MSE Forum Poll: Do you use cashback sites/apps when shopping online?

MSE_JC

Getting cashback can be a great way to boost your bank balance, whether to help offset the cost of a purchase or saving it all up to spend on something else down the line.

Still, with so many platforms to choose from - often featuring different retailers and different offers - it can be tricky to keep track…or even remember to go through the cashback site or app before buying.

Vote in the poll then share your thoughts in the thread.

MikeJXE

My thoughts

I voted

Not recorded in the results

sparrer

I voted 'Never', not showing on results graph.

elsien

sometimes. Usually for bigger things like cashback for changing energy supplier.

And it’s not an either/orwith a cashback credit card, at least it isn’t for me. I get cashback from my credit card and I also hopefully get cashback from the cashback site and depending on who I’m buying from I might also get a tiny bit of money for airtime rewards as well.

You have to be spending it in the first place to earn the cashback though and if you’re trying really hard not to spend money there’s little to claim cashback on anyway.

lr1277

Voted for I tried but it is too much hassle.

I first used a cashback site in 2007 I think. Very first transaction I got double cashback. Woohoo!

Then I used the site once or twice a year. From my POV, the downside was if buying through a website, you get a standard product/service. No room for customisation.

Anyway the last time I used them, the suggested cashback timeframe was 3 months. The money did not arrive in 3 months. If memory serves, the money took 9 months to arrive. However in the meantime I had paid my yearly fee. I was banking on the cashback paying the yearly fee. The cashback site were good in that they refunded the fee, but I stopped using them after that. They wouldn't let me close the account just in case I might use it in future. So I changed the password to something long and I hope not guessable and never used them again.

So I suppose the 2nd downside, is the money might not arrive in the suggested timeframe, not even close.

Also I had a rewards credit card which gave points that led to vouchers. However the company closed the card. My circumstances are now such that I can't get a new credit card. And if my circustances change and I can get a rewards credit card, the only reward I would want is fee free FX transactions. No points/cash/vouchers.

horsewithnoname

similar to above it just took too long to get and was denied on the most spurious of grounds. Particularly annoying was the claims that cash back was paid in two weeks when in fact it took months, why they can’t be honest I do not know.
For the amount I got it wasn’t worth the hassle.

twopenny

Back in the old days when I was younger I used to do any offer going. It helped but overall not a huge amount when totted up.

Now it's got more specific and complex as they are withdrawn or only for things that are not in our rural area.

Most for a single person if you do the maths for offers you might save a small amount but not enough to make a difference. I get my bargains other ways that save larger amounts.

Jemma01

I voted tried but waste of time, I usually quit before I finish the application process because reading through the terms it already feels like a scam, so I never go through with it.

Rob5342

I use TopCashBack for every purchase I can, I've made £2500 from them so far. I don't see how going through a cashback site when you do your annual insurance or energy switch to get £70 can be seen as too much hassle.

vacheron

Yes, for bigger things like appliances, holidays and utilities where I use something simple and established like Quidco or Topcashback.

What frustrates me is that almost every bank account I have seems to have some convoluted cashback system which they are constantly pushing at you like it's some huge benefit, but reads like….

"Get a whopping 0.25% cashback at any one of these 4 obscure retailers when you use your debit card to make 3.5 qualifying payments within a 17 day period, not counting weekends and every second Tuesday of the month, and register your interest for the promotion before the 21st day of the previous month."

Yeah, I think I'll pass on the 14p that would have bagged me, but thanks anyway. But as you're supposed to be a bank, how just about offering more than 1.5% on your savings account instead? 😐️

Dizzycap

Yes, always - That's what it's there for!

I have the TopCashBack tool bar in my browser, so I automatically get told if cashback is available and I 'activate' it from the tool bar 😉. One of the best tools I have, aside from a price comparison tool and any discount vouchers availabe on my intended purchase . I've loaded my browser with them all and very often get both cashback & a discount - Very MSE 🤗.