The Offer
Ebates one of my favorite portals for its consistent ability to track orders and reliable customer service has brought back cashback for Ebay gift cards. Cashback for Ebay gift cards has been hovering around 1-1.5% over the past month since Ebates removed Ebay (it was at 4% prior) last month. The 3% Cashback via Ebates is double the next highest current portal bonus, Reward Blast at 1.5% Cashback.
The great thing about this portal bonus is that there are still plenty of discounted gift cards available on Ebay from SVM and Paypal Digital (which can earn 5x with Ink). Check out these posts for deals still available (TGI Friday, Toys R’us, Hyatt, Aeropostale, Sephora, Phillips)
The bad thing is the targeted Ebay Bucks 2-4x promotion ended yesterday.
The Fine Print
- Exclusions: Cash Back is NOT available on the purchase of eBay gift cards.
- Special Terms: Cash Back is only paid on legitimate Winning Bid or “Buy It Now” transactions. Cash Back will not be earned on unpaid items with eBay.
- A maximum of $50 Cash Back may be earned on any single purchase.
- Don’t make a purchase over $1666 to not exceed the maximum $50 cashback per purchase.
- Make sure to use best portal practices mentioned here and here (mine is to use an incognito tab)
- Unsure how long the 3% via Ebates will be available (if you find any details please let me know in the comments)
- Second Highest payout we have seen for Gift Cards on Ebay in a month (4% last month, usually 1-1.5% otherwise)
If you don’t currently have an Ebates account you can sign up via my referral link below, which is greatly appreciated.
Thank you
Our Verdict
It is great to see Ebates bring back cashback for Ebay gift cards at almost the perfect time. Since portal bonuses have been hovering at or around 1-1.5% all month, I welcome seeing a high portal bonus again. I have already purchased my allotted discount gift cards yesterday via the Ebucks promotion, but may still see if there is any deals that I didn’t take advantage of before. If you weren’t targeted for the Ebucks promotion then this are probably your best chance to take advantage of the current gift cards on sale. Don’t forget to use some of Chuck’s trick to find out how many gift cards are left if you are holding out for the next Ebucks promotion (which won’t be for a while, possibly August).
I purchased 2 $100 ebay GCs using ebates and so far no CB has been reported. Also, the Ebates terms excludes ebay GCs, so not sure whether I should be expecting 3% CB?
I thought this post suggested that Ebates is giving 3% CB on ebay GC which doesn’t appear to be the case. Can someone clarify?
Ebates is giving CB on merchant GCs sold on ebay but specifically excludes eBay gift cards. You will not receive any CB for the eBay gift cards you purchased sorry.
I clarified my question
answered your question to the best of my ability. If you would like provide me with screenshots at mileswhip at gmail.com I may have a better answer
Can you elaborate on the “best portal practices” and using incognito., I don’t recall a separate post on this but maybe I’m missing it.
Thanks!
here are actually 2 great posts to read in regards to that. I will link them in the post too.
https://www.doctorofcredit.com/10-tips-for-getting-a-cash-backpointsmiles-portal-to-track-correctly/
https://www.doctorofcredit.com/behind-the-scenes-look-at-online-shopping-portals-interview/
Its done just to be extra certain that it will track properly. FWIW, I have always used my main browser session and haven’t had problems with tracking with TCB, Discover or Ebates
When I added the Ebay gift card from Gift Card Mall, I didn’t see the Ebay buck as well as the x3 bonus. Did I do something wrong?
Ebucks and portal bonuses exclude Ebay branded gift cards
so if you by visa gift cards at staples through ebay cashback you get cash back and 5X using ink?
Please clarify. I don’t follow your question, thanks.
When I click on a direct link to ebay site I type in staples and I get an offer of 2X cash back when shopping at staples. If I then buy visa gift cards with my ink business will i get 5X in points plus the 2X in ebay cash back
you may have an extension or toolbar running that is directing you to staples.com from ebay, that wont earn you any extra cashback, sorry
This is awesome when stacked with the Ebates visa, netting you 6% if you’re after cash back instead of credit card miles or points! If I had to guess, I would say they had to take gift cards off their payout while they worked out the programming to exclude eBay gift cards. During the 4% Ebates gift card rate right before they took it off completely, I got $4 cash back for rolling a $100 eBay gift card when they were on sale for $95. So I effectively got $100 for $91 in that single transaction.
Thank you Bryan, I updated the post to make others aware. Great data point too.