I'm nervous!

[donaldsgal]

Okay, so obviously a lot of you use rewards programs. I don't get how it works. I mean, I understand that I earn points by shopping through some of these sites (SR) or filling out surveys. However, I'm uncomfortable about giving out personal information on the sites that are linked to the rewards programs' websites. For instance, I got to a consumer advantage site for a free $500 Circuit City gift card that I had to buy a few things. But they want my home phone and address... I don't know how my sister/roommate would feel about me giving out that information. Do you use PO Boxes? I know some of you signed up for free phone numbers - how does that work? Do they call you often (not SR but the programs themselves?).

I read the FAQ but didn't see anything about this. How do you remember to sign up for free offers and then cancel them before the trial period ends? I feel like I'd have to have a separate agenda book with just "cancel to do"s!

It also seems like I'm not really "getting ahead" for some of the offers. For example, sign up for Blockbuster for a trial month for $9.99 - how does that help me? I have to pay for something I don't especially want so I can earn a few cents toward an eventual cash out or GC? Maybe I'm not getting this, but I'd definitely be willing to try if I knew what to expect.

Feedback is greatly appreciated!

 

[Schachteles]

Okay, so obviously a lot of you use rewards programs. I don't get how it works. I mean, I understand that I earn points by shopping through some of these sites (SR) or filling out surveys. However, I'm uncomfortable about giving out personal information on the sites that are linked to the rewards programs' websites. For instance, I got to a consumer advantage site for a free $500 Circuit City gift card that I had to buy a few things. But they want my home phone and address... I don't know how my sister/roommate would feel about me giving out that information. Do you use PO Boxes? I know some of you signed up for free phone numbers - how does that work? Do they call you often (not SR but the programs themselves?).

I read the FAQ but didn't see anything about this. How do you remember to sign up for free offers and then cancel them before the trial period ends? I feel like I'd have to have a separate agenda book with just "cancel to do"s!

It also seems like I'm not really "getting ahead" for some of the offers. For example, sign up for Blockbuster for a trial month for $9.99 - how does that help me? I have to pay for something I don't especially want so I can earn a few cents toward an eventual cash out or GC? Maybe I'm not getting this, but I'd definitely be willing to try if I knew what to expect.

Feedback is greatly appreciated!

Definitely sign up for the free phone number...that is NICE...I either use that free private number or I use our old phone number that we disconnected a few months ago. That saves on the calls.

You WILL get LOTS of spam...so get seperate accounts to take care of that.

Each person has their own method of tracking things...but you certainly need a plan on how to keep track of it all...when you signed up...user names...etc.

One thing that I am REALLY happy about is the Simon GiftAccounts...you can link it to your name and address so that you can use it to order online. Then you are not giving out you ACTUAL credit card number. And when the money is gone on the card it is GONE.

The Blockbuster one is a good deal...you pay $9.99 and then you get $25.00...you just made $15.00. Lots of deals out there like that. You just have to make sure that you get them cancelled in time!

Really it adds up. I have been doing it for three weeks and between CD and SR I have made $700!!!!

If you have questions, feel free to PM me.

 

[Wilsonfamily4]

I have a different phone number I use and I change my email addressess all the time just for these reward sites. Never give my real one out. I do use my real mailing address but so far (and I have been at it awhile) there isn't that much junk mail, if any.

If it makes you uncomfortable don't do it. I am uncomfortable doing CC offers even with a prepaid card. But that is just me. I do all the little offers and they do add up for me. I also do survey sites and they add in as well. GOOD LUCK

 

[azgal81]

I do use my real address for the offers as well as a private phone number. For the free small sign ups you don't need to cancel anything. The only exception would be the 1.10 magazine sign ups through SR in that case you need to write down cancel on the invoice and mail it back.

Basically if you don't provide a credit card number you don't need to worry about canceling. I have a small notebook where I keep track of all the paid sign ups I did, when I need to cancel, how much it was for, the number to cancel, who I signed up through. Some people keep spreadsheets but I do the offers at both work and home so I like to bring the information back and forth.

Some paid offers do profit better then others. For the blockbuster one you mentioned that is a great deal because you profit so much. There are some you want to steer away from for example an offer where it costs you 8 dollars to sign up and you get paid 9 you only profit a buck.

If you are going to do the credit card offers keep track of everything, read the terms to know when you need to cancel. Then call to cancel don't forget or else you will be charged alot.

Yes the credit card offers are stressfut (I use a prepaid card) but if you want to make some big bucks that is a great way to do it!

 

[bumbershoot]

Re: the blockbuster thing...you pay 9.99 for a membership that normally costs 17.99. 3 movies at once, unlimited movies for that month. If you even have only a couple/few movies that you've been wanting to rent, and depending on rental costs in your area, that month's membership can easily work out well. I just watched 3 movies that I hadn't really been willing to seek out at our local video place, and have two more on the way that I was interested in but would NEVER have rented otherwise... Soon I'll change to the lowest level of rentals, 1 movie at a time, only 2 movies allowed total per month, for 5.99, which is LESS than that would cost at our local place (and I can keep them longer).

I don't know how long I'll keep that membership, as we're moving within walking distance of our local independent rental place AND I also joined Disney Movie Club through SR, which will allow us to buy movies for DS for quite awhile. OK, and for DH, too, since we're getting his fave movie that isn't on On Demand anymore, Sky High, through DMC.


Right there that's quite a bit back, at least through SR, and we're getting things we already wanted.


Now if you just do NOT watch movies regularly, and you have NO interest in buying any of the tons of Disney movies through DMC, then those wouldn't be worth it, not at all. But if you look at something that you might do anyway, AND you get it cheaper for a month (like with b'buster), AND you get a bonus...that's how it makes sense to do it!