I’m all about getting a good deal and cash back whenever I can.
I’ll admit that I was a slow comer to the Ebates world – I’m not sure if I was just unsure of whether I would actually use the service or if it was the fact that I would need to shop through the site directly (or install one of their toolbar buttons).
I finally decided to cave in and sign up after I reviewed the massive list of online retailers they had available and found some that I would be shopping at for the upcoming holiday season.
The biggest selling factor for me was the fact that both eBay and Amazon had cash back deals that I could use – these sites have literally everything, so I would have been a fool to pass up the cash back deals that Ebates had going on!
Ebates Review: How Does It Work?
Signing up for Ebates is simple. You can join through the following methods:
I signed up with my email because I don’t like to have a bunch of apps and services linked to my Facebook account, or any social media site for that matter. Besides, joining Ebates with my email was extremely easy and I made sure to only get notifications when I have a payment coming.
Ebates new members get offered an incentive for signing up, but you have to make a $25 purchase before your incentive is disbursed.
(I had no problems doing this right away since I had planned on purchasing a new laptop power cord and some other items as well)
To make a purchase and be eligible for the Ebates cash back deals, you will either need to shop through the site directly or download their special Ebates button that can be placed in your browser toolbar.
I chose to stick with shopping through the site since I like to keep my toolbar free from any extra buttons and add-ons, but I’ve read that the button can be helpful, especially if you tend to forget things easily and don’t want to miss out on any potential Ebates cash back deals.
After you make a qualifying purchase, it may take up to a couple days to see your cash back deposited in your account. You’ll be able to see your cash back totals in your account total, as well as how much Ebates cash back you’ve accrued throughout the year.
Ebates Payments: Cash Back Made Easy
When you sign up for Ebates, you are given the option to input your PayPal email address so you can get paid through your PayPal account, or you can opt to receive a paper check in the mail.
I chose to input my PayPal email address so that I could receive my cash back more quickly and not have to worry about going to the bank to deposit a check. It’s a super convenient option and I’ve never had an issue with any money transfers, deposits, or withdrawals that I’ve made through the PayPal website!
When Will I Get Paid?
Ebates has a payment schedule that shows you when you will receive your cash back for the online purchases you made. For example, Ebates purchases you made from April 1st to June 30th would be paid on August 15th.
When I made my first purchase, I figured I would have to wait awhile to get my check (a.k.a. the Big Fat Check), but Ebates quickly deposited the money into my PayPal account within a few weeks.
Not that I’m complaining – I was super excited to get my Ebates cash back quickly. Oh, and I’m not the only one this has happened to. My mom signed up for the service, made a purchase, and got her check in the mail just a few weeks later.
Either way, I am just happy to know that Ebates truly does pay their members and the service is absolutely FREE!
Honestly, I feel slightly foolish for not signing up sooner…
Retailers Galore
I was truly amazed to see the lengthy list of stores that Ebates has partnered with to provide great cash back deals. According to the site, there are over 1,700 to choose from (including some of my favorites, like ModCloth, and some of my not-so-favorites but must-haves, like Vision Direct).
When I found this out, I quickly began searching for the sites that I normally shop through and what do you know… they were on the list!
Another awesome thing is that there are a variety of double cash back deals that take place throughout the year. For example, there were plenty of participating retailers on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, making buying all those gifts a little more enjoyable for your wallet.
Getting the Most Cash Back on Your Purchases
Now that I’ve shopped through Ebates, received cash back, and referred some others to the service, I can officially say that I’m hooked and will be making sure to do all of my online shopping through this site in the future.
To get even more money in my pocket, I use my rewards credit card (which I pay off in full) because it allows me to get a certain percentage of cash back on every purchase. When I combine that with the Ebates cash back deals, I’m able to save even more money!
I should also note that there is a great referral bonus if you tell-a-friend who signs up and makes a purchase!
It’s truly a win-win situation in my book.
By: Tax Credits – CC BY 2.0
So What Are You Waiting For?!
When I write reviews, I am always honest and forthcoming, so I can assure you that this Ebates review was written with your best interest in mind. I never want to steer my readers in the wrong direction and if I felt that a service was unethical or dishonest, then I would let you know (or I would refuse to write about it).
With that being said, I hope that this Ebates review shows you how simple it is to save money and get some extra cash back in your pockets – especially if you are an avid online shopper!
If you currently use Ebates, what is your favorite thing about the site or the service itself?