About Ebates – How It Works – $5.00 Cash Back Bonus!

I've had a number of people email me asking me about Ebates and how it works.

Ebates and ShopAtHome both work in similar manners. Basically they partner with major stores to get discounts from these stores. Then they pass a percentage of the discount back to their members in the form of a rebate check.

Whenever I order something on line I always check to see if either Ebates or ShopAtHome is participating with the company I'm ordering from. That way I can save even more. Ebates works with over 1200 online stores including two to remember Gift Cards. Yes, you will get cash back on gift cards ordered and almost always FREE shipping on those gift cards! As I write this I notice that you get 4% cash back on Barnes & Noble gift cards and FREE shipping if your order is $25.00! Order one of the gift cards for yourself then use it along with your Barnes & Noble rewards card in the store and you can really save a ton! The other item most often forgotten is Hotels, with summertime here you can 5% back on Choice Hotels, just click on Ebates first, from there you are redirected to the Choice Hotel website and book just like normal. If you're a member of AAA or AARP you still get your normal discount along with the 5% cash back from Ebates!

To get started, create an account with Ebates, it's FREE! Then enter the store you are planning on shopping at in the search box. Click on the companies website and you are then redirected to that website to do your shopping just like normal.  The difference is you get a percentage of your total dollars spent at that store back. They mail out the rebates quarterly when your total is $20.00. And,  they keep a running total. So, if your rebate doesn't total $20.00 one quarter then it will just roll over for the next time.

Ebates was founded in 1998 by two Deputy District Attorneys in Silicon Valley who used to prosecute online fraud & identity theft before starting Ebates (so you can be sure they are very into secure online transactions!). So go ahead, sign up and start shopping now. Joining Ebates is FREE and they even give you a $5.00 bonus for signing up! Four times a year or more, they will mail you a Big Fat Check, or transfer the money to your PayPal account if you'd prefer. And, another cool thing about Ebates, they will even send the money to your favorite charity if you'd rather. And, they never ask for credit card information!

My husband and I have been members of Ebates since 2003 and the checks always come on time and without a hitch. I have never had to contact them with a problem!

Check out Ebates here.