On the heels of a buzzy, Clueless-themed Super Bowl ad, the shopping portal Rakuten is out with an even better promotion: You can currently earn 10% cashback (or more!) at hundreds of online stores by clicking through Rakuten first.
You should always use online shopping portals to get something extra on your purchase, and few portals are better or easier to use than Rakuten. It gets even better if you've never used Rakuten: You can stack those 10% cashback rates with a big bonus for first-time users, earning an extra $30 after signing up for Rakuten and making your first purchase of at least $30 or more.
These 10% cashback rates are available at hundreds of retailers, from travel companies like Hotels.com and Expedia to clothing stores like H&M and even Dell, so be sure to check the full list and see if a store you've been eyeing makes the cut. Combined with the bonus for first-timers, this is a great time to pull the trigger on an online purchase.
Rakuten says these elevated cashback rates are available “for a limited time,” so it's unclear how long you've got to take advantage. The sooner, the better, if you ask us.
Got a card that earns American Express Membership Rewards points, like The Platinum Card® from American Express or the American Express® Gold Card? It gets even better.
Rakuten allows all members to earn Amex points instead of cashback. So that $30 initial cashback bonus nets you 3,000 Amex points – plus the bonus you get from the retailer itself. That's a great return if you've got some online shopping to do.
Thrifty Tip: Add the Rakuten browser plugin to Google Chrome and Rakuten will alert you when you can earn cashback on your purchase through that retailer!
Taking advantage of these huge bonuses is as simple as navigating to Rakuten.com, clicking through to the retailer, and making your purchase.
How Rakuten Works
Getting in on these cashback bonuses is easy. First, sign up for Rakuten if you haven’t already. You’ll earn an additional $30 bonus after completing your first purchase of at least $30 in the first 90 days. Full disclosure: We also get a bonus, so we appreciate it if you use our link!
Whether you’re shopping at Amazon and Target or buying a Blue Apron subscription, you’ll get a percentage of your purchase price back from hundreds of stores. You’ll get paid every three months, through either a paper check or a PayPal transfer.
Here's an example of just how powerful stacking these bonuses can be. Let's say you've been eyeing a $200 purchase at Dell. Here's what you'd want to do:
- First things first, sign up for Rakuten
- Click through from Rakuten over to Dell, then make your purchase as normal
- You'll earn 10% cashback on that $200 purchase: $20 – or 2,000 Amex Membership Rewards points
- You'll also earn $30 cashback (or 3,000 Amex points) for your first purchase of $30 or more
Add it up and that's $50, reducing your net cost to $150 – or you're earning 5,000 valuable Amex points on the purchase.
Read more: Use Online Shopping Portals to Earn More Points & Miles!
Bottom Line
Rakuten is one of the best ways to get something more out of your online shopping. With a $30 referral bonus for new members and huge, 10% cashback bonuses available at hundreds of stores, it's a fantastic deal and a no-brainer for any shopping you need to get done.
It's unclear how long these big bonuses will last, so act fast if you've got some online shopping to do!