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Online Shopping Lingo

Experienced online shoppers know that there's a lot more involved in finding good deals online than visiting sites such as Amazon.com and clicking on the "Today's Deals" link. (Although that's certainly not a bad idea!)

The deals worth bragging about are a lot more elusive, so savvy online shoppers turn to coupon, refunding and bargain sites for help. Yet for online shopping novices, visiting such sites may, at first, seem like visiting a foreign country. You see phrases such as:

GDA! BBW B&M BOGO on soaps, HTH

And you think WHAT? Huh? What are they talking about? What language is THAT?

(Translation: Good Deal Alert! Bath & Body Works brick-and-mortar store has buy-one-get-one on soaps, hope this helps!)

I mean, it's enough to make you want to TYHO! (Tear Your Hair Out - I made that one up.)

Before you click away in frustration, let me reassure you that it IS possible to speak like a native - you just need a guide to the terminology, acronyms, abbreviations, definitions and common word usage found on rebate and premium product lists, coupon and online code lists, and refunding and trading forums.

Each site you visit may have its own particular phrases, but generally speaking the most common terms are found in the list below.

TTFN...

B&M = Brick & Mortar

B1G1F = Buy One Get One Free

BOGO = (the same as B1G1), Buy One, Get One (usually free)

C/O = Cash Off or Cents Off

CPN = Coupon

CRT = Cash Register Tape

CSR = Customer Service Reps

CVS = A pharmacy/drug store like Rite-Aid

DB = Dear/Darling/Darn Brother

DCRT = Dated Cash Register Receipt

DD* = Dear/Darling/Darn Daughter

DG = Dear/Darling/Darn Girlfriend

DH = Dear/Darling/Darn Husband

DND = Do Not Double

DS* = Dear/Darling/Darn Son

DUPES = Duplicates

DW = Dear/Darling/Darn Wife

EB = Extra Bucks (CVS)

ECB = Extra Care Bucks (CVS)

ESR = Easy Saver Rebate (Walgreens monthly rebate)

FAB = From another Board

GC = Gift Certificate

GDA = Good deal alert

GWP = Gift With Purchase

H/F = Handling Fee

HT/HGT = Hang tag

ISO = In Search Of

LMK = Let Me Know

LOL = Laughing Out Loud and/or Lots of Luck

LPG = Lower Price Guarantee

LSASE = Long self addressed stamped envelope

MIB = Mint in Box

MIL = Mother-in-Law

MMV = Mileage May Vary

MS = Mystery Shopper

NAZ = Name Address Zip code

NED = No expiration date

NIB = New in box

NOCC = No Credit Card

NWOT = New WithOut Tags

NWT = New With Tags

OBO = Or Best Offer

PLMK = Please let me know

POB = Post Office Box

POP = Proof of Purchase

PP = Purchase Price

PPHF = PayPal Handling fee

PREM (Premium) = An item received from a refund offer.

PSTG = Postage

Qualifier (Q)= Proof of Purchase.

RAOK = Random Act of Kindness

RP = Rewards Programs

SAHM = Stay At Home Mom

SASE = Self Addressed Stamped Envelope

SMP = Specially Marked Packages

TMF = Try Me Free

TOS = Terms of Service

TTFN = Ta ta for now

TY/ty = Thank you

UNL = Unlimited

UPC = Universal Product Code

W/L or WL= Wish list

WAHM = Work at home mom

Winetags = coupons found around the neck of a wine bottle

YMMV = Your Merchandise (or Mileage) May Vary

* (Add an S for step - so DSD means Dear/Darling/Darn Step-Daughter)

About the Author

Let Savvy Online Shopper Diana Ratliff show YOU how to save time, money, and hassle while shopping SAFELY online. Free Savvy Shopper email course. A MUST for anyone who buys online - or wants to.
Insider's Guide to Shopping Online
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Question about Instyler Rotating Iron?

I bought an Instyler yesterday and I want to make sure my package came with everything because my friend bought one from the same store (Bed Bath & Beyond) and she was missing a couple items. I don't mean to post this guy's ebay product on here but he was the only one that had the same exact looking package when I was looking for a picture to match my box: http://cgi.ebay.com/Instyler-Rotating-Hot-Iron-Hair-Straightener-NIB-/200512454129?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0

Can you tell me every single item sold in the basic Instyler package?

Thanks a lot!

why are you posting here?