Couponing Lingo: A Universal Language Tutorial

SHARK BITES – Couponing Lingo: A Universal Language Tutorial

• $1/1: Means $1.00 dollar amount off of one item; $1/2: Means $1.00 dollar amount off of 2 items, and so on…
• $2/1: Means $2.00 dollar amount off of 1 item; $3/2: Means $3.00 dollar amount off of 2 items, and so on…
• All You Magazine: AY is abbreviated.
• Beep: When a coupon is scanned, or when a cashier needs to input a price.
• BOGO: Buy one Get one offer (usually “Free” or “Half-off”)
• B1G1: Buy one, get one.; B2G1: Buy two, get one; B2G2: Buy two, get two, and so on…
• Blinkie: Manufacturer coupons dispenser machine that blinks a “red light” located in store aisles.
• Cash Register Tape (CRT): It prints at the bottom of your receipt and is specific to the store where it is printed.  Ex: $X.00 off of make-up.
• Catalina (CAT): Register dispenses a receipt-like manufacturer or store coupon to use on a future purchase.
• Coupon Insert(s): Coupon circulars and advertisements inserted into newspapers. Usually they consist of Proctor and Gamble (P&G brand SAVER), Red Plum (RP), and SmartSource Magazine® (SS).
• Do Not Double (DND): Written on coupons to let store know not to double.
• Double Coupons (DC): Some stores double coupons. Values vary, but $.50 is usually the main value. The store may have a specific amount of coupons you are allowed to have doubled. (Ex: Double up to 20 coupons per transaction/shopping trip)
• Each: Ea is abbreviated.
• E-Coupons: Electronic coupons that are downloaded onto your store loyalty card or cell phone.
• Extra Bucks (EB) {Formally Extra Care Bucks (ECB)}: A CVS ExtraCare Savings & Rewards Program. Extra Care rewards print out at the bottom of your receipt and are based upon CVS weekly or monthly advertised deals. www.cvs.com.
• Excludes Trial Size: ETS is abbreviated.
• Expires or Expiration Date: EXP is the abbreviation.
• Free after Rebate (FAR)/Mail in Rebate (MIR): A rebate is a type of sales promotion marketer’s use primarily as incentives or supplements to product sales. The mail-in rebate is the most common and incorporates a receipt for the need of proof of purchase. The specific item(s) would be considered free after the rebate. However, tax is the consumer’s responsibility.
• General Mills: GM is abbreviated.
• Gift Card: GC is abbreviated.
• Handling Fee: This is a fee paid to a store for accepting manufacturer coupons.
• Harris Teeter: HT is abbreviated.
• Internet Printable (IP): coupons that are printed right from your home computer.  Printing limits vary. You may have to download printing software in order to print form your computer.
• Instant Value Coupon (IVC): They are Walgreens store coupons found in their monthly coupon booklet, and that can be stacked with manufacturer coupons.
• Limit1D: Limit 1 coupon per day.
• Limit1P: Limit 1 coupon per person.
• Limit2D: Limit 2 coupons per shopping trip.
• Limit2P: Limit 2 coupons per person.
• Limit4: Limit 4 coupons per shopping trip.
• Limit4D: Limit 4 coupons per day.
• Limit4P: Limit 4 coupons per transaction.
• Limit4X: Limit 4 coupons of any kind in the same transaction.
• Manufacturer: MFR is the abbreviation.
• Manufacturer Coupon (MC or MQ): A coupon created by the manufacturer to entice consumers to buy their product(s).
• Out-of-Pocket (OOP): Money you spend when you make a purchase, which does not include any after-purchase savings, coupons, or rebates.
• On Your Next Order (OYNO):  Stores like Kroger use this promotion. The OYNO is a savings that you will not see on your first transaction, but applied to your next purchase.
• One (1) Coupon per Purchase (OCPP):  This refers to your ability in using one (1) coupon per item.  It is meant to deter you from using two (2) of the exact same coupons for one item.
• One Coupon per Transaction (OCPT): A limit of using one (1) coupon per transaction. If allowed, separate your transactions if you have multiple coupons that you need to use.
• Peelie: A manufacturer coupon found on products in stores.
• Proctor and Gamble P&G): One of the largest manufacturing companies in the world with a wide variety of consumer goods. https://www.pgeveryday.com/
• Prices Starting At (PSA): when A products cost starting point that goes up from that point.
• Rain-check: When a product is not available/in stock, a rain-check form/slip is on the shelf in its place. Or, you can request one at the customer service counter, where they will issue you one. When the item is restocked, you are able to purchase it at the sale price that was issued at the time of that specific sale.
• Rebate:  A rebate is a refund of part or all of the amount paid.
• Register Rewards (RR):  Walgreens Rewards Program that produces long receipt-like coupons to be used on future purchases and cannot be rolled over.
• Rolling Catalina’s (RC): The practice of separating your purchase into multiple transactions in order to use the RC from your first transaction to pay for your second transaction.  Then an additional Catalina will print from that transaction to pay fir the following transaction, and so on…
• Red Plum (RP): Red Plum issue manufacturer coupons via newspaper inserts and from their website (www.redplum.com).
• Single Check Rebate (SCR): Rite Aid Rebate Program found in a monthly store booklet that is full of rebates. When you purchase items with coupons, save your receipts to enter information online. The SCR system is set up to store your rebates and totals them each month. Then you request your monthly check be mailed to you.
• SmartSource Magazine® (SS): SmartSource Magazine® supply manufacturer coupons via newspaper inserts and from their website. http://www.smartsource.com
• Stacking/Stacking Coupons (SC): When a consumer stacks their manufacturer coupons with a store coupon to maximize their savings. Only one manufacturer coupon may be used per item.
• Stockpile (used as a verb): An abundance of items bought at one time to build your stockpile
• Stockpile (used as a noun.):  A food storage or stash of food and/or non-food items.
• Store Coupon (SC): A coupon created to entice consumers. Store coupons may be found in the weekly ads, downloaded from e-coupons, or online.
• Store Loyalty Card (SLC):  A free card which you present at checkout to receive additional savings. Receive one by filling out an application form to receive the loyalty card.  (Ex: CVS and Kroger)
• Tear Pad (TP):  A pad of manufacturer coupons found near product on shopping aisles, or customer service counters. They are to be used wherever any store accepts manufacturer coupons.
• Transaction: A transaction refers to your entire purchase.
• Try Me Free (TMF): A rebate offer received after trying a product.
• WAGS: Abbreviation for Walgreens. www.walgreens.com
• Universal Product Code (UPC): Bar codes to be electronically scanned from product.
• Video Value (VV): Rite Aid coupon(s) you receive to print, after watching video(s) on their site in you account. www.riteaid.com
• When You Buy (WYB):  Consumers must buy a certain amount of item(s) utilize sale requirements on items.
• Your Mileage May Vary (YMMV):  Your shopping experience/couponing experience may differ from someone else. Therefore, this term is used to describe such a matter.

Remember to always take a “bite” out of your wallet when shopping, and leave your shopping experience as a ‘Savvy Sharky” winner!

P.S. If you are aware of any couponing lingo, please feel free to post in the comments section. Thank you.

~Sharky

What is “Shark Bites”? Shark Bites is a money-saving tips series here on FreebieShark that aims to help you and your family get the most out of your money. “Shark Bites” posts are both educational and straight to the point. Just another way FreebieShark is helping you save!