Money for Shopping

Shopping portals offer different types of rewards; usually points, miles or cash.  At this point I use cash and points portals more than ones offering airline miles.  The ratios are better.

How do you find the best rewards when shopping?  There are two sites I use; Ev'reward is more user-friendly and RewardsDB is more comprehensive.  Since programs change quickly or offer special limited promotions, both are not perfectly accurate; check yourself as well.

The best way to get cash back?  Decide on your purchase and where you can find the best price and service for what you want.  Then check the databases above to find the portal that gives you the best reward for it.  If prices are within 1-5% apart the reward might make a difference.  Don't forget tax and shipping costs.

The newest development in cashback portals are those allied to credit card reward programs.  Several credit card issuers (Chase, Discover, Capital One, Citi) now have them; their rates are competitive and should be explored.  For instance, Discover gives 5% cashback on Hotwire; more than anyone else. 

Maximizing your reward takes some research and there is no one portal that is consistently the most advantageous. Special offers pop up from time to time as well; recently Northwest's World Perks Miles Mall offered a promotion fo 500 bonus miles for every $50 spent.  That's 10 miles to the dollar, so I shopped there during the promotional period.

For casual users who can't be bothered comparing portals with each purchase and want simpler, reliable cashback, I'd recommend Big Crumbs and Fatwallet.

Shopping for Cash or Reward Points


NameReferral link -
please use and throw me a few bones!
Value of individual unitExpirationType of rewardCash out level
Shopping portals. These sites are straightforward.  Do your shopping through them and get back cash or points.
Big Crumbshttp://www.bigcrumbs.com/crumbs/frontpage.jsp?r=lwitchel.01
None
CashMonthly payout via Paypal.
This cash back's program's gimmick is a two tier referral system.  Sign up as a "Crumbsaver"; the cash back ratios are far higher (some of the best, in fact) and unless you intend to aggressively find referrals, being a “Crumbearner” just makes it less rewarding to shop there. Monthly payout of whatever you have on account (they paid me .04 the first time!)





FatwalletGood customer service and reliable. Always a competitive ratio, usually the best (but I would suggest checking others as well). Best for Priceline.  I’ve gotten about $170 back.  .01NoneCashNo minimum for paypal; $10 for a check.






EbatesClick on the program name at left or my referral email is lwitchel@aol.com..01NoneCash$5
I use Ebates for Quikbook and a few other  vendors; I’ve gotten about $100 back.  Decent customer service.
   
AirmilesmartThe payback ratio here is low, however the customer service is quite good.  (8/7/08 - recently posting of points has gotten a great deal slower, but it happens) Most importantly, it's the only site I know of that offers Starpoints.  Points can be converted 1:1 in blocks of 500 into Starpoints, AA, DL or US miles, or 1250 points gives you a $25 gift certificate.  As Starpoints can be converted into 32 other airline points, I think they're by far the best deal.  I've earned at least 5,000 Starpoints here..01NonePoints500 points

ShopathomeWould you write me so that I can refer you?  Or click on the program name at left and my referral email is lwitchel@aol.com..01NoneCash$20
Updated 8/7/08 Shopathome has become less attractive recently.  I originally used them often because you were amazingly able to double-dip via the now defunct Milesource.  They also had good cashback ratios for several uncommon travel booking engines (Octopus Travel and even sweeter, Booking.com at a 12% cashback rate) that are now no longer offered.

However they still do have double and triple cashback specials.  Certain portals credit quickly but I had trouble with others (Priceline in particular).  Their customer service is slow albeit well-meaning. They offer a downloadable "rebates toolbar" that I would strongly advise againt using as it will probably interfere with using any other portal. There is a $5 sign up bonus using my referral email when you join.
Live Search Cashback.01NoneCash$5
Updated 8/7/08 Microsoft has entered the cash back portal game by purchasing Jellyfish. The ratios are quite high and worth checking out.  The program credits promptly (I was credited for a purchase almost instantly) and makes the payment available in 60 days.
MIXED PROGRAMS
All the mixed programs (CreationsRewards, Mypoints, Inbox Dollars or Memolink) have somewhat less attractive reward ratios for shopping, but you can augment them with clicks or surveys.  They may also have a vendor that isn't with one of the other portals.  
Creations Rewardshttp://www.creationsrewards.net/?referid=_26_59_D1_8F_CB_AC_19.005NonePoints1000 points = $5
I've used CreationsRewards for shopping occasionally.  In my experience, customer service and payment is extremely prompt. They've changed to a system where you need to email the order confirmation for credit, so read the terms at the site carefully and follow them.
MypointsWould you write me so that I can refer you?.007NonePoints1400 points = $10 cert.
Points can be used for merchandise gift certificates (including Marriott gift checks) or Hhonors points (1:1 in 5000 point blocks) and United miles (2:1 in 5000 point blocks) ). Their ratio of spend to reward is not usually at the top, but every now and again it has been.  Keep your email receipt of whatever shopping you do and make a note; they almost always need to be reminded to award credit (but then do it quickly.)  Both merchants and rewards can change without notice so check before shopping.  Since 9/03  I have gotten $375 of gift certificates.  Redemption is very quick and I do not believe that points expire. 
Inbox Dollarshttp://www.inboxdollars.com/?r=lwitchel.01NoneCash$30
This program is a sleeper that I thought would be less attractive than it's turned out to be.  Inbox Dollars is a mixed site offering shopping, surveys and pay-to-read emails.  I have made most of my money here on surveys; their shopping ratios are not bad, but not the best.  I've needed to remind them for shopping credit when I've used them, so save your receipt.
MemolinkWould you write me so that I can refer you?.005I believe points do expire, but I didn't touch my account for three years to find the points still there.Points19,200 for a $10 Gift Certificate.
Memolink has a low payback ratio, but their customer service is a good deal more responsive and reliable than it once was and reward payment is very prompt now. Worth considering if they have a decent ratio or a store your other programs do not. 


Quizpointshttp://www.quizpoints.com/dollar.asp?ref=91616.02unknownPoints500 points = $10
Quizpoints is a mixed program that primarily seems to contain trial offers and surveys, but it does have a cashback mall with some uncommon offers - want to join gay.com?  You get 18% cashback here!
Cashcrate http://www.cashcrate.com/235603.01unknownCash$10
Like Quizpoint, Cashcrate is primarily trial offers, but there is also a cashback mall with some high ratios.


Shopping for Miles

These are more straightforward.  I've only listed the a few malls; there are more.  Check Ev'reward and RewardsDB to maximize your return.

I think the best strategy with miles and shopping is to shop at the portal giving the best return, but alternatively at the portal that gives you points in your slowest or weakest programs and keep your miles from expiring.  Got Continental miles that would expire after a year of inactivity?  Make a purchase at the Onepass mall.

Airline Malls
Continental  Delta  American Airlines  United Airlines  Northwest

Train Malls
Amtrak           

Hotel Malls       
Marriott  Priority Club 

Page last updated December 30, 2008.