When we write up our deals, we try to make sure we don't use
any lingo that might confuse readers or be unfamiliar to you--but we have no
control over what the merchants do. Sometimes, they might even use terminology
differently than you are used to.
I remember when I first heard about a Payless
BOGO sale. I immediately assumed that if I bought one pair of shoes, I would
get another for free. But BOGO isn't BOGOF, it's just BOGO. BOGO really means
Buy One Get One. From there, the store can fill in any type of discount they
want--BOGO free, BOGO half off, BOGO 25% off, whatever.
Another acronym that I often see and threw me for a loop the
first time I saw it is, WYB. WYB simply means When You Buy, as in, "You get 25%
off milk WYB a carton of eggs." Similar to BOGO, WYB means that your discount
is contingent on the purchase of another item.
I've noticed DND on the bottom of coupons and half worried
that I was giving permission to not resuscitate me should I fall out while
holding the coupon. As it turns out, I'm
really saying that I understand there is a Do Not Double policy on the coupon.
As disappointing as a DND order is, it's a huge relief after thinking it means
I could die while holding the little slip of paper.
MFR is a term I sometimes see in the fine print on sale
papers. I always thought it was like a child-safe swear or something. You know,
something you'd shout out the window if someone cut you off on the highway, "You
stupid MFR!" Turns out it just means ManuFactureR coupon. So, it's different
from a proprietary store coupon or deal--instead the coupon is straight from the
manufacturer, which probably means the store gets reimbursed for accepting it.
There are so many different terms for serious shoppers to
know, here's a quick quiz to test your shopping and coupon knowledge:
1. What do
you call those coupon machines that spit coupons out at you in the grocery
store aisles?
a.
Blinkie
b.
Ominous printy
c.
Lizard tongue
2. What is
the name of the Sunday coupon insert in your Sunday paper?
a. Smart Source (SS)
b.
Smart Buys (SB)
c. Deal Handout (DH)
3. What do
you call the piece of paper you get from customer service that promises you a
sale price after a sale is over because the store ran out of product?
a.
Raincheck
b.
Thunderdome
c.
Deal Breaker
If you answered A to all the above, you are a shopping
genius--pat yourself on the back and buy yourself something nice! If you didn't...well,
we still love you.
Yo
Photo by brokenarts.