More and more lately we are seeing posts that are upset about posters being corrected over a coupon use, over a transaction, or over a posted trip. We have seen the following several times in posts recently:

• We have a terrible way of telling someone they did something wrong.
• PM someone instead of telling them on the open boards
• I will no longer post my trips because of being told I did something wrong
• I am tired of being fussed at like I am a child

There are many reasons the Leadership Team (Forum Leaders, Moderators, or Admin) corrects a poster when a post shows the wrong usage of a coupon. We have viewed, reviewed, discussed, reviewed some more, and have tried to decide the best way to handle these types of posts. We try to "listen" to the tones of our posts to see how our members are "hearing" our posts. Bottom line is, no matter how gently we say it, or how direct we say it, it is going to be taken wrong because no one likes to feel they have done something wrong, especially after being elated over what they feel is a great trip.

I saw this post recently-
and this one-
and this one-
I could not have summed it up better myself. Those are all the reasons why we must correct when there is a post in the forums using a coupon in a way that should not be used. We NEVER, EVER mean to hurt someone's feelings or make someone feel bad about their trip. However, if we leave misuse, even accidental misuse, on the boards without saying anything, then we are essentially promoting that misuse.

I recently watched a show that showed blatant coupon misuse. The person on the show claimed previously that XXXX website taught her how to use those coupons. That particular website had to go into damage control because they claimed not to have taught her that use. Problem is, it was in their forums and they did not correct users.

Why are there more corrections of trips? Far more corrections than members saw months ago? Because our membership has more than tripled over the last year. The more members there are = potentially more misunderstandings regarding coupons= potentially more posts that show those misunderstandings=more times we have to show corrections on how to use those coupons. That is why you see it more on the boards.

Why do we not remove it? Because the posts are learning opportunities. When we remove the posts, members get upset it is removed. When we leave the post, members get upset if we have to correct coupon misuse. If we remove a post, then someone else is going to come along and post a similar misuse. By leaving a post, we provide opportunities for others to learn from the mistakes. At any given time, we might have 1,000 registered members, but we might have 1,500 "guests" viewing the site, that are not registered, that read the post and that think it is okay to go and do the same transaction. Sending a PM corrects that member, but not the dozens, or hundreds, or possibly thousands of users that didn't comment, that are not even registered, that think they can duplicate that same trip.

The Leadership Team understands and appreciates that couponing can seem so frustrating at times, especially when you are starting out. Believe us, we have been there and we have ALL made mistakes. But we learn from each other's mistakes and that does not mean it is a bad thing.

Some thoughts to remember next time you feel like you are defeated in this quest to save money or when a trip turns out not to be the one you thought it was:

Again, we have all failed at couponing at some point. We all learn from each other. We are all here to continue building our coupon community with one another, and sometimes that means learning from each other's mistakes.

B u m p

Friendly B U M P

Another BUMP. If you haven't read this thread, please do. There is a lot of valuable information on why posts are edited, deleted, or moved. Just because your your posts was edited or removed, it doesn't mean you did something wrong. If you quoted a post that had been edited or removed, then your post must be edited or removed. Without the post that was edited or removed, your post wouldn't make much sense in the thread.

Thanks for the reminder!