New User Guide / SD FAQ Mega Thread

Quote from ChaoticPeace : Great job supplying the new people like me with a few FAQ's on how to this site is operated. I have a few more questions after quickly reading over them. Why can I not view anyone's public profile? and Is there really a certain number of reps I need to give reps? What if eveyday becomes a national "Don't Rep ChaoticPeace Day", would I never be able to give reps? But yeah, for the most post the FAQ's were very informative. If I could give you reps I would, but i guesss I'll just have to owe you one. Thanks

After you make 50 posts, you can rep others.

How many posts do you have to make before you can view profiles or PM members?

How many posts do you need to be able to enable private messages? (I tried searching this thread and didn't find it...sorry if I missed it)

Quick question... I think I understand everything except what the bar underneath your name means. I know that by mods its different and sometimes says L, L2, L3 ...by regular people. Also, I see that some people customize it etc. Is it indicative of how long you have been on the site or how many reps or how many posts? Please explain!

BTW great thread...very helpful

Quote from chilliepepper : How many posts do you need to be able to enable private messages? (I tried searching this thread and didn't find it...sorry if I missed it)

There's not really a pre-determined number, at least that the mods will actually state (protection against those that sign up just to try to spam the forums or members ). So just post naturally, contribute if, when or how you can (even if just a post to help someone, give thanks, add info to someone else's deal, etc) and it will come fairly quickly

Quote from dagrin : Quick question... I think I understand everything except what the bar underneath your name means. I know that by mods its different and sometimes says L, L2, L3 ...by regular people. Also, I see that some people customize it etc. Is it indicative of how long you have been on the site or how many reps or how many posts? Please explain! BTW great thread...very helpful

The bar is an indicator of how many posts you have. The blue in the bar increases the more you post. And once the blue reaches the end of/fills up the first bar (which takes a lot posts!), a new one starts beneath it, this time with green.

Quote from widgit : The bar is an indicator of how many posts you have. The blue in the bar increases the more you post. And once the blue reaches the end of/fills up the first bar (which takes a lot posts!), a new one starts beneath it, this time with green.

Thanks

Someone please explain the term "smash and grab". This one is new to me.

thanks

Quote from mistyinca : Someone please explain the term "smash and grab". This one is new to me. thanks

Smash and grab is when somebody abuses a coupon (i.e. the CVS $5 off any energizer battery coupon from last year) by making lots of transactions in a store (to get around the fact you can't use two in 1 transaction), causing the item that coupon is for to go OOS and generally do nothing but annoy other customers and employees.

This then leads to stores tightening up coupon policy and imposing stricter limits which causes everyone to lose.

Other example of smash and grab:

Holding up the line to make more than 1 transaction because you can't use the same coupon twice in 1 transaction, instead of going to the end of the line at the end of the transaction.

Showing up at CVS with multiple cards in the name of fake people and/or animals on Sunday Morning at 7:00 AM and clearing the entire store of ECB items.

Bragging you used an expired coupon lots of times at the same store (or even different stores).

Demanding a coupon that beeps to be pushed through at stores that are "if it scans, we accept" -- this usually causes these stores to start reading coupons instead of just scanning.

If somebody reps me while they still have less than 50 posts it doesn't count. When they get 50 posts, does it get counted?

Quote from dagrin : If somebody reps me while they still have less than 50 posts it doesn't count. When they get 50 posts, does it get counted?

Nope, it doesn't count.

thank you very much!! You Rock!!!!!!!!!!

Is there a certain amount of posts or time that has to pass before you can submit a topic? I tried and was told it would have to get moderator approval first. Is that on all topic posts or just for newbies with under a certain post count/time frame?

Thanks a lot!

Quote from Shopper77 : Is there a certain amount of posts or time that has to pass before you can submit a topic? I tried and was told it would have to get moderator approval first. Is that on all topic posts or just for newbies with under a certain post count/time frame? Thanks a lot!

That's just for newbies. The mods won't say exactly how long they moderate new users threads (so the spammers won't learn the secret ), but it usually isn't for very long. And the mods usually get those threads approved and posted fairly quickly, too. Just keep participating normally and pretty soon you'll be off the 'newbie moderating' list .

Thank you for the fast response!

One more question:
How long before I can add my own avatar under my name instead of the options from SD? and I would like to also have a cool saying above the avatar, any help?

Thanks!