = While Supplies Last
WT = Wine Tag (no alcohol purchase necessary)
WQL= While Quantities Last
WYB = When You Buy
YMMV = Your Milage May Vary -coupon or deal may or may not work.

Friday, November 6, 2009

The Swagbucks Saga - Important News

Last night I was redeeming for some Amazon Gift Certificates. I get a message on my page saying I had reached the limit for Amazon. You can only get 5 of any one prize monthly! WHAT? I cash out often and always for Amazon. It is the cheapest redemption and gives me the best use for my earnings.

Graphic: Lori - MomsByHeart

I fired off a note to Swagbucks to ask for more details since I found nothing last night at 11pm in either FAQ or TOS. Not good and it troubled me. It also was doubly upsetting since I have asked all of you to join me in the quest for Swagbucks. I never take sites doing anything that is less than transparent very well.

This morning there wasn't anything but a confirmation that they had received my note. When I check my work mail, there was a note from MomsByHeart. I told her what I knew to that point and that I was STEAMING MAD! I don't like being the last to know what is happening to funds (even SwagBucks) that I've earned! Anyway, Lori and I bounced emails to one another as the day progressed.

Finally, I received this from SwagBucks:

Dear Ginger,

Thanks for contacting Swag Bucks customer support. Please see the blog for more details regarding the Prize limits. http://blog.swagbucks.com/2009/11/get-prize-you-want-with-swag-bucks.html .

So I go read what the blog has to say. I'm not happy but I understand their stance clearly. I'm unhappy because there was NO communication. I have used up my 5 Amazon GCs for the month and now can't cash out until December. WRECKS my plans to order some items from Amazon. If you scroll down in their blog, you'll see I chastized them for the sheer panic that was rolling across the Internet today.

While I was couponing like crazy and out shopping, Lori did the math on the new $25 and $50 Amazon GCs that are FINALLY available. Here is how it shakes out....

Swagbucks is limiting our redemption to (5) of the same item per month. (5) Target gift cards, (5) Paypal redemptions, etc.
Since Amazon gift cards are the most popular, they have also added $25 and $50 increments.
$25 Amazon GCs cost 315 Swagbucks; $50 cost 590. So I am feeling a bit better now...

Here's the cost breakdown:

$5 Amazon GC = 45 Swagbucks
$25 Amazon GC = 63 Swagbucks per $5
$50 Amazon GC = 59 Swagbucks per $5

So the $5 GCs are still the best deal, but the trade off is that we can get a max of $400 in Amazon per month (5 of each increment).

I will have some questions for Scott Dudelson the owner of SwagBucks tomorrow night when he drops in at ChatBash 2009. If you have questions, come on over and join us at 6pm at RewardsChat.com

Also note that payouts are around the first and middle of the month.

I'm still a SwagBucks fan and I still think it is the best search engine for rewards on the Internet. Did YOU search today??????

See you Saturday night! Loads of prizes. Come on and snag some!

4 comments:

Chrissy, November 7, 2009 8:13 AM: Thanks for this information I wasn't aware of this either.... but since we can cash out 5 each of the amazon levels its not so bad.... but it sure does put a damper in my plans. The gift cards do they expire ? thinking about for next year cash out my limit per month then saving them up for Christmas ??? maybe I can find out tonight when I join you all at chat bash.

chrissy
Happy Mom Of 5
Ginger, November 7, 2009 9:03 AM: Chrissy, I do not think that the GCs expire. I always go and add mine to Amazon as soon as they come in for these reasons...

1)Peace of mind
2)In case SwagBucks does fold and go away.
3)So that if for some weird reason my account is corrupt.
4)In case my computer dies.
5)In case the rules change anywhere

Eh, I could go on but adding the Amazon GC codes to my Amazon account is much like making a bank deposit for me.

See you at the Chat Bash tonight.
Tiffany, November 7, 2009 10:46 AM: I find the breakdown of the cost of Swagbucks per dollar of gift card absolutely bizarre. Most reward sites (whether they be survey, etc) that reward with gift cards will actually charge less points per dollar the higher the value gift card you redeem for. It's like Swagbucks wants to punish us for redeeming more. This does taint my opinion of them.
Joyce, November 7, 2009 12:27 PM: Tiffany,

My opinion -- Swagbucks isn't trying to penalize you for redeeming more -- they were just unprepared for the backlash so they quickly added the higher value Amazon gift cards. If you read the blog post, they explain that they had negotiated a cheaper rate with Amazon on the $5 gift cards. If you have ordered the $5 Amazon gift cards, did you notice that they had these listed as a special offer at 45 Swagbucks? The regular price being 100 Swagbucks. If you use consider 100 as the price then that pricing structure makes sense.

I commented on their blog suggesting that they try to negotiate a better price on the higher GC's. I think it is in Amazon's best interest as well because I believe that they are gaining a lot of business because of Swagbucks. If you or anyone else out there feels the same way, please comment on the Swagbucks blog post and perhaps a big response will convince Swagbucks and Amazon to negotiate a better deal.