trading Box Tops For Education, coke codes, forever stamps, et al. - WHAT ARE THEY WORTH? WHAT MAKES A FAIR TRADE???

[cody82414]

what is a FAIR trade from coke points to BTFEs?
or for the benefit of those potential traders;
what is a FAIR trade from BTFEs to coke points?


I have been on Hot Coupon World for years,
but need to ask the opinions of others
regarding the trading value of a few items.

Most of you who know me know that I have two young boys
with special needs
and that I am the Box Tops coordinator for their elementary school.
This is the fourth year that I have been trading for BTFEs on HCW
to benefit their school.
Last year the BTFEs bought 2 smart boards, including the arms, for classrooms

Recently the teachers' at the school
began collecting coke codes for me to trade for BTFEs
and I have been attempting to trade them - FAIRLY.

I personally trade 10 forever stamps for 100 BTFEs.
which works out to 4.4 cents per BTFE
or 44% of the value of a BTFE

Keep in mind that most coupons trade for 10% of their value
ie., 10 cents for a $1.00 coupon

Additionally, I have traded up to 3 1/2 cents for a single coke point.


so my question is
what is a FAIR trade from coke points to BTFEs?

or for the benefit of those potential traders
what is a FAIR trade from BTFEs to coke points?

[trudibeth77]

Hiya! I'm a BTFE trader, too- not a coordinator, but a parent who prefers to do BTFE fund-raising vs peddling "crap" to family and friends. (lol) I love the Box Tops program - hoping to really get more parents interested at my son's school- it pains me that people actually THROW them away! At any rate- I don't trade for Coke Codes, so I can't help you there. But I've often wondered what a fair trading ratio is for BTFE's and coupons. My standard actually follows your Rule of Thumb- $.10 for a $1.00 coupon (or, I say $1 coupon = 1 BTFE, so $20 coupons = 20 BTFE's). That seems pretty fair- until you have a trade with all super high value coupons or one with all super low value coupons. It all evens out in the end, I suppose...

But as one who trades for Box Tops, I try to keep my cost down to $.04 or less on the Box Tops (since I could just give the money directly to the school otherwise) to make it a "wise" use of my money. I usually require a minimum of 10 BTFE's per trade- but I'm thinking about raising that to 15. Do you have a minimum??

I'm sorry- I know I didn't really answer YOUR question, but was interested in feedback on my trading ratio from others. I always wonder if I'm being "fair".

[cody82414]

But as one who trades for Box Tops, I try to keep my cost down to $.04 or less on the Box Tops (since I could just give the money directly to the school otherwise) to make it a "wise" use of my money. I usually require a minimum of 10 BTFE's per trade- but I'm thinking about raising that to 15. Do you have a minimum??

Thanks for your input!

Early on, when I was a TNT, I remember being told that $10.00 worth of coupons was the minimum amount that someone (I don't remember who) would do - just to make good use of the stamp. So I tend to want to do bigger trades.

bump for other opinions

[cody82414]

looking for opinions

[cody82414]

^

[cody82414]

[StacyNVA]

I don't know if you'll like this answer but the btfe sell on ebay for almost full value. Even subtracting fees and what not -they are still worth 7-8 cents each on ebay.

[cody82414]

I don't know if you'll like this answer but the btfe sell on ebay for almost full value. Even subtracting fees and what not -they are still worth 7-8 cents each on ebay.

I know that,
but I will not go there.
That's not me

[trudibeth77]

I know that,
but I will not go there.
That's not me

Ditto! I'm amazed at what some people will pay for Box Tops- sometimes they'll go over $.10/ Box Top! I'd rather cut a check right to the school!!! Often parents will buy the Box Tops right off Ebay so their kids' class can win whatever contest is going on (at our school it's an ice cream party). Doesn't happen so much at my kids' school, I don't think... but crazy nonetheless. Oh well- to each his own, I suppose- it all benefits the school in the end. But I definitely "work" for the Box Tops I turn in- lol!

The nice thing about trading for them is that I'm trading something that I wouldn't use anyway/ is of no value to me for something that is valuable to me. There's still a cost involved (stamps, paper/ ink for the IP's I print, etc), but it probably averages out to $.03 or $.04 per Box Top for me... so I feel like that's a pretty decent use of my money. (I spend $.03- $.04 per Box Top and the school gets back $.10)

[cody82414]

Often parents will buy the Box Tops right off Ebay so their kids' class can win whatever contest is going on (at our school it's an ice cream party).

tis why everyone gets a prize where I coordinate;
everyone wins
and I encourage the entire school to raise funds.
It's fun stuff!!!