Thanks for turning CC back on. I think the timeout has been very helpful, especially for newer members like myself who may not otherwise have taken the time to understand or think about your original intention. I think CC and the entire site are an incredible asset and like good health, it's easy to take something for granted until it goes away. Like many, I'm looking forward to hearing your insight from the time-out and all the opinions shared.

I'll add one suggestion or frustration. I don't see an issue with 3rd party trades (sponsoring my mom for a CR1 for example) but I think any 3rd party should be spelled out before part of the trade is completed. I tend to always transfer first just because I am very trusting and haven't ever had an issue, but I've been caught off guard a few times when I say okay, here's the flight info, and I get "the sponsor's name is XXX". Huh, I assumed you were the sponsor. I shouldn't have to ask for every trade, "does this involve a 3rd party?"

Anyway, thanks again Randy for a great site!!

thanks randy ^ and just curious...once cc is "up and running in its new form" will we have to subscribe to it again even if we were subscribed prior? the reason i ask is that where others have posted, the "place holder" under "my flyertlak" has gone and wondering if it will re-appear

I too look forward to the return of the new CC. Thanks.

Since Randy has stated that he will shortly reveal his new vision for Coupon Connection, does anyone want to put on his/her clairvoyant's cap, summon any karma earned on "the connection" and foretell his decision? My powers reveal to me that Randy will decide on a minimum post count of 10,000 in order to access CC and that the first 5 trades one is required to make must state "free to Randy Petersen or his designee." Fortunately, my powers are tremendously faulty, because they also tell me that the mods will censure me for going off topic and Randy Petersen will ban me from the Randy Petersen Only forum for insubordination, lack of originality and a sense of humor too twisted for FlyerTalk (a crime I never imagined could exist).

In the meantime, can you give me something for nothing -- I have lots of karma...

As OP of this thread, I have followed every twist and turn - and was gratified to notice that eventually it became like CC discussions, even same people saying same things to each other, so we didn't really have to miss the CC flavor for long.

Many good ideas were put forward. I was going to summarize my reaction to them all, but the time for that seems to have passed. Like everyone else, I look forward to learning more about Randy's decision about new policies now.

We all long for our younger days and I do understand the nostalgia exhibited by some for old CC when a few friends gave things away to one another---and there was no IB, no ads at FT, posts in simple English and not "tricks" involving sports jargon, maybe Randy even participated in the forums, ff miles didn't expire, airlines served hot meals in all cabins, etc., etc., etc.

Probably we are not going back there, but whatever the new policies are, let's do our sincere best and try to make them work.

As this forum is "only for Randy", I thank him for letting us hijack/borrow it somewhat in this thread, and I'll address the rest of this post to him: If you are still weighing things, please consider making CC a true bulletin board. You know, where an offer/request is posted, those interested contact OP privately and not by scribbling on the poster, and 3rd parties are also not welcome to express themselves by scribbling graffiti on other people's posters. IOW, no "YHPM" messages and no 3rd party comments, discussion, and debates. You may allow OP to update his post once a week, but that's about it. We need clarity of purpose, and IMHO the purpose of CC should be to facilitate actual exchange, not commentary or debates over what others have offered or requested. This will restore civility, perhaps not to the old levels, but as much as possible under present circumstances.

I was a supporter of the idea to collect successful trade statistics and post them, and I thank the moderators for their hard work in implementing it. However, I have second thoughts now, because posting such statistics may invite negative attention from the airlines, and would quietly shelve the program.

However, these are your calls and whatever you decide for the new policies let's all do our sincere best to make them work.

Is the coupon connection back? I don't see it and I sure would like to use it again. Thanks.

You have no idea how #@$%^&& I am right now. Spent about an hour crafting the reopening of CC and my explanations -- went to post and somehow got booted out and lost all my work. Rather than hold you up any longer, I'll reopen and re-craft in the morning for all the explanations.

Brief:
1) No change to CC membership requirements.
2) asking members and moderators to continue to work toward the most civil of all forums on FT for CC. It is after all, born of the desire to "pay it forward."
3) Agree with simple majority of our members in that becoming far too commercial and toward that end, we will restrict any gift card oriented trades or exchanges. (NOTE: I don't wish to penalize any members already into something posted regarding a gift card. So this change will only effect those going forward. Anything on the boards can remain to be completed.)

Again, very sorry. I gave up watching pre-season Bronco game to complete the post and to see it disappear just makes me sick.

Enjoy CC and you'll hear more from me on the morning.

D'oh!! I wish vB had a "drafts" mode.

Thanks for the note, Randy. I presume, since you didn't mention it, that there won't be any restrictions on commentary within offer threads?

I hate that too.. (losing a long post).. often I'll type it on word first and keep saving that document then cut and paste and at least I have a back up if the post doesn't take.. again only on long drawn out posts

back to your summarization.. i think its an excellent way to start back up and as always I'm sure its a work in progress

thank you for your assitance in bringing CC back to life

Randy,

I'm very glad you've decided to reopen CC. I'm neutral to the whole GC thing because while it did lead to over commercialization on the one hand, on the other hand it helped close the gap when a trade couldn't happen otherwise helping many FTers get an award they wouldn't have been able to get otherwise.

However, there's one thing that I'm still a bit unclear about. How are we approaching eCredits and vouchers. This is kind of an important issue for me since I'm literally sitting on about $4,000 in Delta credits from the Citi Premierpass deals and having unexpectidely moved to Europe, I'm finding myself in a tight spot to use those credits. Is it OK to post something like: "H: $1,000 DL eCredit/eVoucher W: 80K AA" or would this be seen as a sort of cash transaction? I would hope not, since otherwise I'll be seeing a lot of my DL credits go to waste.

Well let me be the first to offer an opposing view of the change to not allow GC's. I will qualify that in my years of FT participation I have only completed maybe 10 trades for items I needed. I am in no way a commericial trader.

I just feel there would be a large amount of hypocrisy to swallow for one to say that CC has become too commercial as I stare at the endless stream of adverts that now litter FT. These adverts likely result in significant revenue to Mr. Petersen (or whoever the owners are...did I see he sold a piece awhile back?) and that revenue only increases with every click on the site.

I spend 99% of my time at FT enjoying the ability to gain information about travel and to sneak a look at CC every now and then to what may be of use to me only adds to the pleasure. But less face it, FT is found at www.flyertalk.com on the WORLD WIDE WEB and has become a global resource for travel with a HUGE commercial presence.

Based on the complaint posts above I saw no direct evidence that GC's were really tied to commercial activity in any way. The problem with CC (if there was one at all) was the upset that was often caused by snarky people making inappropriate posts about trade value. This practice was already prohibited by the TOS and should have been dealt with accordingly.

The idea that there was some BIG problem with CC was overblown from the get go and for a now somewhat major global website to pull a valuable and highly visited forum over nothing was really a minor league move - sorry. If FT isn't supposed to grow and add users and all the 15,000 post people that have nothing better to do with time than post need something to whine about, then get rid off all the commercial adverts and take FT back down to some private blog.

I agree, though not quite as adamantly. I'm sure Randy has his reasons. Really dont see any reason not to allow GC's. Seems like a FlyerTalkerly thing to do. ( i.e. swap a swu for a GC at a discount) When you consider that the Airlines sell gate UGs for $450 to the first few shmoes hanging around the gate. Meanwhile, folks with earned status and paid Club membership, are sitting in the club and never ever heard the offer. Hope someone reconsiders. pretty please

Much character is practiced in the minor leagues, and seems oh so natural in the majors.... Often confusing the location of the player by a casual observer, yet obvious to an owner.

Bravo! An elegant adjustment to the CC Randy!

funny how many posters here have had their personal profile visited by (boardtracker) a member with no posts This stinks to high hell Randy