I would be sad if it was closed to comments.

Hmmm, I think that, ultimately, some sort of app might be better, but I'm not against trying a forum. I'm afraid it might end up being a little chaotic and cumbersome to use but it might very well prove otherwise. Seeing what works and what doesn't with the forum could prove useful for developing a better app if nothing else (should it prove necessary.)

I can see advantages to both the "business name theme" thread title and the "offer theme" thread title methods. The preference here so far seems to be for the "offer theme" thread title method and I definitely think I'm leaning that way myself. Having to click on multiple "business name theme" threads to see all the latest deals might get a bit old especially when the "new post" might just be a comment like "Thanks" or . Having the ability to mark threads as "expired" in the "offer theme thread title method" would be a big plus to my mind. If someone was looking for only codes for a specific vendor then they could always use the search function within the forum to pull up those threads.

How difficult would it be to code the ability to filter out the expired codes in a search? That might be useful if it's easy to code.

I do agree that forcing some sort of uniformity to the thread titles would be a must. Vague titles like "good deal" would be annoying. Subject heads should include the business name, brief explanation of the deal (i.e. B1G1, Free Shipping, etc,) code and the expiration date (if known, as several I've found seem to be open-ended). Could you use a multiple-entry text field form to generate a thread title?

I do think that I'll try to keep my current thread as an overview of the deals listed since it is ranking fairly high in some google searches that I did and that is good for directing traffic to ATP. I'm not always able to keep the original post perfectly updated but it may be useful to some to see many of the deals listed in one place and with tips about codes that be combined and such.

Okay, enough rambling for now, I need to get some lunch.....

RickCorey said:>> I think the threads should be closed to comments.

Hmm, a forum where every thread is just one post. That might require custom code.

I wonder if it would be practical to set up such a forum where each thread is "closed to new posts" as soon as it's created.

BUT maybe also assign an automatic thread-delete-date when it was created. The person opening the thread would fill it out with the expiration date of the coupon. (Also custom code and not a standard forum feature.)

I guess that doesn't address the case where one company might post multiple coupons with different expiration dates. Unless the poster just listed the LAST expiration date.

How about a website that "always" gives free shipping on orders over $xxx? Should that be listed as a permanent "coupon"? I would lean towards thinking "no", but would defer to any other opinion.

If it were not to difficult to program I think having threads closed to comment would be best. Once a coupon is posted I don't think it needs comments, but if it were allowed you would get comment like "Wow! What a great deal and "I really like this store, I have to check this out" etc. Then you would be getting a notice in your forum watcher and think there was a new coupon code, only to find comments like this, that to me would be of no value.
Having each thread that would automatically expire would be great.
Just my opinion but, I don't think permanent "deals" like free shipping would really qualify as a coupon. That might be better as a comment in the Nursery recommedation area.

Jay makes a good point, although I can visualize situations where additional comments might be helpful. But those could also be easily handled by a quick note to the moderator.

Horntoad said:

If it were not to difficult to program I think having threads closed to comment would be best. Once a coupon is posted I don't think it needs comments, but if it were allowed you would get comment like "Wow! What a great deal and "I really like this store, I have to check this out" etc. Then you would be getting a notice in your forum watcher and think there was a new coupon code, only to find comments like this, that to me would be of no value.
Having each thread that would automatically expire would be great.
Just my opinion but, I don't think permanent "deals" like free shipping would really qualify as a coupon.

But that is why I would love comments. There are so many places I have never ordered from. It would be nice to have comments with the deals so I don't have to go look up on that other site's Watchdog. Is it really that much work to click on something in your thread watcher? I guess it could be if you have dial up. Anyway, comments would be of value to me FWIW

I watch several forums. When something in my thread watcher comes up I don't necessarily read every new thread update in that forum. I just scan the list.

Maybe would could just try it as a forum, loosey goosey, at first. No auto expires. No going back and closing threads, etc. Maybe just a sticky that suggests how to format the title, or a note on the side of the forum.

Then, if it becomes problematic perhaps it could be modified later. Why make more work trying to cover for every possible situation when it may not be necessary after all?

Looking at the comments on this thread is a good example of why there should be no comments allowed on the 'real' thread. We have a recommendations place where everyone can post comments about companies.

Which one person will be responsible and have enough time to keep up as the moderator of all this?
If the information is not current it will be of little value to anyone and just 'junk up' ATP.

Auto-expire (if it's a possibility) would be a good way to 'take out the trash' once the offer is expired and make less work for the moderator.

If we went with the method of every offer getting it's own thread, then the comments issue wouldn't exist(except for the thread starter and they can still choose to unwatch.) If you wanted to see the comments made on a thread then you could watch the thread, otherwise, simply don't choose to watch it. If you want to keep note of a deal without watching then you could just use the "Star" function on the first post.

Ok, so this is how I would envision Coupon Code Forum

In Subject line "Bluestone Perrenials" 20% off shrubs, no code needed, expires 4/1/14" or

"General Seed Co 10% off, code "April10", expires 3/12/14"

Anyone could check the Coupon Code Forum and scan the list of threads. No need to even click on the thread and read comments IF THEY DIDN'T WANT TO.

But, if someone wanted to make comments or someone wanted to read comments then THEY could if comments were allowed.

So far there are only a few people in this discussion. What? maybe 6 or 7?
I am opting to unwatch at this point. Carry on.

My little OCD soul counted 11, not including dave, but who's counting?

Isn't that "O. Seed D.", Woofie?

I'm just following this thread because I'm curious. When the forum or app is created, I will try hard to avoid it, because otherwise I'll be tempted to buy even more seeds than I do now!

The darn Franchii catalog has a yellow pole French bean ("Neckargold", perhaps like this: Wax Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris 'Neckargold')) ,
and 'Miracle of venice' yellow Roma pole beans,
and "Cavolo Neapolitan" style Broccolo Spigariello,
and 'Bionda di Lione' chard that I haven't tried yet.

And I just bought from them last December!

I overspend my budget already, without courting even more temptation from coupons.

But I think a central coupon cornucopia it is a great idea for people with self-control.

Couponucopia?

The forum is created!

http://garden.org/forums/view/...

What will the rules be? Let's not get bogged down with all kinds of rules for formatting, etc. Ideally there will be an order that arises from the use of this forum.

Thank you, Dave! You're a gem, as always.

Just want to say, I'm really liking this new Garden Deals forum. Wish there were some way to make more people aware of it's existence.

Submit it as an idea?

Ya think? Maybe I should nudge @Danita since it was her idea in the first place.