Just moments ago, we wrote about an Ebates – American Express partnership whereby your Ebates cashback gets converted to Membership Rewards point. Each penny becomes 1 point. We noted in the post that, aside from portal cashback, Ebates in-store cashback and referrals cashback just got alot more valuable. I haven’t found this explicit in the terms, but the overall gist indicates that your entire Ebates balance will convert to Membership Rewards point, so I assume this is true.
Reader Ryan has another good point: the Ebates Visa card earns 3% back when you use it in conjunction with the Ebates portal, and 1% back everywhere else. Most online retailers are on the Ebates system, and we now have a roundabout way of earning 3x Membership Rewards points for most (ordinary) online purchases by simply using the Ebates portal. And that’s on top of whatever the Ebates cashback rate is.
Update: Additionally, Ebates in-store purchases also get 3% back. Many popular retailers are available with Ebates in-store cashback program, and you can now get 3x MR points on top of the Ebates in-store earn rate for lots of top retailers. The card also earns 3% back on travel booked online through the Ebates portal.
Just keep in mind a number of caveats:
- Things like gift card purchases don’t typically trigger Ebates cashback, and I assume are thus ineligible for the 3% earnings rate.
- You are forcing yourself to using the Ebates portal when other portals may have higher rates.
- You are dependent on the purchase tracking correctly, else you’ll just get 1% = 1x MR.
- There is a few month delay from purchase until you’ll get your points.
Also, a reminder again that the Ebates points conversion program is currently only available to new Ebates members.
I was told by an Ebates/Rakuten representative that it is against the terms of their agreement with American Express for them to issue a Rakuten credit card to an MR account.
If anyone has a DP on this it would be appreciated.
I have a Rakuten credit card linked to an MR account. I also made a few purchases through ebates with the card and it shows 3x points for those purchase.
Emailed Ebates to link the credit card to my ebates amex account, and got a reply saying:
Currently, Ebates Visa cards cannot be associated with American Express Membership Points accounts. There is no way to open a card through an American Express Membership Points account.
The account associated with your Ebates Visa Card will have to remain separate from your American Express Membership Points account.
Feel free to reach out to me if you have any further questions.
Alex R.
Member Services
Ebates.com
So based on this email, there is no way to have 3X MR from this credit card…
The question does remain if anyone who has earned 3x using the card, has received those MR points. Those DP’s are more relevant than a CS rep who may or may not have the correct info. It appears from many posts that folks were able to open the card under their MR earning account, and were seeing those points accrue in their account. I just received my last cash check a couple of days ago, so the May 15 points should be posting now.
Anyone have any DP’s on this?
Does this card earn you 1x MR on any purchase in a physical store? The reason I ask is that this may be a way to earn MR at Costco, since it is a Visa card.
Yeah, 1x everywhere.
Buy Costco giftcards online with the BBP and get 2 MR
I am not aware of a way to buy costco cash cards with an Amex card. On their website they allow visa, mastercard, discover, diners club, and jcb.
So unless there is another way that I am missing, this would be the way to do it. Use the ebates to earn 1x. That essentially equates to the same 2% cashback we get with the costco citi card, but I’d rather get it in the form of MR. We spend a lot at Costco. We will still get the 2% reward for executive membership.
Wouldn’t it be 3x online?
owning this card but currently linked with my ‘cashback’ ebates …
I purchased something via ‘MR’ ebates using the ebates credit card…all the 3% went to the ‘cashback’ ebates account.
how to unlink and relink to MR ebates account? thx
I just got around to opening an ME Ebates account for a family member. Any DP on whether or not we really need to use an AMEX card to make the purchase (per the T+C) for it to count?
How did it take before you guys received your bonus? Was told by online chat rep it would take 1 to 2 billing cycles.
1 membership = $0.006 in statement credit. So at 3x with the ebates Visa card, your effective cash back is only 1.8%. meh….
If you can only get $0.006 per Amex MR, this game isn’t for you…
You can check your email. I received a 100 welcome bonus offer on Feb. 6th. The subject is “You’re Pre-Approved + Get a $100 Bonus”
Both Cathay Pacific and ebates credits cards are issued by Synchrony, correct? I have been thinking about signing up for a Cathay Pacific credit card. Anyone know if Synchrony will allow sign-ups for both Cathay Pacific and ebates? And, how long might I have to wait in between?
I got both but ebates CL is only $1k
This is in the terms, so your looks like we need to use the linked AMEX card
Additional Membership Rewards® points at Ebates available to U.S. American Express Card Members with a Card enrolled in the Membership Rewards® program (“Eligible Card Account”) only. Card Members must become a new Ebates member and link their Membership Rewards® program account at Ebates.com/american-express. Card Members must use an Eligible Card Account at checkout to earn Membership Rewards points in their Ebates account. Corporate Cards or accounts are not eligible to participate.