The advent of computers and internet has made shopping a hassle-free experience, easily accomplished without stepping out of the house. From dressing apparel and home decor to grocery and electronics, everything can be picked and paid for with just a simple click.
Cashback websites, applications, and browser extensions have sprung up alongside online shopping, adding another layer of convenience. One such popular platform is Ebates.com. However, it can be a bit tricky to check its advantages and competitiveness. Thus, it’s beneficial to evaluate its offerings and weigh its pros and cons before using Ebates.
WHAT IT DOES
As you might have guessed, Ebates is a cashback website that gives you a rebate when you shop through its partnered stores. While the shopping doesn’t occur on Ebates itself, you will have to pass through their affiliate links provided on their site.
Ebates offers a wide choice of over 1,600 stores including Macy’s, Nordstrom, Kohl’s, Target, Best Buy, Amazon, Petco, and more. By creating an account and shopping through their site, Ebates rewards customers with a cashback varying from 1 to 6 percent. The experience is pretty much the same as shopping in your favorite stores, but with an intermediary in the process.
HOW TO GET STARTED WITH EBATES
To get onboard, simply sign up with your email address. This will fetch you a $10 gift card to a store you prefer. No credit card or bank account needs to be linked to your Ebates account. Then, you can browse your desired stores on Ebates’ website and start shopping to earn cashback. After making the payment, points get added to your account in one to six days. However, Ebates keeps a hold on your points for 60 days to ensure that you don’t cancel your purchase.
Payments are issued on designated days via PayPal or mailed as a check. The beauty of Ebates is, once you’re signed-up, no additional steps are required. You shop as usual, earning money back without any extra effort, particularly if you have the Google Chrome extension.
HOW MUCH IT COSTS
Registering for an Ebates account is cost-free. Furthermore, there are no charges to access your earned money. However, a fraction of your cashback, half of what they earn for referring you, goes to Ebates. Despite this, an Ebates account is free, and you would be unlikely to find a cashback website that doesn’t request a share of your return.
PROS & CONS
Pros:
– By simply signing up, referring friends, and shopping yourself, you can earn additional gift cards and money.
– There are numerous stores to select from.
– It’s free and effortless.
– Ebates delivers reliable customer service.
Cons:
– Some customers reported problems with tracking orders and occasional missed payments.
– Amazon offers cashback in limited categories.
– The wait period for payout is a full 60 days upon making a purchase.
– Ebates only releases payments four times in a year.
HOW IT COMPARES
Like Ebates, Swagbucks is another platform that returns cash when you shop. However, Swagbucks only permits you to exchange your points for gift cards and coupons. Despite the possibility of choosing PayPal gift cards, one point is equivalent to one cent, necessitating a higher accumulation for a substantial payout.
TopCashBack offers some of the best cashback rates and hangs out with over 3,500 retailers. The platform pledges to credit your cash within a week and allows you to withdraw any amount as soon as your cash reaches pending status. Plus, they provide 100 percent of the commission they earn from affiliates, making them a strong competitor to Ebates.
WHO IT’S BEST FOR
If you frequently shop online and Ebates offers a variety of your favorite stores, then it could be an ideal platform for you. It requires zero investment to sign up and no additional effort to earn cashback. If you were going to buy something anyway, why not use an Ebates link to earn some return on your spend? So, if you are heavily into online shopping, don’t miss out on the chance to save money with Ebates.
