Microsoft's Live Search Cashback Offers Highest Shopping Rebate Rates, Study Shows
CompareRewards.com recently completed its fifth annual survey of online shopping rewards, comparing 19 rewards programs and their rebates for 225 popular retailers. Rebates for the same retailer varied by as much as 27%. The rewards program with the highest shopping rebates overall was Microsoft Corp.'s Live Search cashback program, launched earlier this year.
Baton Rouge, LA (PRWEB) November 1, 2008 -- If you're going to shop online for the holidays this year, knowing which rewards program to use can result in additional cash back of as much as 27%, says Becky Ford of consumer advocacy website CompareRewards.com.
In her fifth annual study of online shopping rewards, Ford analyzed 19 rewards programs' rates for over 200 popular online retailers and found big differences in the rebates offered. Those sites that offered the least for shopping were all points programs -- websites that offer "points per dollar spent" instead of straight percentage cash rebates. When converting points to their equivalents in percentages, the difference could be as great as 27% for the rates these points programs pay versus the percentage cashback programs, for purchases at the same merchant.
The highest overall shopping rebates were offered by Microsoft's Live Search cashback program, which pays the most for shopping at 72% of its participating merchants surveyed. Live Search cashback, Microsoft Corp.'s online rewards program, was launched earlier this year following the company's acquisition of Jellyfish.com.
Whitney Burk of Microsoft Live Search responded to the study results: "We are very pleased that CompareRewards.com has recognized Live Search cashback as the best cashback shopping program in its annual analysis. For many, holiday budgets are tight this year, and we're delighted to be able to provide some relief through Live Search cashback."
The study also found Extrabux.com to be another program that performed extraordinarily well. The program pays either the highest or the second-highest cashback rate for 59% of its participating merchants surveyed, and it also provides coupon codes that can be used for additional savings.
"We are honored to be ranked in the top three for the second year in a row in CompareRewards.com's annual comparison of shopping rewards programs," said Jeff Nobbs, CEO and co-founder of Extrabux.com. "We consider Becky Ford's rankings an important benchmark, and it's gratifying to know that we are continuing to do a great job of helping online shoppers save money."
Another finding of the study was that, while the average cash back rate was around 5%, some rewards programs paid as much as 30% cash back, depending on the retailer.
"When shoppers go online to hunt for bargains," Ford said, "they may be familiar with coupon codes but may have never heard of online shopping rewards programs. Sure, a coupon for 15% off your total may be attractive, but if you can combine that with 10% cash back, you have an even better bargain."
The full analysis and details of the survey are available on CompareRewards.com.
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