You can’t help but wonder if Ebates is a scam, even with all the advertising that you see all over the place.
I have been meaning to do a review as I have had many requests, but life happened and the holidays just got the best of me.
So just now, am I finally able to do this post, which is actually a good thing because I can finally get this off my to-do list.
I know a little about how this site works and how heavily advertised it was, and you can almost tell that it is legit as I’m sure no one would pay millions of dollars on advertising if they were going to do some jail time for promoting some type of scheme.
However, there is a lot that you need to know before signing up to something that one, might not even work, or two, might just be a waste of time.
So let’s get into yet another cash back site that might just be your best friend when it comes to shopping or just another one of those sites that you need to avoid completely.
Let’s not waste any of your time as I’m sure you can be doing better things like surfing the web for funny videos or something.
So What is Ebates?
Ebates is a cash back site that offers exactly that from normal purchases you would make if you were to shop online in the first place.
Unlike Dosh which offers cash back for on and offline purchases, Ebates only offers cash back through online merchants.
The site was started in 1999 by two attorneys who focused on online scams, who then launched the loyalty shopping dollars program back in 2011 after purchasing Fatwallet.com and Anycoupons.com.
How Ebates Works
Whether you think it is a scam or not, the big question remains on whether or not you can actually earn real money by simply shopping online using Ebates.
Well the answer is yes.
By simply shopping and using this site, you will get rewarded with cash unlike sites like Swagbucks that offer gift cards.
The way it works is actually really simple and there is a reason why sites like this are able to offer cash as a reward for shopping online.
First, there is a thing called affiliate marketing, which is what I do full-time for a living.
By becoming an affiliate (partnering) with these businesses, they are able to get you to shop using their link (Ebates) and then in turn getting a commission, which in turn will give people like you and me a piece of the pie for participating.
Then you can look at this as a way for getting a discount but instead of getting let’s say, 10% off of your total, you will pay the regular price and then receive that discount in the form of actual cash.
Pretty simple, right?
By providing these retailers with customers, they are rewarded for doing so and then they reward us for helping them, so it’s really a win/win/win situation.
Want to Learn Affiliate marketing? Checkout the Same Exact Program I Use Here!
Does it Work and is it Safe?
It sure does.
The only problem I have with Ebates is their $50 cap on how much you can earn per purchase.
So if you bought something for a thousand dollars, don’t expect to get over $100 in cash back as there is a limit on how much you can get per purchase.
Other than that, it does work and they will pay.
Anytime you link a credit card to something, it doesn’t really give you any piece of mind no matter what anyone says.
Being that the company is owned by two attorneys who actually worked with online scams, I think you can feel a little relieved that you are in safe hands.
As long as you’re not reckless and throwing out your information in random places, you should be good to go.
Always be scam smart and never give just anyone access to any of your personal information.
The Ebates Referral Program
Making money through shopping is not the only way you can earn with this site and something that might be of interest to those of you looking to make more than just cash back.
Thanks to affiliate marketing, you are also able to make money by referring other people to Ebates.
By introducing this site to friends and family, you can make a quick $10 and they can also make the same amount just by doing so.
Pretty sweet, right?
There are different promotional offers going on so sometimes this number can change, so do know that it isn’t always going to be the same amount.
There is somewhat of a catch though and something you need to know or you might be wondering why you aren’t getting credit for your efforts.
The person you refer to the site will not pay you just for signing up.
In order to get the $10, they will need to spend at least $25 within 90 days after signing up.
This is still not a bad deal as I’m sure you will be spending more than that if you do decide to make any purchases online.
If you also apply for an Ebates credit card you can receive 3% cash back for any purchases made with that card.
Do understand that this is an actual credit card and you will need to apply and get approved just like you would if you were applying for a regular credit card.
Getting Paid
Ebates pays by check, paypal or straight to your favorite charity.
There is a minimum balance of $5 before you can withdraw any money and the company pays quarterly, which is one of the downsides of this site.
There are also complaints of missed payments, which is not a good thing if you’ve been waiting that long to receive the pay that YOU deserve.
Ebates Partners
Another big question I get all the time is what stores accept Ebates.
Almost all cash back type sites deal with the same merchants and even just the top 5 are stores that millions of online shoppers use in the first place.
Amazon- Macy’s
- Ebay
- Khol’s
- Nike
- Disney
- Overstock
- Guess
- Orbitz
AmazonAnd the list goes on to over 1,200 retailers from which you can earn cash back from.
Getting Started With Ebates
It is completely free to join Ebates (signup for free here) and it is as easy as you would do with any other online site that requires basic information.
You do not need any special documents but rather a valid email address and a password from which you will use to gain access to your account.
Once you get you can start shopping and earning.
They also offer an extension for your Chrome browser that allows you to see what merchants are giving cash back, which is another thing you use to maximize your earning potential.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Does work
- Completely free to join
- Huge list of partners
- Has a Chrome extension
- No limit on referral program
Cons:
- $50 cap on single purchases
- Pays quarterly
*Although there is a cap, I have heard of some people being able to earn way more than the $50 limit
Final Verdict: Legit
This is a breath of fresh air from all the scam programs I have reviewed in the past couple of months and I’m glad to say that Ebates is legit.
If cash back is what you want, then cash back is what you will get.
There are quite a number of other cash back sites but Ebates and Dosh are the top two on my list as they pay the most and deal with the most partners.
This is not a scam and they will pay, so you have nothing to worry about.
Now if you’re thinking that this is your way out of that 9-5 then I’m sorry to say but this is not going to happen with this site.
Ebates offers cash back and a nice referral program but it is very unlikely that you will make thousands of dollars a month.
What I Recommend
Getting cash back is always a great thing, especially if you’re a parent like me who is always looking to save on anything and everything.
Now if you are looking to make a little more than some “cash back”, I recommend you build your own online business by selling products online that you don’t even own.
That is exactly what I do for a living and is a great way for anyone to be their own boss and ultimately work from home but still being able to bring in a solid income.
Checkout this full review to learn more about the same exact program that taught me how to get out of the military and finally work from home full-time.
Other than that, I hope this Ebates review has helped you gain a better understanding of how everything works and most especially if it is even worth your time.
If you are still not clear on something please do leave any questions you might have in the comments section below and I will get back to you as soon as I can.
Thanks for reading and good luck!
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