Reading Ads

One of the best parts of refunding is answering ads. But the first time you read the ad section in RMC, you'll wonder if you've landed on Mars and don't know the language. Take heart! That's how everyone feels the first time they see the ads. But with just a little practice, you'll find that you can understand and enjoy answering ads. Ads posted on the Internet use the same abbreviations. If you don’t understand an ad posted on the Internet, you can always e-mail the advertiser for a better explanation.

• The first ad comes from the 1-4-1 section: "5 SETS OF 3 ALIKE forms for 15 different. LSASE first time only."

This refunder wants you to send her 15 refund forms. You can find refund  forms in the grocery store on tear pads, in the newspaper, and on specially marked packages. (Note that forms are different than coupons. Coupons are used at the checkout for money off the bill. Refund forms are sent through the mail and require proofs of purchase). You must send her 5 different groups of forms, consisting of 3 of each kind. In other words, when you see a pad of forms in the store, take 3. Do that 5 times with different tear pads. Then you'll have 5 sets of 3 alike forms. (Total of 15 forms). When she returns your forms, she'll send you 15 different forms. You must send a long self-addressed stamped envelope with your forms. It will be used to return your forms. If you want to trade again with this same person, on the next trade you don't have to send the self-addressed stamped envelope. From then on, the trades will be made "EPOP", which means each pays own postage. You'll stamp the envelope addressed to her, and she'll stamp the envelope
addressed to you.

• "Forms for Qualifiers" AD: 20-4-1: UPC Weight Watchers Entrees or Desserts, Roommate Air Freshener, Sunkist Vitamin C, Disney Toothbrushes 2=1, Campbells Tomato Juice 46 oz, Swanson Premium canned meat, seal of quality Northern napkins, foil seal Crystal Light, Kool Aid 8 or 12 qt POP symbol. LSASE. Requests welcome. Limit 40 owed.

This refunder wants you to send her proofs of purchase. For each proof of purchase you send her, she will send you 20 refund forms. You can send her the UPC symbol (those black straight lines) from your choice of a Weight Watchers Entree or Dessert, a Roommate Air Freshener, a Sunkist Vitamin C package, Campbells Tomato Juice 46 oz size, a Swanson Premium canned meat, or TWO UPCs from the Disney Toothbrushes.  The code 2=1 is used for proofs of purchase that have a lower value. Two Disney Toothbrush UPCs will earn you 20 forms. This advertiser also welcomes you to send the seal of quality from Northern napkins, the foil seal from Crystal Light, or the POP symbol from Kool Aid 8 or 12 quart size. You'll get 20 forms for any one of these. You can send up to 2 proofs of purchase to receive a maximum of 40 refund forms. The advertiser doesn't want to send you any more than 40 forms, so don't send her more than 2 proofs of purchase. Send a long self-addressed stamped envelope for your forms to be returned to you. You are welcome to send a list of forms you'd like to have by name.

• "Forms for Coupons" AD: 3 FORMS FOR EACH OAS C/O: FREE: Newport Stripes. 75¢ c/o's: Snuggle, 9 Lives Tender, Dial Liquid. $1 c/o's: Sofkins, Advil, Tide. LSASE.

This advertiser wants to send you refund forms for your extra unwanted coupons. "C/O's" stands for coupons. If you send her a coupon for a free pack of Newport Stripes cigarettes, she'll send you 3 refund forms. You can also send her coupons that have at least a 75¢ value on Snuggle, 9 Lives Tender, and Dial Liquid. She'll send you 3 refund forms for each coupon you send. You can also send her coupons that have at least a $1 value on Sofkins, Tide, and Advil. Take special notice of the abbreviation "OAS".  It stands for the words "One any size". This is a coupon that bears the
words "good on one any size". The coupon must be good on the purchase of ONE product, not two or three, and you must be able to use it on any size product, not just a certain size. In other words, if you send this advertiser a $1 Tide coupon, the coupon must state that it can be used on one package of any size Tide detergent. If the coupon requires the
purchase of two or more boxes of Tide, this advertiser doesn't want it. "OAS" coupons are the most valuable kind of coupon, because they can be doubled on a small size product, and the box is free or almost free. Don't forget to send a self-addressed stamped envelope for the return of your forms. Even though this ad doesn't state a limit on the number
of coupons you can send, I would limit my first trade to 6 coupons. That way, you'll get 18 forms back which will give you a good idea of the quality of the forms this trader has. You can send another trade later, if you are pleased with the first one, and have more coupons to trade.

• Mixed ad: "35 Q's or 200 C/O's (30¢+) or 150 NED C/O's (35¢+) for free food coupon or $1. No trial size. Requests welcome. Send LSASE."

This advertiser is actually offering you three different deals. You can receive from her your choice of: A) 35 qualifiers (like box tops, UPCs, etc), B) 200 coupons with various expirations dates that all have a value of at least 30¢ each, or C) 150 coupons that have no expiration dates that all have a value of at least 35¢ each. Would you like to receive one of these three things? Then you can send her either $1 cash, or a free food coupon worth at least $1. If you choose to send her the free coupon, it can't be for a trial size product. It must be for a full size product. Usually free coupons
are the ones received back from refunds, not ones cut from the newspaper. Send a long self-addressed stamped envelope for the return of your trade. The easiest way for a beginner to answer this ad would be to send the $1
cash instead of a free item coupon, since it takes awhile to begin receiving free item coupons back from refunds. Feel free to include a list of coupons or qualifiers your are especially anxious to receive.

• Giving Coupons AD: "200 PREPACKAGED C/O'S for $1 cash. LSASE."

If you would like to quickly increase your supply of coupons, this is the type of ad to answer. This person is offering your 200 coupons for your $1 cash. These coupons are `prepackaged', meaning that you don't get to select what you'll receive. The advertiser has already bundled the coupons in groups of 200 and you'll get pot luck. So there is no point
in sending requests. Be sure to send a long self addressed stamped envelope.

• Selling Qualifier ad: "QUALIFIERS FOR SALE. Will send 20 Q's with at least 3 current for $1 + LSASE."

This advertiser wants to send you 20 proofs of purchase (qualifiers like boxtops, UPCs, labels, etc). To get them, you must send her $1 cash and a long self addressed stamped envelope. She promises that at least 3 of the qualifiers that she sends you will be good RIGHT NOW on current refunds. The rest of the qualifiers will be things that MAY be good on refunds in the future.

• Forms for a H/F AD: "ZIPLOC $5, PROGRESSO $2, plus other quality forms. 25 for $1. Limit 50. LSASE. Requests.

This advertiser wants to sell you 25 refund forms for $1 cash. When you send her $1, you'll get an assortment of forms that includes the Ziploc $5 refund form and the Progresso $2 refund form. She promises that the forms will be `quality', which should mean that there will be many on common food, cleaning, and beauty products that you should be able
to use. You can send for a maximum of 50 refund forms, which would cost you $2. Be sure to send a long self addressed stamped envelope and you are welcome to include a list of requested refund forms that  you would especially like to have. You could also mention types of forms you do NOT want like, "No baby or car forms".