If you ever wondered- “who gives free money to shop?” Here it is… Rakuten!
WHAT IS RAKUTEN?
Formerly known as Ebates, Rakuten is a cashback site that will give you money for making purchases through their website or by using their browser extension. Consumers can earn anywhere from 1% to 40% cashback on almost anything purchased through Rakuten. Anyone 18 or older can use Rakuten, and they have partnerships with over 2,500 retailers. This includes big names like Nordstrom, Walmart, Amazon, Sephora, and Target. Almost anything you would shop for on a regular basis can be eligible for cashback through Rakuten. Moreover, Rakuten is a browser extension and an app-based service. Their main goal is to help customers save money on the things they are already buying.
Rakuten Review: How does Rakuten work?
Rakuten has great deals but also it’s really easy to use.
All you have to do is shop via a link through Rakuten.com and choose the store before making any purchase. However, keep in mind that if you go back to the shopping site directly, without clicking the link, you won’t earn Rakuten cashback.
Each store link will show you the percentage of cash back you’ll earn after the purchase.
Furthermore, the Rakuten cashback percentage varies depending on the store and the things you buy.
For example, one store can offer you 3% back on regular purchases and 20% back on home products.
The cashback percentage can also change from time to time, depending on store deals and offers. Sometimes, the store can even offer double cash back!
To find these amazing deals, just click the ‘Double Cashback Stores’ button in the main menu bar.
Finally, if you are wondering how giving you cashback is payable to Rakuten, here it is. Each store they collaborate with gives them money for referring you to buy with them.
This way, it is a win-win situation for the company, the store, and for you.
RAKUTEN FEATURES
Browser Extension
Perhaps the most useful feature of Rakuten is their browser extension. It can be a pain to navigate to Rakuten to make all your online purchases. Their browser extension removes that step altogether.
When you download the browser extension, Rakuten can track when you’re on a retail partner’s site. They will create a little popup at checkout to indicate that you’re eligible for cashback rewards. That makes it as easy as clicking a button to earn cashback on your purchases.
In-Store Shopping
In a retail partner’s physical store? No problem.
Rakuten allows for in-store cashback purchases as well. You will need to activate the in-store offer through either the site or the app. You will also need to link your credit card to the system so that it can track your purchase.
Once you make the purchase, the retailer will confirm the purchase and send it to Rakuten. It can take hours or days for the store to confirm your purchase, but you should see the cashback show up in your balance.
The in-store offers are only valid for one purchase, meaning you will need to reactivate them if you plan to make another in-store purchase. It’s a little more complicated than making purchases online, but it’s a way to earn cashback nonetheless.
How to create an account with Rakuten?
To create an account, visit the Rakuten website and click the ‘Join Now’ button.
You can sign up using the email address and password you created. The other way to sign up is by using your Facebook or Google account. The next step is to agree to their Terms & Conditions and you are part of the team!
In addition, the best part about creating an account with Rakuten is that you will get a sign-up cash bonus of $10.
And currently, they are offering- if you make a purchase of $30 on any merchandise through Rakuten they give you $30 back! It’s like free money!
Is Rakuten Free?
Using Rakuten is completely free. You don’t have to pay anything to create an account and join the team.
Is Rakuten Safe?
Rakuten promotes its services as safe and secure. As two District Attorneys who used to prosecute online fraud started the company, the whole situation about security gets to seriousness.
Therefore, the Rakuten website has TRUSTe certification, as well as an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. Moreover, the site is tested daily by McAfee security.
When it comes to adding a credit card to Rakuten, all the information you provide is encrypted and secure.
Is Rakuten Scam or Legit?
One of the most common questions is whether Rakuten is a scam or legit. As you will read in many other previous Rakuten reviews, using the site is safe and secure. Therefore, Rakuten is completely legit.
It gives you free money while purchasing your usual goods.
With more than 2,500 stores and companies to choose from, almost everyone can earn some cashback.
Happy Shopping! =)