¨*:•.-:¦:- TRADING FAQ's ¨*:•.-:¦:- Please Start Here. Most trading questions answered in this thread.

[bugface711]

Q: When do I graduate to Trader status?
A: To become a Trader you have to be a TNT for a minimum of 30 days and also receive 5 positive feedback ratings from members with whom you have traded. This means you have made trades with 5 different traders and they all rated it with a positive rating. This number will appear below your name as your iTrader score.

[bugface711]

Q: Will I always have access to the TNT forum?
A: No, after 30 days have passed and you reach your 5 positive trade feedbacks you are promoted to Trader. Only TNT's have access to the TNT forum.

But, after you are promoted to Trader, you are not out in the cold! You will be able to ask questions right in the Rules & Guidelines for Trading forum. The same trading FAQ thread you have in the TNT forum is in the R&G forum as well.

[bugface711]

Q: What are wishlists, havelists and keep lists?
Q: How do I create a wishlist and havelist?
Q: Do I have to have a wishlist and havelist? Can I do just one or the other?
A: These are long-term lists that you update as coupons, sales, needs and haves change. You can place a link to your list(s) in your signature to make trading easy. You only maintain one wishlist and one havelist.

Wish Lists are a way you can let fellow traders know what coupons & actuals you are looking for.

Have Lists are where you can keep an ongoing inventory of coupons and actuals you have available for trade.

In the coupon database you are also able to create a Keep List as well. This is where you can keep your own personal inventory of coupons that you have for your own use.

A: Create your havelist and wishlist directly from the coupon database.

Click the resources tab on any HCW page. Next click DATABASE. You will use the many different search features to find coupons, rebates and more that you can use to add them to your list.

To add a coupon to your wish list select wishlist from the dropdown boxes to the left of the search field. It says "pick one". Next it will ask you low medium or high need. Choose one. Thats it. You just added an item to your wish list.

Once you are done adding for the day, click the wishlist tab in the database this brings you to your wishslit. Click update post and it will post your new wishlist in the wishlist forum for you.

To add coupons to your have list, you do the same, except instead of choosing a level of need you input how many of the coupon you have.

A: Creating a Wish List or a Have List is optional. You do not have to create both. Many members create a wish list only or a have list only.

[bugface711]

Q: What is the difference between a wishlist/havelist and a post in the Trades Current Coupons and Offers forum?
A: A post in the Trades Current Coupons and Offers forum is one you should post in if you are looking for an immediate trade of specific items you either have or are looking for. It should not contain your full wish or have list or say something generic like "ISO trades" or "Check out my have list."

These posts are kept on the board for only a limited time. Usually they are removed on day 7 of inactivity.

Your wish list & have list are longterm lists that you can maintain, update and change regularly.

If you post a wishlist or havelist in the Trades Current Coupons and Offers forum, the mods will move it for you.

[bugface711]

Q: How do I put a link to my wishlist and havelist in my signature?
A: There are a couple of steps but it's not too hard. Follow these instructions:

1) Open up your wishlist or havelist page and copy the Web address that is in the top of the browser window.

2) Go to your user CP (look in the orange bar that runs across the top of the HCW page. You should see "User CP" on the left).

3) Once in your User CP, click "edit signature" on the left-hand side. In the box, give type a name for your list like, "My wishlist" or "Joe's wishes" or soemthing like that.

4) Highlight the name you just typed and click on the hyperlink icon, which looks like a little globe with a couple of chain links in front of it. You'll find it above the box where you typed the text, where the buttons for bold, italics, etc. are found.

5) When you click the hyperlink icon, a little box will pop up. There's a http:// already in there, but delete that and insert your previously copied web address for your list and click OK. Your text should turn blue.

6) Click save signature. Your wishlist is now in your signature and will appear each time you post!

Remember, if you manage your lists in the database, each time you update your old wishlist or havelist, it is replaced by the update. That means you will need to either update your signature link each time you update your database list, or you can link directly to your database list.

If you choose to link to your database list, here's how you find the link: When you are in the wishlist or havelist tab in the database there is information above the lists. One of the things included is the link to where you database lists are hosted. Click this to get the link for your siggy.

[bugface711]

Q: My wishlist or havelist is no longer in the forum, where is it?
Q: Why can't I edit my wishlist or my havelist in the forums?
A: Once your wishlist or havelist is posted in the forum, it is active for 1 year. After 1 year it cannot be edited. The old lists are removed to keep the forum up to date. If you use the database to create your lists and regularly click the update post tab this will not be an issue as each time you update, it created a new page in the forum.

If you notice you cannot edit your post any longer, create a new list using the coupon database. Then click the report post icon and ask for the post to be removed. (The report post icon is an upsidedown triange with an ! in the center).

[bugface711]

Q: Can I use a link to a wishlist or havelist I created on another site?
A: If you have a blog or another place where you maintain an online wishlist &/or a havelist, you need to first PM the link to SBP for approval.

If it is approved, you will be given the "HCW Approved" smiley and you link will be put in your signature for you. Please do not post links to personal sites outside of Hot Coupon World without permission.

We check all links to make sure they include family friendly content.

[bugface711]

Q: How do I quickly and effectively search the WL and HL forums?
Q: How do I find the wishlist or havelist of another member?
A: If you are searching for a coupon and you want to know which member has it, you can search in a few ways. If you have already created a list in the database, you can click the trades actual and potential tab. In there your lists will be matched against the database lists of other members.

If you want to search in the WL or HL forums:
In the top right corner of each forum there is a search box.
Type in a key word like crest and every wishlist that has that listed pops up. You can further narrow it down by typing in more info like Crest Pro Health. You can do this for coupons you need in the HL forum or for ones you have in the WL forum to see who needs the ones you have.

To find the list of specific members:

If you are looking for a WL/HL post made by a certain member in the forum go to the WL or HL forum. Click search in the upper right hand corner and then click the link for advanced search. Type in their member name and you will find their post if there is one in that forum.

You can also search the listing of members who have created lists in the database HERE.

OR you can search by their name specifically using the link below. click it, then add the member name after the = sign.

Coupon Database=

[bugface711]

Q: Is it OK to PM a member to ask for a trade based on their WL or HL?
A: Yes. Even if you sent a message using the database trading system and did not get a repsonse, sending a PM is OK.

Not all members check their database trading notifications regulary. You are always welcome to send a PM to initiate a trade with another member.

[bugface711]

Q: I created a wishlist/havelist in the database, how do I make it post in the appropriate forums with the other lists?
Q: What is update post?
Q: Why is the list i created in the database not in the wishlist or havelist forum?

A: When you go into resources and click coupon database, this is your own personal work area. This is where you can add to or remove from your lists. None of this goes live to the appropriate forum until you make it live.

To make your changes available for everyone to see, click the wishlist tab or the havelist tab. This will bring you to your view of your lists. Click the Update Post tab.

This posts your list live to the appropriate forum.

You need to do this each time you update your needs or haves in the database.

Q: Why am I unable to update my list?
A: You can only do this up to once every 24 hours.