eBates the real deal
If you haven't heard about eBates.com, it sounds like a total scam at first. You sign up at eBates (email required), then link to more than 800 retailers through their site. By linking through eBates you get a percentage rebate on each purchase, which varies by store. eBates tracks your purchases and every 3 months cuts you a check.
I tested it by purchasing a subscription to Runner's World (incidentally, a mag I really like) on ValueMags.com thru eBates. I bought the mag Aug 2 and today got an email saying eBates had credited my account with $5 (a 25% savings on the going mag rate of $20). The week delay was a little longer than I would have liked, but I also got a $5 bonus from eBates for my first purchase as a new client.
Totally sweet!
Here's a sample of the "ebates" available:
Best Buy 1%
Nordstroms 2%
Target 4%
Sephora 4%
Children's Place 3%
ValueMags 25%
Travelocity 1%
Hotwire 2%
Barnes & Noble 4%
Netflix $18 cash back (not sure how this works)
Wine Enthusiast 4%
QVC 3%
Petco 6%
SmartBargains 4%
By remembering to go to eBates.com first, you could really save a load. For the record, eBates says they get the money for the discounts "primarily from marketing partnerships with our merchants, as well as advertising opportunities."
