Let’s be honest – when was the last time you bought something online? Was it earlier this week? Or possibly earlier today? Online shopping has totally changed the way we spend money. With just a few clicks, you can get nearly any product on earth delivered straight to your doorstep in a matter of days.
If you’re not using ebates to get cash back for online shopping, then you are seriously missing out. To find out more about Ebates, make sure you check out our detailed Ebates review.
What is Ebates?
Ebates was one of the earliest companies to figure out how to make online shopping better for both buyers and retailers. They started in 1998, and their model is still essentially the same today because it’s both brilliant and simple.
Customers want great deals, and online retailers want to increase their sales. Ebates brings these parties together by offering customers cash back for making qualified purchases, and then those retailers give ebates a little piece of the pie.
This is what I would describe as a “win-win-win” scenario. Especially for me, because I buy a ton of stuff online.
How does Ebates work?
You definitely do not need to be tech-savvy to use ebates. If my grandma can use it, so can you. You sign up for a free account to track your cash back, and there are no fees. You can choose to earn cash back in the form of gift cards, or redeem it as cash to your Paypal account. Or, if you’re feeling old school, ebates will send you a physical check.
When you’re shopping online, all you have to do is sign into ebates, and then connect to the retailer you want through their website. Ebates has literally thousands of retailers to choose from including big names like Walmart, Macy’s, Kohls, Staples, Ace Hardware … the list goes on and on.
Going through the link on ebates is what connects the qualifying purchases you make to your account.
Is shopping the only way to earn cash back?
I’m so glad you asked. Shopping is only one of the ways you can get cash back. Ebates also has options to get cash back on other types of online purchases, like vacations. You can use ebates to get cash back when you’re booking travel through big-name sites like Expedia, Priceline, Hertz, Choice Hotels and Hilton.
Can’t I just get cash back on my credit card?
There is nothing I hate worse than leaving free money on the table. When you shop through ebates, you make your purchases through whatever card or payment method you want — just like you normally would. So, of course, you can continue to make purchases on your credit card to get cash back. But shopping through ebates makes it possible for each of those purchases to help you earn even more.
Is there anything not to love about ebates?
Like all companies, ebates has a few imperfections. Most notably, ebates will only pay out cashback four times per year. If it’s important to you to have instant access to your cash back at all times, then ebates probably isn’t for you. But if you like seeing free money add up and don’t mind waiting a month or two, then it’s not really that big of a deal.
Another characteristic of ebates that can be confusing is that the cash back isn’t always connected to every single item on a particular site. For example, cash back on Amazon purchases may be limited to a smaller handful of categories, like beauty, baby, and shoes.
Is there a faster way to earn cash back?
There is! Ebates also connects you to in-store cash back rewards. You start by linking your credit card to your Ebates account. Then, through ebates.com or their mobile app, choose retailers that offer an in-store cash back rewards. When you make a purchase, the in-store cash back gets credited to the card you have on your account. Super easy – and fast.
Is Ebates safe?
Any internet company that’s been around since 1998 deserves some serious respect, in my opinion. But you don’t have to take my word for it. Ebates has a BBB rating of A+. That’s pretty rare, and it shows how committed they are to making their customers happy!
This type of affiliate business model is used by many other companies, but since ebates has one of the strongest reputations on the web, there’s really nothing to worry about.
Is the Ebates credit card worth it?
If you start doing most of your online shopping through Ebates, then the Ebates Visa cash back credit card is a fantastic way to get even more bang for your buck. Like other popular cash back credit cards, you’ll earn 1% on all your purchases. You’ll also get 3% cash back on all your Ebates purchases. And that’s on top of any Ebates cash back you earn!
If you plan to use Ebates, want an easy-to-understand rewards credit card, and are able to pay off your balance in full each month, then the Ebates credit card is a great option.
The bottom line is that signing up for ebates is quick, easy, and won’t cost you a dime – so you’ve got nothing to lose. Even folks who don’t do a ton of shopping online should be taking advantage of hassle-free cash back rewards. No matter how much wiggle room you have in your budget, there’s no good reason to say no to free money.
