Update: This has been now reduced to only 3,500 Swagbucks so it’s not nearly as profitable as before. You’ll now end up earning only $29
The Offer
-
Signup with Bluehost for a 12-month web hosting subscription for $2.95/month (comes along with a free domain) and get 8,000 Swagbucks
The Fine Print
- Offer ends 09/27/16 11:59pm MST
- Please allow 32 days for SB to credit
- Cancellations prior to 30 days will not earn SB
- This offer may only be redeemed one time per user
Our Verdict
This is the best Swagbucks moneymaker I’ve seen, but be sure to set yourself a reminder after 30 days or at year’s end to cancel the service.
The subscription is $2.95 per month paid out for an entire year, and the final cost is $35.40 for the year. You get back 8,000 swagbucks, worth at least $80 when cashed out via Paypal, for a net profit of $44.60.
Note that there is an option to add Domain Privacy which adds $11.88 for the year. I paid for this option since I’m not sure how bad the spam is if you don’t. After paying for this, my final cost was $47.28, and the net profit will be $32.72, or slightly more if I get a better than 1-cent-per-point redemption with Swagbucks.
Update: It’s noted in the comments that you can cancel and get the annual subscription prorated; that makes this deal a whole lot more profitable since you’ll just pay $5.90 for two months. If you have your own domain (or just input a random domain) you’ll save a lot more on the prorate since they won’t keep the domain costs for the year. Total profit can be up to $74.10!
Here’s how to go about completing this offer:
- Go to the offer page in your Swagbucks account and click through to Bluehost from the offer page
- Signup for the $2.95/monthly plan
- Uncheck the Site Backup Pro box which adds $2.99 per month
- Decide whether you want to uncheck the Domain Privacy box which adds $.99 per month
- Submit
- You should instantly get an email confirmation from Swagucks confirming that the 8,000 points are pending
- Verify your email with Bluehost by clicking the link in the email; otherwise, domain will be cancelled in 14 days and it might affect bonus earn
- After 30 days cancel your Bluehost subscription
- After 32 days, 8,000 points will be available; cash out points
If you are signing up for a new Swagbucks account, I’d appreciate if you use my Swagbucks referral link. You might get some kind of small bonus at the end of the month for using it.
There’s also a $10 moneymaker with the Nature Conservatory which we wrote about previously.
Hat tip to Slickdeals
Any updates on dealing with the claw back issue? Mine got clawed back recently for the cancellation, after two months of subscription. Damn it! How come they are still watching the bucks even after two months?
Ouch! I decided to just keep mine for the year. I assume they won’t clawback then.
I simply filed a chargeback for the difference between what I paid and the pro-rated refund they provided attaching the offer terms and explaining that Swagbucks stated that BlueHost was the entity deciding not to honer the offer. One day later I received a call from the Bank with a few clarification questions and after a few days the money was refunded to my account. I also received a refund receipt from BlueHost.
Of course I’m planning to never do business with them again in the future so if you care about that maybe a chargeback is not a good idea seeing how they manage their business.
I did the same as Roman and had a similar experience and success with Capital One.
I paid $47.28 on 9/27/16 ($2.95+$0.99 x12). On 12/2/16 I cancelled. Just got a credit for only $17.30. I can’t really figure out how it got to this number, because I was expecting a ~$40 refund (only paying for 2 months). Think I should bother inquiring? On the one hand, this deal still made me $50, so not bad at all. But an extra ~$22 or so would be pretty nice too.
This is an “official response” from Swagbucks, basically saying that “I didn’t act in good faith” so that’s a violation according to Bluehost.
—
Thank you for your inquiry regarding the prior SB award deposited into your Swagbucks account related to the Bluehost offer. Unfortunately, the merchant has informed us that your activity was in violation of their policies for new web hosting sign-ups and did not represent a valid, good faith annual subscription to their hosting service. Therefore, they reported that your sign-up was invalid and did not qualify for the SB award under the terms of their offer.
Accordingly, based upon their determination of invalid activity, we have removed the SB previously awarded in connection with that offer from your Swagbucks account.
We also refer you to the User Conduct section of our Terms of Use which indicates that it is a violation of the Swagbucks rewards program for members to engage in an activity for the sole or primary purpose of receiving SB. In this case, the merchant determined that you did not have a genuine interest in an annual subscription to their hosting services. The integrity of our rewards program relies on genuine interest in the products, services and content offered by merchants through Swagbucks.com, so in the future please only respond to offers as to which you have a genuine interest.
We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding.
Replied complaining that the offer terms were very clear and they didn’t care, they replied:
We apologize for the inconvenience you have experienced. As stated in our previous message your Bluehost activity was in violation of our Terms of Use. These terms are agreed to upon the creation of your Swagbucks.com account. Please note that the terms displayed on the Bluehost card are considered “Additional Terms” which are referenced in our Terms of Use. These additional terms are concurrent with Swagbucks Terms of Use.
As stated in the User Conduct section of our Terms of Use, members are prohibited from completing an offer just for the SBs. The merchant has determined that your activity is in violation of this term and is subject to SB removal.
—
So now I guess it’s time to complain to BBB about false advertising?
I just had the same issue. Are you going to deny payment on the credit card? Do we have the right to?
I filed a complaint with BBB and their first response was basically repeating the same statements. I responded and have been waiting to see if they provide a final response.
At the same time I’m pondering about disputing the charge difference with the CC but I’m also not sure if this would qualify for CC protection, I guess I’ll try to research a little before deciding.
Hmm, not sure about the dispute. I think I can hear room for dispute since it appears to be Bluehost who is clawing back from Swag, so they aren’t honoring the terms on the charge on the card.
Yes, if I go that way it would definitely be based on the fact that Swagbucks repeatedly pointed Bluehost as the one making the decision.
Got the same message. Those bastards. Don’t make a shitty promotion and decide you won’t keep your word.
I havent cancelled ye but redeemed all my points for amazon gift cards
Im planning to use all before cancelling just to be safe
Im also screwed on the swagbucks offer https://www.doctorofcredit.com/swagbucks-donate-9-world-food-program-get-2500-swagbucks-16-moneymaker/
Although i donated and have confirmation from world food program no confirmation from swagbucks or any pending points. Cant file a claim till 30 days are up.. Anyone in the same situation ?
I’d say to just wait 30-days then file a claim. I did this successfully with a different offer (Birchbox).
i canceled on Oct 29th (Saturday), received confirmation from their billing department on the 31st (Monday). So far my points are still intact.
Set up account on Sept 26th
Set up account on 9/26/2016.
Got Swagbucks on 10/27/2016.
Cancelled bluehost on 10/28/2016.
Swagbucks removed from account on 10/31/2016.
That is bizarre! Did you try filing a case since you didn’t cancel within 30 days, as per the terms?
Did anyone get a snapshot of the offer that they can send me or post?
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0Bydo0RUqahR4LXhrSmVoMUJuOG8
Although if you’re going to contact them be aware that they don’t really care much about those terms.
Wtf, mine got clawed back too. Points were available, and I had a paypal redemption pending. They cancelled the PP and took points back.
So the safe point is that you actually have already redeemed the money into your account outside SB. If it is paypal, then make sure it’s deposited already. If it is a vitual visa gift card, then use all the money in there.
Might not be safe even if in PP. Hell, it could actually be worse for the simple reason being PP can be really hard to deal with if there’s funds pulled back from your account. One of the reasons PP is so popular is because of the ability to get money back after it’s sent. Goes for scammers too unfortunately.
Yeah, I guess it’s possible they’ll make a negative balance in the Swag account. Unlikely that they’ll actually claw back the payment from PP, but who knows
i opened up a support ticket, will have to see if it gets anywhere. The terms were pretty clear though, no cancellations within 30 days.
ahhhh, okay, forgot about that detail. So after 30 days we are good to cancel then.
I kept hesitating canceling for fear of clawback. Has anyone who cancelled after 30 days gotten clawback?
I cancelled 37 days after registration and they reversed the Swagbucks. I just wrote them with the screenshot of full terms as well as proof of registration and cancellation. There’s nothing in the terms stating that we should keep it for the full 12 months.
Clawed back after cancel after Swagbucks posted. Now the deal is a net loss.
Whoa! That sounds bizarre! I guess it’s worth waiting until cash becomes available, then.
I guess they are claiming that promo was only for those who kept the subscription the full year. Bummer.
Called and was emailed just a generic cancellation link.
https://my.bluehost.com/hosting/cancel
Unfortunately that cancellation link is locked until after you call/chat with a rep.
Did you check your Swagbucks? The 3,500 SB in mine was clawed back after cancellation today (32 days)
I cancelled after Swagbucks were posted, and redeemed for Paypal the same day. 32 days as well. So far nothing has changed and I have my Paypal redemption posted, unless clawbacks could cause a negative Swagbucks balance? First time I’ve experienced Swagbucks redemptions to post so quickly but maybe because it’s the end of the month.
@skyriver Did the points already post as complete before you cancelled or it was still pending?