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Name |
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Minimum to Cash Out |
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Options |
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Number of Online Merchants |
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Rebate Rates |
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Background/Buzz |
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BabyMint |
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$25.00 |
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Check, 529 deposit, Coverdell Savings Plan deposit |
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“Over 500” |
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Avg to Excellent |
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Founded in 2000, currently owned by Collegiate Funding Services, BabyMint is the main competitor of Upromise. Also can earn 1% using their issued credit card. BabyMint has a partnership with SAGE Scholars that doubles contributions when attending certain colleges. |
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Ebates |
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$5.00 |
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Check, PayPal |
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“More than 800” |
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Excellent |
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Founded in 1998, Ebates has around 7 million members. They offer the “Moe Money Maker” rebate reminder tool; only install it if Ebates is the only program you intend to use. Payments are made quarterly, about 6 weeks after the quarter ends. $5 bonus for joining and making first purchase. Ebates is a member of its local Better Business Bureau and has a “Satisfactory” rating. |
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FatWallet |
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$10 for check, 0 for PayPal |
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Check, PayPal |
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Around 435 |
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Excellent |
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FatWallet began as a coupon code site in 1999 and it currently has over 400,000 members. Cash back is not available for spending for 91 to 121 days, then checks are cut weekly. $5 bonus for joining and making first purchase (must cash it out by check). FatWallet's deal forums are unrivaled. |
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Jellyfish |
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$10.00 |
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Check, PayPal |
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“Nearing 1,000” |
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Excellent |
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Founded in June 2006, Jellyfish has multi-million dollar investors and owners experienced in new internet startups. Built-in price comparison tool calculates lowest price including rebate. Some merchants offer items at lower prices through Jellyfish's site than through other comparison shopping sites, so consumers can receive both lower prices and a rebate. Cash back is not available for spending for 45-60 days. |
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Quick Rewards.net |
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0 for PayPal; $1.50 for Disney Dollars, $5 for Gcs |
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PayPal, gift cards including Amazon, Circuit City, Disney, Target, Walmart, etc. |
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1116 |
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Average |
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Founded in 2003, QuickRewards.net's biggest differentiator is that they credit your shopping rebates the same day or within days and allow for immediate withdrawal (no 45-121 day waiting period like most other rebate sites). Buzz: smaller program but with a fiercely loyal membership who compliment their customer service and fast payments. |
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Upromise |
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0 for checks; $25 and up for 529 deposits |
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Check, 529 deposit, student loan payments |
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Around 500 |
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Avg to Excellent |
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Founded in 2001, Upromise is the largest of the rebate sites primarily set up for college savings with around 7 million members. Check payment requests must be written and take 12 weeks. Earn offline using your registered credit or grocery card, or their issued credit card (1% most purchases, 2% Exxon/Mobil gas, 10% some groceries) . Many grocery items eligible for rebates. Upromise has a “Satisfactory” Better Business Bureau rating. |
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Rebate Programs That Pay In Points
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Name |
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Minimum to Cash Out |
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Options |
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Number of Online Merchants |
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Rebate Rates |
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Background/Buzz |
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BondRewards |
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$25 ($50 Bond Dollars) |
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U.S. Savings Bonds only |
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“500+” |
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Excellent |
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2 BondReward Dollars = 1 US Dollar because a $50 U.S. Savings Bond only costs $25 to buy. Half the rebate percentages shown on the site to get an accurate percentage in today's dollars. |
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ClubMom |
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$5 Gcs: 1000 points, Merchandise: 500 pts, Magazines: 1800 pts |
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Gift cards including Barnes and Noble, Home Depot, KBToys, ToysRU, etc.; merchandise; magazines |
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“Over 300” |
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Average |
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The rewards program portion of ClubMom began in or around 2003, although the ClubMom.com site began in 1999. ClubMom currently has over 2 million members. Can also earn for purchase of certain Gcs or for dealership purchase/lease of new Chrysler, Jeep, and Dodge vehicles (see site for details). A point = about half a cent. Half the points-per-dollar offered to calculate percentage rebate (5 points per dollar = 2.5% rebate). |
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Creations Rewards.net |
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$5 PayPal or Amazon: 1000 points, $5 GCs: 1100 pts, $5 check: 1200 pts |
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PayPal, gift cards including Amazon, BestBuy, Disney, Target, Walmart, etc. |
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Over 500 |
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Average |
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Founded in 2000, CreationsRewards.net is the only points program that credits shopping rebates the same day or within days and allows for immediate withdrawal, similar to cash rebate program QuickRewards. Buzz: smaller program but rave reviews for helpful customer service, fast payments. Like ClubMom, a point = about half a cent; 5 points per dollar = 2.5%. |
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Freeride |
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$10 GCs: 12,000 points, $10 Virtual Visas: 12,500 pts, Merchandise: 10,000 pts |
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Gift cards including Amazon, Home Depot, Walmart, etc.; Virtual Visas; merchandise (see buzz) |
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Around 500 |
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Poor |
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Much negative buzz lately surrounds this third incarnation of Freeride.com (launched in '03), as many 2006 redemptions were delayed and converted involuntarily from gift cards to Virtual Visas. Although GCs remain as a redemption option, it's unclear whether members will receive them or whether they'll automatically get Virtual Visas. A point = about a tenth of a cent. Multiply the number of points per dollar by about a tenth to calculate percentage rebate (30 points per dollar = about 3% rebate). |
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Freestyle Rewards |
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2500 points ($20) |
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Debit Mastercard (physical card mailed to you) |
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Around 275 |
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Poor |
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Launched in late 2004 or early 2005, Freestyle Rewards is the rewards program associated with CoolSavings.com. Freestyle Rewards' owner (Q Interactive) recently stopped paying webmasters for referring new members to the program, typically a sign of a program in financial trouble, but I don't have more firm information on this. Freestyle is a member of its local Better Business Bureau and has a “Satisfactory” rating. A point is worth 8/10 of one cent; multiply the points-per-dollar by 8/10 to convert to percentage rebate (5 points per dollar = 4% rebate). |
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Greenpoints |
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GCs: 4500 points ($5), Merchandise: 2400 pts |
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Gift cards including Amazon, Pizza Hut, Footlocker, etc.; Supercertificates (redeemable for a variety of GCs); Delta SkyMiles, Aadvantage miles; merchandise |
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102 |
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Poor to Avg |
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Greenpoints is the rewards program run by the owners of the old S&H Green Stamps program. Launched online in 2000, Greenpoints currently has around 10 million members. Note that members must pay shipping for merchandise redemptions. Currently rates are doubled – this is “for a limited time.” A point = about 1/10 of a cent. 20 points per dollar (most merchants) = 2.2% rebate. Can earn 5 points per dollar (about 0.5%) for purchases on their issued credit card. |
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Memolink |
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Check and GCs: 19,200 points ($10), Webcertificates: 43,200 ($25) |
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Check, Webcertificates, gift cards including Amazon, BestBuy, Walmart, etc. |
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“Over 500” |
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Poor to Avg |
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Launched in 1999, Memolink claims to have 10 million members...but they also have an “Unsatisfactory” Better Business Bureau rating, so it's questionable whether that many members remain happily active in the program. The site's had many years of negative buzz: poor customer service, years-late redemptions, devaluing points, spamming, unethical advertising, etc. A point is worth around 1/20 cent; multiply the points per dollar by about 1/20 to convert to percentage rebate (40 points per dollar = about 2% rebate). |
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Milesource |
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Supercerts: 2500 points ($5), Merchandise: 2500 pts |
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Supercertificates (redeemable for a variety of gift cards), merchandise |
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Around 200 |
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Poor |
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Founded in 2000, Milesource is owned by SilverCarrot, which merged in 2005 with Ampere Media, which is now in charge of daily operations. Milesource has been mostly neglected by its owners for years (it's not mentioned on Ampere's website, or in SilverCarrot's media kit). The buzz: poor customer service, non-working links on the site, slow speed (several months) for redemptions. SilverCarrot has an “Unsatisfactory” Better Business Bureau rating. A point is worth about ¼ cent; multiply the points per dollar by about ¼ to convert to percentage rebate (8 points per dollar = about 2% rebate). |
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MyPoints |
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GCs: 750 points ($5); Hilton Hhonors: 5000 pts (for 5000 points); United Mileage Plus: 5000 pts (for 2500 miles) |
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Gift cards including Blockbuster, JCPenney, Walmart, Shell, Target, etc.; Hilton Hhonors points; United Mileage Plus miles |
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Around 350 |
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Poor |
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Founded in 1996 as a Univ. of California class project, MyPoints is currently owned by United Online (owner of NetZero and Classmates.com, among others). The program has 6 million members, though only 1.4 million are active. The site has an “Unsatisfactory” Better Business Bureau rating. The buzz: shopping points are pending for 30 days, but redemptions are sent promptly when you can cash out; some report problems with shopping orders not being credited without providing copies of email receipts. Can also earn 1 point per dollar (around 0.8%) for purchases on their issued credit card. A point is worth around 8/10 of a cent – most merchants are 2 points per dollar (about 1.6% rebate), 3 points per dollar (about 2.4% rebate), or 4 points per dollar (around 3.2% rebate). A few are 10 points per dollar (about 8% rebate). |
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PointPool |
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PayPal: 5000 points ($20), GCs: 1500 pts ($5) |
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PayPal, gift cards including Barnes and Noble, Best Buy, JCPenney, Shell, etc. |
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Around 350 |
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Poor to Avg |
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PointPool was founded in 2001 as an offline frequent dining program with online redemptions, then it expanded to become an employee recognition program, and in 2002 it became an online shopping portal open to the public. The site has operated quietly (no press releases since 2002) ever since. Buzz is almost non-existent which probably indicates few active members; have heard reports of problems with shopping not crediting and excessive waits for PayPal. PointPool has a “D” Better Business Bureau rating (“use caution”). |
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QuizPoints |
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PayPal: 500 points ($10), GCs: 500 ($10) |
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PayPal, gift cards including Amazon, BestBuy, Target, Walmart, etc. |
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Around 125 |
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Avg to Excellent |
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Launched in its current format in 2004. Shopping points credit to your account in about 30 days; in-stock gift cards (they tell you which are in-stock at the time you cash out) are shipped in 7 days. Not much buzz but personal experience has been very good. |
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NOTES: |
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This chart is meant to supplement the