Compare Your Rewards Programs!!!!

[Marionnette]

Usually, I just go through ebates because I like getting cash back for my purchases. Unlike some other online rewards programs that reward with points-per-dollar, I don't have to worry about my points being devalued by the program when they raise the number of points your need to redeem for a GC.

However, this morning I decided to take a closer look at some of the credit card shopping portals for some gift baskets that I need to send this month. Holy cow, what a difference! Looking at the same merchant on all of the portals that I considered using:

• Ebates is giving 4% cash back.
• Rapid Rewards Shopping is offering 5 pts./$ (credited as Rapid Reward Points)
• MyPoints has 2% back (website also says 3 pts./$)
• Chase Ultimate Rewards had the best with 7 pts./$ (7% back)

For this particular merchant, Chase Ultimate Rewards won because the shopping will credit to my account within a month and I can redeem it for either a statement credit or cash immediately after that.

Mypoints comes up as the big loser with a capital "L" due to their low award amount, having to wait over 30 days for credited points to become "redeemable" and for the fact that they can devalue those points at any time by just raising the number of credits needed to get a GC.

So, make sure that you check all of your rewards programs before you commit to making a purchase. I would have just settled for $6 back from ebates if I hadn't taken the time to really look at the other programs this morning. Now, I'm getting closer to $11 back from Chase.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

Check out ev'rewards. It lists the reward options for each online store. -- Suzanne

 

[wendow]

Thanks for the reminder to check my cc shopping portals. I never do but I have a Chase Freedom and a SW cc so I really should be. I use Ebates for all my shopping and have done well but it sounds like I could be doing better sometimes

 

[fofinia]

I agree! I try to remember to do this. Usually Mypoints always loses. I have only been earning click through email points from them for a few years. Most times I shop through ShopDiscover for my Discover card. It is cashback or discounted gift cards. $45 in cashback bonus for a $50 gc. So it's like using a $5 coupon at the place.