Frequently Asked Questions

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Q: Can I Send Email to Other Members?

Yes! To send an email to another member, you can either locate the member you want to contact on the MEMBER LIST, or click their username within a post and a drop-down menu will appear where you will have the option to click on a link to send an email to that user.

This will open a page that contains a form where you can enter your message. When you have finished typing your message, press the [send email] button and your message will be sent instantly. Note that for privacy reasons, the email address of the recipient is not revealed to you during this process.

Note that if you cannot find an email link for a member, it either means that the administrator has disabled email functions for this usergroup, or that the member in question has specified that they do not wish to receive email from other members of the forum.

Another useful email function is the ability to send a friend a link to a thread you think they may find interesting. Whenever you view a thread, you will find a link somewhere on the page which will allow you to send a brief message to anyone you like. Your referral id is added to the link you send, so if your friend registers on this forum as a result of viewing the link you sent to them, your referrals total will automatically be credited!
Registered members may also be able to send messages to other members of this forum using the PRIVATE MESSAGING system. For more information about private messaging, CLICK HERE.

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Q: What Is Private Messaging?

The administrator has enabled the PRIVATE MESSAGING system for registered members.

Sending Private Messages

Private messages work a little like email, but are limited to registered members of this forum. You may include vB Code, smilies and images in private messages that you send

You may send a private message to a member of this forum by clicking the 'SEND A PRIVATE MESSAGE' link in the private messaging section of your user control panel, or by clicking the members username within a post and a drop down menu will appear with a link to send that member a private message

When you send a message, the default option is to save a copy of the message in your Sent Items folder.

Private Message Folders

By default, you will have two folders in your private message area. These are the Inbox and the Sent Items folders.

The INBOX folder contains any new messages you receive, and allows you to view all the messages you have received, along with the name of the person who sent the message to you and the date and time the message was sent

The SENT ITEMS folder contains a copy of any messages that you have sent, where you have specified that you wish to keep a copy of the message for future reference

You may create additional folders for your messages by clicking the 'EDIT FOLDERS' link

Each folder has a set of message controls which allow you to select messages, then either move them to one of your custom folders, or delete them completely. You also have a button which allows you to forward multiple messages from a folder to another member of the forum.

You will need to periodically delete old messages, as the administrator has set a limit to the number of private messages you can have in your folders. If you exceed the number of messages specified by the administrator, you will not be able to send or receive new messages until you delete some old messages.

Whenever you read a message, you will have the option to reply to the message, or forward that message to another member of the forum.

Message Tracking

When you send a new private message, you have the option to request a read-receipt for that message. This will allow you to check whether or not a message has been read by its recipient by viewing the PRIVATE MESSAGE TRACKING page

This page is divided into two sections: unread messages and read messages.

The unread messages section shows all messages that you have sent with a read-receipt request that have not yet been read by their recipient.

The read messages section shows all messages you have sent with a receipt request that have been read and acknowledged by their recipient. The time that the message was read is also shown.

You may choose to end the tracking on any message you choose by selecting the message and clicking the [end tracking] button

When you receive a message with a read-receipt request, you do not have the option to deny a read receipt.

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Q: How Do I Use The Member List?

The MEMBER LIST contains a complete list of all the registered members of this forum. You can sort the members list by various columns such as alphabetically, by post count, join date, etc.

The member list also has a SEARCH FUNCTION, which allows you to quickly locate members according to categories you specify, such as searching for all members who have joined in the past week, by state they live in, etc.

The MEMBER LIST can be found in the footer at the bottom of each and every hotcouponworld web page.

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Q: How Do I Use The Calendar?

The calendar is a tool to help forum members keep track of events and important dates.

There are two types of events on the CALENDAR: normal events and recurring events.

Normal Events span the time frame from when the event starts until the event ends.

Recurring Events repeat over a set period of time based on certain criteria. Examples would be an event that occurs on the first Monday of every month and an event that occurs every Monday and Wednesday.
The administrator has enabled registered members to post events. You can also post your own private events that are only viewable to you.

Birthdays are shown on the calendar. Your birthday will automatically be shown on the calendar if you have entered the date of your birthday in your PROFILE. Note: if you do not enter the year of your birth when you edit your profile, your age will not be shown on the calendar.

If you enter your birthday, your name will also appear on the MAIN FORUM PAGE when it is your birthday.

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Q: What Are Announcements?

Announcements are special messages posted by the administrator or moderators. They are designed to be a simple one-way communication with the users. If you wish to discuss announcements, you will have to create a new thread in the forum, since you cannot reply to announcements. Announcements will be found at the top of the forum or page. To read the announcements please click on them to open. Once read, the announcement will no longer appear at the top of the forum page.

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Q: Can I Edit My Own Posts?

If you have registered, you will be able to edit your posts. Note that the administrator will disable this ability if a member abuses the privilege of the ability to edit posts.

Your ability to edit your posts is time limited to 1 year from the day of creation. If there is a thread such as your have-list or wish-list that is over 1 year old that you need to edit. You will need to report the post to a moderator for deletion and start a new wish-list or have-list post in the appropriate forum.

To edit your posts, click the button by the post you want to edit.

After you have made your modifications, a note may appear, which notifies other users that you have edited your post. Administrators and moderators may also edit your messages but this note may not appear when they do so.


Members do not have permission to edit their posts in the following forums:

• Auctions: Coupons or Actuals
• Hot Under The Collar

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Q: How Do I Rate A Thread

You will find a small menu on thread pages which allows you to 'rate this thread' with a number between 1-5.

Casting a vote for threads you view is entirely optional, but if you think that the thread is superb, you might rate it as a 5-star thread, or if you think that it's unspeakably dismal, you might choose to rate the thread with a single star.

Once enough votes have been cast for the thread rating, you will see a set of stars appear with the title of the thread in the thread listings.

These stars reflect the average vote cast, and can allow you and other members to quickly see which threads are worth reading if you are on a very busy forum with a lot of threads.

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Q: What Is Reputation (Reps)?

The reputation system is a fun way to let someone know what you think of their post. All registered members can give and receive reps.

How do I leave reputation for others?

To leave reputation for other members you will see a icon attached to each post that looks like this: THIS

When you click on the scales icon a pop up box will appear for you to leave reputation for the post. You can either approve or disapprove of this post and leave a comment for the post as well.

Once you have filled out the reputation box click the button "Add to reputation"

Video (Watch our short video on how to leave a rep comment)

CLICK HERE TO WATCH VIDEO

How do I view the reputation of others?

To view the reputation of others you will see what are called "pips". Pips are small green or red boxes under a member join date on each thread. They look like THIS.

The higher one's reputation score is the more pips they will have.

When you hover your mouse over a members pips you will see thier reputation level.

What are the reputation levels?



The reputation levels and points necessary are as follows:

• User is infamous around these parts / -99999 Points
• User can only hope to improve / -50 Points
• User has a little shameless behaviour in the past / -10 Points
• User is an unknown quantity at this point / 0 Points
• User is on a distinguished road / 10 Points
• User will become famous soon enough / 50 Points
• User has a spectacular aura about / 150 Points
• User is a jewel in the rough / 250 Points
• User is just really nice / 350 Points
• User is a glorious beacon of light / 450 Points
• User is a name known to all / 550 Points
• User is a splendid one to behold / 650 Points
• User has much to be proud of / 1000 Points
• User has a brilliant future / 1500 Points
• User has a reputation beyond repute / 2000 Points

Hot Coupon World may add more levels to our reputation system in the future. If so we will update this FAQ.

How do I view the reputation and comments left for my by other users?

To view the reputation that others have left for you as well as thier comments you will go to your USERCP (User Control Panel)

Scroll down to the bottom of the page and you will see a table entitled " Latest Reputation Received"

Here you will find up to 50 of the latest reputations given to you as well as a link to the thread that was repped, the date and time the reputation was left, who gave you reputation, and any additional comments the user has for you.

A green pip means that the reputation was positive and a red pip means that it was a negative.

What do the colors mean?



When reputation is given to a member you are given what is called a "pip". Pips can be one of three colors, the colors and corresponding meaning are as follows:

• Red - Negative, this usually means that someone disagrees or disapproves a post or comment.
• Green - Positive, someone has found this post good, informative, or just cool.
• Grey - Neutral, the person who gave this rep is too new or has low reputation power due to having few reputations themselves. The rep. still shows but does not count as a positive or negative towards the overall score.

Remember! - Reputation has NO value, it is just a way for members to let other members know that a post was helpful, a way to say thanks for the information, or in some cases to let a member know that you thought thier post was bad, negative, or inappropriate.



What other things should I know about the reputation system?

• Upon registration all new users start out with 10 reputation points.
• If a member has less than -9999 reputation points thier reputation level is "Off the Scale".
• Reputation left by a administrator is worth 10 reputation points.
• For every 10 days a member is registered, users gain 1 point of reputation altering power.
• For every 100 posts, users gain 1 point of reputation-altering power.
• For every 200 points of reputation, users gain 1 point of reputation-altering power.
• A user must have 5 posts in order for thier reputation hits to count on others.
• Users may give 10 reputation clicks per 24 hour period. (Administrators are exempt from this, and may give as many as they wish)
• You must give reputation to 10 different members before you can rep. the same person again.
• Reputation is not to be confused with feedback. If you have traded with someone and wish to leave them feedback please use the itrader rating system to leave appropriate feedback.
• There is no way for members to view the reputation that they have left for other members.

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Q: What Are Referrals?

The administrator has enabled referrals, which allows you to be credited for any new users you invite to the forum.

You gain referrals by promoting Hot Coupon World using your unique referral link. Your unique referral link can be found at the following link:

Hot Coupon World referrals

You can email the link to friends and family.

Each time someone follows this link to Hot Coupon World and registers as a new member, your referral count will be incremented by one. The number of referrals you have can be viewed in your profile.

Your administrator may run contests based on referals from time to time. Please be courteous when promoting Hot Coupon World by not spamming other web sites with your referral link just to gain referrals.

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Q: Why Can't I Post In Certain Forums

All forums are open to posting by all registered members except for the following forums:

Hotcouponworld's Helping Hand (Only Admin may start a new thread in this forum)
Hot Entrepreneurs (Only Hot Entrepreneur subscribers may post in these forums)

Additionaly all of the trading forums are read only until a member joins and has been approved for the Trader Group. To join the trader group you must:

1. Read the thread that contains the trading rules.
2. Agree to these rules.
3. Apply for Trader Group membership.

You may find the Trading Rules and instructions on how to join the Trader Group HERE