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June 16, 2017

Everything You Need to Know About In-Store Cash Back

This post has been updated to reflect minor changes in the In-Store Cash Back program.

Millions of Ebates members have discovered how easy it is to earn Cash Back for shopping online. But what if you’re shopping at your favorites stores in person? Maybe you need to try on a few sizes, swipe on some makeup swatches or pick up a last-minute gift on the way home from work. Great news: With In-Store Cash Back, you can start getting paid for those shopping trips you make in real life as well as online. Here’s how.

Step 1: Tap on the “In-Store” tab in the Ebates App.

No app? No problem! You can also do everything you need on the In-Store Cash Back page on Ebates.com. Or get the app here.

Step 2: Find the store you’re shopping at, and hit the “Link” button.

In much the same way that you activate Cash Back online, you can turn on your In-Store Cash Back offer by hitting the “Link” button in the Ebates app. If it’s the first time you’re linking an offer, you’ll need to add a credit or debit card to your account.

Rest assured, your private information is safely stored in a secure, encrypted environment. Learn more about that here. You’ll know Cash Back is turned on when the button now says “Linked.”

Step 3: Shop!

Shop with your linked card at the selected store and earn Cash Back. Boom! There’s no need to tell your salesperson and no forms to fill out — just the magic of Cash Back. Why can’t everything be this easy?

Now that you’ve got the hang of it, here are some more tips & tricks to shop like a boss with In-Store Cash Back:

Stick to Our Accepted Cards

We currently accept credit and debit cards from Visa or American Express. Add as many cards as you like to your account; there are no limits.

Use It Like a Credit Card

To unlock the magic of In-Store Cash Back, pay the credit way. Yep, that includes debit cards. If you pay with your debit card and use your PIN, we won’t be able to track it. So when you’re ready to check out, remember: “Credit, please!”

Link Before Shopping

Always link before you leap. If you shop at a store before linking an In-Store Cash Back offer to your card, you’ll miss out on that Cash Back. Don’t do this. We hate to see you upset.

Stand by for Confirmation

The suspense must be killing you, but never fear. The wheels to deliver that sweet Cash Back to your Ebates account are a-turnin’. We will email you or send you a push notification as soon as the store lets us know you shopped with an offer.

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Treat It Like a Secret

In-Store Cash Back offers are exclusive to Ebates members, so your savings secret is just between us. Store employees probably won’t know anything about these offers. Lucky for you, once you’ve linked an offer to your card you can just shop and pay. Everything happens behind the scenes, so you can just keep a look out for your confirmation email.

Stay Tuned for New Stores

If you love a store with all your heart and it’s not on this list, just wait. It could be soon! Make sure to check back as we continue to add more top stores. Trust us: Love is worth waiting for. Stack Your Rewards Link In-Store Cash Back offers to your store-branded credit cards to get both credit-card rewards and Cash Back!

Get an Extra 3% Cash Back

What’s better than In-Store Cash Back? An additional 3% Cash Back when you shop with the Ebates Visa Credit Card! Here’s a little math to break it down: If a store is offering 5% In-Store Cash Back, you’ll earn 8% Cash Back when you use the Ebates Credit Card. Learn more.

See the Deets

Click the “See Details” dropdown under each store to see the offer limits, exclusions and all the fine print. You must link and use the offer before it expires, or else the chance for In-Store Cash Back will disappear like a stealth ninja.

Make Sure to Relink Those Offers

Shopaholics, this one’s for you. Once you’ve earned your In-Store Cash Back, you can relink the offer from the store and shop again.

We hope you’ve enjoyed this crash course on earning Cash Back in stores. Check out our video to see how easy it is to earn In-Store Cash Back. Now go forth and turn window shopping into Cash Back shopping!

December 29, 2016

The Best Things to Buy in January

Now that the hustle and bustle of holiday shopping is over, you may be looking for ways to save more than you would at any other time of the year. Some strategic shopping in January will set you up for serious savings in the long term. For example, while everyone else is paying top dollar on spring clothing, you’ll find amazing prices on winter staples you’ll still need for the cold months ahead. Here’s our complete list of the most affordable things to buy this month, most of which you can find with Cash Back at Ebates.

Keep Your Fitness Resolutions

Looking to get ripped and trim for 2017? Retailers know this is prime time for clearing out their stock of fitness equipment, and it’s priced to move. Look for sitewide sales and discounts from sporting goods brands and department stores alike. We’ve also noticed many gyms offer amazing New Year’s discounts on memberships that could keep you motivated to move.

Stores to Watch: Dick’s Sporting Goods, Sears

Grow Your Winter Wardrobe

As we mentioned, most people are ready to start shopping for spring clothes this time of year simply because they’re starting to appear in favorite stores. Don’t be tempted to purchase your entire warm-weather wardrobe now. Instead, find amazing clearance sales on winter staples. In fact, with warmer-than-normal temperatures this season, many brands are experiencing an overstock on coats and sweaters. This means big savings for you!

Stores to Watch: Nordstrom, Columbia

File For Less

Tax season may be months away, but those W-2s will be in your mailbox in no time, and it’s always a good idea to get a jump start on filing. We’ve seen great deals in past Januaries on income tax software and services, so keep an eye out. Just be sure the deal includes the cost of filing your state taxes as well—that often requires an extra fee. Always read the fine print.

Stores to Watch: TaxACT, FreeTaxUSA

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Update With Fine Furnishings

January is also notorious for bringing major furniture clearance sales. Some sales go from 40- to even 75 percent off regular prices. New year, new living room!

Stores to Watch: Ashley Furniture, Horchow

Deck the Halls Next Year

Obviously, retailers will be almost giving away holiday decor this time of year just to clear it out of stores. Take advantage and get ambitious about next year’s decorating! This is the perfect time to splurge on that 20-foot LED reindeer.

Stores to Watch: Walmart, Kmart.

Take Your TV Watching Up a Notch

4K TV prices are bound to plummet after CES early this month, when new models are slated to be announced. Black Friday was the first time we saw significant savings on 4K TVs as well, which usually means the savings will continue.

Stores to Watch: Best Buy, Sam’s Club

Take a Hike

On January 16, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, all national parks will offer admission for precisely zero dollars. This means you can visit popular parks including Yosemite, Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon and Olympic National Park—which all normally charge fees of around $12 per person. Explore wide open spaces without leaving one in your wallet.

Prices and Cash Back percentages are subject to change.

September 7, 2016

7 Essential Money Saving Apps for College Students

Whether you’re a soon-to-be college freshman preparing to leave the nest for the first time or a seasoned grad student gearing up for your final year, it’s likely you’ll be pinching pennies at some point during your academic career, if not all throughout. Personal finance management is an essential skill you may not have picked up during high school, but you don’t need to be a business major or an economics whiz to master it. If you have a smartphone, you’ve got the power. There are hundreds of apps on the market designed to help users save money. Ebates has compiled some of the best, listed below. Use these in conjunction with the Cash Back and deals available through Ebates at hundreds of stores like Amazon and Bed Bath & Beyond to get the most bang for your buck.

1. Loot

Even if you’re on a tight budget, it’s important to stash away a few bucks whenever possible for a rainy day fund, or even just an extra latte here and there. Loot is a free app designed specifically for students which helps you to calculate what your disposable income is. Loot is a little different than most other budgeting apps in that it is connected to a prepaid Visa card onto which you load money. This makes it easy to monitor where you spend your cash daily without the need to manually plug in each expense, as you do with many similar programs. By helping you to develop responsible money management habits, the app aims to subsequently help you to budget for disposable income.

2. MySupermarket

The stereotype of a starving college student can sometimes feel all too real. While clipping coupons can work to save you a few bucks, it can also be fairly time-consuming. MySupermarket helps ensure that you always get the best deal on each item on your shopping list. All you have to do is create your shopping list in the app, and it will tell you where you can find each item at the lowest price, or if a particular store is offering a special on the item. You can also use your phone to scan the barcode of an item while at the store, and the app will alert you if you can find it cheaper elsewhere. Don’t have a car and don’t relish the idea of schlepping a half-dozen shopping bags from the store back to the dorm? This app also works for online grocery orders.

3. RetailMeNot

Everyone needs a little retail therapy now and again. RetailMeNot helps you to get your fix while staying within your budget. The free app gives you access to thousands of different coupons and specials for a variety of stores, including Target, Starbucks, Sephora, Bed Bath & Beyond, and more. If you come across a coupon you’d like to use but don’t need it right away, the app allows you to save it for later. It also alerts you when these saved coupons are about to expire. If you’re looking for a certain item, though you’re not set on a specific store, the app will also search for deals within your area. To take advantage of the savings, all you have to do is show your phone at checkout, or if you’re shopping online, just input the code.

4. Mint

Similar to Loot, Mint is an easy-to-use, free budgeting program that helps you to set and meet savings goals. You can visit the Mint.com site, or download it as an app on your phone. Although Mint doesn’t use a prepaid Visa, it does allow you to securely link your debit and/or credit cards so you can just as easily keep track of your spending. With both Mint and Loot, this aspect is particularly important as it can help you to easily pinpoint areas you could cut back on in favor of saving for other things. Once you’ve established a budget, Mint will also send you email reminders should you go over the specified amount.

5. Honey

Similar to RetailMeNot, Honey is a valuable savings app that collects thousands of coupons and codes at hundreds of sites to make sure you get the best deal on every order. You can download Honey to your phone or to your computer as an Internet extension. The great thing about Honey is it will automatically search for and try out all of the available codes when you begin the checkout process at an online store, so unlike with RetailMeNot and many other sites, you don’t have to try out each one manually. If there’s one thing college students have less of than money, it’s time, so this aspect of the app is especially nice. Honey also allows you to rack up points to earn cash back, and offers incentives if you persuade your friends to start using Honey as well.

6. Groupon

College is the perfect place to try new things. Groupon affords you the opportunity to try new things off-campus as well as on, without paying the usual cost. This app has been a favorite for a while now, and it’s easy to see why. With this app, you can take advantage of daily deals of 50 to 90 percent off a variety of activities, goods, and services in over 500 cities. Many businesses post deals through Groupon to establish new customers, so it’s a great way to find hidden gems and up-and-coming establishments you may not normally try or be able to afford.

7. ATM Hunter

We’ve all been there. You’re at the bar enjoying some drinks with friends, go to pay the tab with your debit card, and realize they only accept cash or their card machine is down. Finding an ATM in itself can be difficult in certain areas, particularly if it’s late at night. Add to that the $2 to $4 fees many ATMs charge per transaction, and the fact that you stuck to more budget-friendly beers instead of cocktails seems to have been for naught. ATM Hunter is a free app that helps you find free cash machines, so you don’t have to stress if you’re caught in a jam in an unfamiliar area. You can also filter the search so the app will only show you machines from your bank, adding even more convenience.

September 2, 2016

How to Shop End of Summer Sales Like a Pro

The end of the season is fast approaching. Soon, the weather will change, the foliage will change and of course the fashions will change. For all of you summer lovers out there we have great news that will ease your transition into the cooler months. The end of summer is one of the best times to find great deals on clothes, home wares, seasonal goods and more. An end of summer sale at your favorite store can stock you up for a year or more, if you play your cards right. The key to banking big on end of summer sales is to shop smart. To secure your end of summer savings, make sure to shop with a summer deals promo code from Ebates. When you shop our top stores with these insider tips, you will find the best end of summer shopping and the best savings of the year with Cash Back at Ebates on every purchase.

1. Have a Battle Plan

The end of summer is full of holiday sales, specials on seasonal goods, closeouts and more. Check out the Hot Deals at Ebates to find out which of your favorite retailers are having Labor Day sales. Mark your calendar for when sales begin and end. Combine a promo code within the sale window and you could save even more when you buy. Make the most of a Labor Day sale and you will see that it pays to plan ahead – literally.

2. Shop for Transitional Pieces

Look for layering pieces that can bring you from the heat of the summer into the cool, brisk air of fall. You can always depend on the classic looks from Ralph Lauren and Lacoste to transition your wardrobe seamlessly from late summer to early fall. Pick up a variety of pieces that can easily be layered. Still in love with summer colors? There’s no harm in having a pop of bright summer color highlighting the more neutral tones of your go-to fall wardrobe.

3. Stock up for Next Year

Thinking ahead to next year will help you make the most of your end of summer clothes shopping. Because retailers are turning over their summer inventory to make room for upcoming fall and winter fashions, this is a great time to stock your closet with basics for next year. No matter how styles change in a year, be sure to pick up wardrobe fundamentals like light fabrics, beach basics and accessories from versatile stores like J.Crew and you’ll be fully stocked and ready for next summer.

4. Make the Most of Loyalty Rewards

Just like some credit card companies offer per-purchase reward points or other incentives, many retailers reward their customers with free shipping offers, bonus rewards, store credit and more. So before you hit the big end of summer sales, check out the reward programs offered and make the most of every dollar spent.

5. Invite Your Friends

Every retailer wants to spread the word about their products. The best way to do that is to encourage shoppers to refer their friends and many retails offer rewards for referrals. The other great part about shopping with friends online is that you can comparison shop and see who can get the best deal on a specific item. A little friendly competition has never been so rewarding!

6. Don’t Fear Commitment

The shopping cart is your friend. You can fill your cart with dream goods and amazing bargains at will and then carefully cull it down before you check out. Don’t think of your cart as a place to put your purchases, think of it as a place to put potential purchases. It’s not an impulse buy if you don’t actually buy it! When you review your shopping cart before checking out, you might be surprised by how easy it can be to combine items and deals to get more of what you want for less.

7. Shop Now For the Holidays

There are fewer than 120 shopping days until Christmas. Now is the time to pad out your holiday shopping list with awesome end of summer deals. The end of summer is a great time to shop for summer-weight clothes, linens and towels at huge savings. With the kind of low prices you can find by shopping a summer sale, you’ll save enough to get yourself a little something special too!

8. Shop for the Family

The end of summer means the start of school. This is the time to find all the back-to school goods for your kids while you shop for yourself. Concentrate your shopping at department stores like Walmart and you can find great whole-purchase coupons when you buy everything from socks to snacks.

9. Watch for Price Adjustments

Did you fall in love with an item that just never seems to drop in price, even during the best end of summer sales? If you know you’ll wear it and love it, don’t be afraid to buy the occasional full price item among all your summer deals. Some of our top retailers, like Gap, offer price adjustments so that if an item you purchase goes on sale right after you buy it, you can get that deal after all.

10. Save Everywhere You Go

When it comes to saving money, you can never save too much. If you know how to work it, it is possible to find a coupon for almost every product and service out there. Groupon offers the best daily deals and coupons for your local retailers, restaurants and service providers and can save you up to 70%. Now that’s just good math.

What are your favorite end of summer shopping tips? Tell us in the comments below!

September 1, 2016

9 Ways to Save More at Macy’s

Macy’s is one of America’s most popular original department stores that covers a wide spectrum of prices. For over 150 years, they’ve sold designer clothing, fashion accessories and quality home goods alongside great deals. With almost 800 locations, there is most likely a Macy’s close to you. But what’s even better than shopping in store is shopping online at Macy’s.com with Macy’s coupons, promo codes, free shipping offers and Cash Back at Ebates.

Since it’s a department store, you can find almost everything at Macy’s! From clothes, jewelry and makeup to kitchen appliances, bath towels and dinnerware. Rest assured, there are ways to save at Macy’s regardless of what is on your shopping list. Here are a few tips for how to save even more at Macy’s:

1. Take advantage of Free Shipping at Macy’s.

Shopping online is convenient but the shipping costs can add up. However, it’s easy to get free standard shipping at Macys.com. Just make a purchase of $99 or more! That won’t be too hard with how many departments and products they offer. Shipping options include standard shipping (3 to 6 business days), premium shipping (2 to 3 business days) and express shipping (1 to 2 business days).

2. Shop for the perfect fit or color with easy returns.

Don’t love what you purchased online? If the color is wrong or it just doesn’t fit right, purchases from macys.com can be returned at any time. If you have your receipt or order confirmation email, you can receive a full refund credited in the original payment method. Purchases made online can be returned either in store or by mail. If the item you want to return was a gift, you can receive a full refund in the form of a Macy’s “Happy Returns” gift card if you have the invoice or gift receipt. No invoice or gift receipt? No problem! You can still return purchased items and gifts and you’ll receive a gift card worth the returned item’s lowest selling price within the last 180 days.

3. Get the Macy’s Credit Card for extra discounts and coupons.

Sign up for the Macy’s credit card to get extra discounts and coupons. The more you spend, the better the discounts will be. If you have the Macy’s card or Macy’s American Express, you will qualify for special savings and offers of Macy’s Star Rewards. These rewards include surprise savings at checkout and from three to 12 annual Macy’s Star Pass mailings. Elite and Premier Elite Macy’s Star Rewards customers receive exclusive birthday rewards, 15% off bonus events and more. Your loyalty pays off when you shop with Macy’s using your Macy’s credit card.

4. Look out for monthly “One Day” sales.

Once a month (usually the third weekend of the month), Macy’s will offer a One Day Sale that has the best savings. Each month, the savings will be different so you can be sure to find great savings on your favorite items at one point or another. Clearance items will be marked down further and usually there will be a coupon to stack on top of that. If possible, wait until the One Day Sale each month to get the best savings.

5. Enroll in the “Thanks for Sharing” program for 10% rewards.

Every year from September through December, a one-time $25 enrollment in Macy’s Thanks for Sharing program qualifies Macy’s Star Rewards members for 10% Rewards. Ten dollars of each enrollment fee goes to select charities including Make-A-Wish, The RESPECT! Campaign, The Breast Cancer Research Foundation and Go Red For Women. So not only will you be paying a nominal fee for exclusive savings, you’ll be purchasing with a purchase knowing your money is going to amazing causes.

6. Save with Macy’s price adjustments.

If you shopping online and find that an item you recently ordered is now on sale, Macy’s will refund you the difference as long as it’s within 14 days of your original purchase. All you have to do is submit the request for a price adjustment online and the savings are yours to keep. Macy’s prides themselves on offering competitive prices. They value your business and will do what it takes to keep you a happy Macy’s shopper.

7. Shop during the Macy’s Friends & Family Sales.

Twice a year, Macy’s lets you take 25% off your purchase at the Friends & Family Sale. One sale takes place in spring, the other at the start of December. If you’re looking to make a big purchase and can afford to wait a little while, that 25% will definitely be worth it.

8. Stay in the loop with Macy’s emails.

Sign up for Macy’s emails to be one of the first to know about Macy’s coupons and deals. Macy’s emails will not only highlight new stock and seasonal trends, but also can’t miss deals you can be sure to stack on top of Cash Back at Ebates! Head over to Ebates.com, sign up for a free account and favorite Macy’s so you’ll get alerts on Cash Back specials.

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Prices and Cash Back Percentages are subject to change.

Related Links

Promo Codes at Macy’s

The Ultimate Guide to Tax-Free Shopping Days

Unless you live in a state with no sales tax like Oregon or Delaware, you’ve probably gotten accustomed to calculating that extra eight percent or so onto every purchase that isn’t food from the grocery or convenience store. Particularly for parents doing back-to-school shopping, or students ordering new computers and peripherals for the upcoming year, the extra dollars and cents can add up quickly and make a dent in your budget.

However, even if you don’t have the time or means to make your way to a neighboring sales tax-free state, you may still have an opportunity to avoid paying taxes on certain items if your timing is just right.

Each year, several states elect to offer tax-free shopping days, most of which take place over a weekend at the end of summer or just before the school year begins. As the name implies, during a tax-free period, consumers don’t have to pay sales tax on certain items. In participating states, stores can choose whether or not to participate, so you will want to double check the ones that do in your area before heading out (or online) with your shopping list. Most who do will advertise as such.

In some areas, like the southeast United States, tax-free days apply to items like emergency hurricane-preparedness supplies and are intended to help residents prepare themselves for hurricane season. A handful of states also offer tax-free days on firearms. But for the vast majority, the primary intention of the tax-free day(s) is to allow consumers to save a few bucks on back-to-school supplies, so it’s especially beneficial for students and parents of matriculating students. However, the opportunity to save is open to anyone.

Below is a list of states offering tax-free days in 2016, as well as some of the types of items that qualify for the tax reduction. Almost all states have a limit on how much you can spend on these items while still receiving the tax-free benefit. These limits are also listed where applicable.

Alabama’s tax-free weekend is the first weekend in August and includes clothing (up to $100), school supplies (up to $50), books (up to $30), and computers (up to $750).
Arkansas’ is also the first weekend in August and includes clothing (up to $100), school supplies (no limit), and clothing accessories and equipment (up to $50).
Connecticut residents can purchase clothing and footwear (up to $300) tax-free for a full seven days, the third week in August.
Florida residents can purchase clothing (up to $100), school supplies (up to $15), and computers (up to $750) tax-free for three days during the second week of August.
Georgia’s tax-free weekend is the first weekend of August and includes clothing (up to $100), school supplies (up to $20), and computers (up to $1,000).
Iowa’s is the first weekend in August and is applicable to clothing (up to $100).
Louisiana residents can shop for all tangible personal property (up to $2,500) while paying half of the regular sales tax the first weekend in August. This means a reduction from a six percent sales tax to three percent. After 2019, the state is slated to make the weekend and subsequent tax holidays completely tax-free.
Massachusetts residents since 2009 have been able to purchase clothing items tax-free the second weekend in August. In 2016, however, the tax holiday was cancelled as lawmakers contended it would be too great of a blow to the state’s suffering budget.
Mississippi’s tax-free weekend is the last weekend in July, and residents can purchase clothing and footwear tax-free (up to $100 per item).
Maryland residents can purchase clothing and footwear (up to $100) tax-free August 14-20.
Missouri’s tax-free weekend is the first weekend in August and includes clothing (up to $100), school supplies (up to $50), and computers (up to $3,500).
New Mexico’s is also the first weekend in August and includes clothing (up to $100), school supplies (up to $30), and computers (up to $1,000), as well as computer equipment (up to $500).
Ohio residents can purchase school supplies and school instruction materials tax-free the first weekend in August.
Oklahoma residents can purchase clothing (up to $100) and school supplies tax-free the first weekend in August.
South Carolina’s tax-free weekend is the first weekend in August and includes clothing, school supplies, and computers, as well as bed and bath items.
Tennessee’s is the first weekend in August and includes clothing (up to $100), school supplies (up to $100), and computers (up to $1,500).
Texas’ is the first weekend in August and includes clothing, backpacks, and school supplies (all up to $100 total).
Virginia has a few tax-free days throughout the year, but the first weekend in August is geared specifically toward back-to-school shopping with clothing (up to $100) and school supplies (up to $20) tax-free.

As may be the case if you visit a year-round sales tax-free state like Oregon or Delaware, if you’re a resident of a non-participating state and you purchase tax-free goods, you may still have to pay a use tax on those items when you return home.

Once you’ve determined if and when your state of residence has a tax-free day or days, you can log onto Ebates.com to score some additional deals and Cash Back and reap even more savings benefits at stores like Old Navy, Amazon, and Target.

June 1, 2016

#ICYMI: Our Top May Blog Posts

With spring in full swing and temperatures rising, we used May to focus on summer essentials from stylish espadrilles to must-have drugstore makeup. Tips on how to save at your favorite stores like Walmart and Expedia also showed you how to get a bigger bang for your buck while racking up Cash Back at Ebates. But these four blog posts really take the cake on featuring products that ranged from practical to downright magical. Take a look at these top blog posts from May to make sure you didn’t miss out on your next favorite wishlist item, shopping tip or time-saving checklist to make this the best spring and summer yet.

Floral Accessories to Brighten Your Look

Top off your spring OOTDs with festively floral accessories from bracelets to bags and everything in between. Read more >

The Ultimate Summer Camp Packing Checklist

Before the big send-off to summer camp, make sure you have everything your kids need for safe fun and adventure in the great outdoors. Read more >

11 Remakes of 90s Toys That Prove Your Childhood was Magic

Take a trip back in time with these amazing remakes of your favorite 90s toys. Grab one for your kids (or yourself) with Cash Back. Read more >

9 Cash Back Retailers That Price Match

Find the best price every time you shop at these retailers that price match and also offer Cash Back at Ebates. Read more >

Be sure to stay tuned for more to come in May. We’re always discovering new trends, adding new stores and coupons, and rounding up more ways to get paid to shop for the things you love. Whether you’re into fashion, tech, home and garden, travel or sports, we have the inside scoop on the best products and deals online and in-store. If you’re not an Ebates member, join today to free for access to thousands of coupons and promo codes in addition to Cash Back. Then download the Ebates App and add the Cash Back Button to your browser so you never miss out on Cash Back again. Ebates is where it pays to shop!

December 21, 2015

These Browser Plugins Will Take Your eBay Game to the Next Level

eBay is a great resource for both buying and selling, but you can only go so far without a little help. Luckily, there are a ton of browser plugins to assist you in your quest for online auction awesomeness. From price comparison to sniping assistants, these are the best browser plugins to up your eBay game.

eBay (Chrome, Firefox, Safari)

eBay, naturally, has its own browser plugin. This plugin lets you keep track of items you’re selling and bidding on, as well as keep up with eBay’s daily deals. It also lets you save searches and keep up with your saved sellers.

Fast Search for eBay (Chrome, Firefox)

This extension does exactly what it promises: helps you search, fast. Its features include: the ability to search eBay international sites, search suggest, follow search configurations, watch listings and dozens of sorting options. Fast Search for eBay is very customizable and is a great tool for the eBay power user.

Snipe It (a.k.a. Myibidder Auction Bid Sniper) (Chrome, Firefox, Android, iOS)

Snipe It lets you automatically “snipe” an item, meaning place a bid in the last few seconds of the item’s auction. This extension installs a “snipe it” button on every eBay auction page for easy sniping. Just tell it which products to snipe, then sit back and let it do the rest for you.

What’s It Worth? (Chrome, Firefox, Android, iOS)

This super-helpful browser plugin gives you an idea of how much your stuff will sell for on eBay. It uses the average eBay value of similar items successfully sold on eBay in the previous few weeks. What’s It Worth? is a great tool to help you determine if it’s worth your time to sell an item on eBay, as well as to see how much you should be paying for a given item.

eBay Amazon Price Comparison (Chrome, Firefox)

Use this extension for an easy side-by-side comparison of a given item’s price on eBay and Amazon. Just search for your item and the extension shows you both marketplaces at the same time. This plugin is super helpful for the savvy, price-conscious shopper who wants to make sure he or she is getting the best deal.

My eBay Manager (Chrome, Safari, Firefox)

Super-organized eBay users will love this plugin, which helps you keep track of all your eBay activity at any given time. Because you’re always signed in, you can check on your eBay listings and purchases at any time, all in one easily accessible place.

SellerTab (Chrome, Safari, Firefox)

SellerTab gives you an easy way to track all your eBay seller activity from one homepage. Install the extension to be able to view all of your seller highlights each time you open your browser. You can also track new purchases and see how many items need to be shipped out at any given time. This is a great organizational tool for the active eBay seller.

eBay Live (Firefox)

This cool extension is basically a miniature version of eBay’s site. You can quickly view your watched items, sold items, etc., in one pop-up sidebar. This is a great way to stay on top of all your eBay activity quickly and easily.

eBay Negs! (Firefox)

We all want to give people the benefit of the doubt, but sometimes you just need to get the dirt on an eBayer. eBay Negs! lets you easily view all a seller’s negative feedback with just a right-click. This is a great tool for deciding which eBay sellers are trustworthy enough to buy from.

eBay Worldwide Currency Converter (Firefox, Chrome)

Looking to buy an item from another country? This handy extension basically lets you shop eBay in your own country and currency. The tool makes international shopping a lot less painless, as you won’t have to constantly calculate currency conversions yourself.

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Prices and Cash Back percentages are subject to change.

November 27, 2015

Your Black Friday in 19 Gifs

Shopping in-store this Black Friday? You’re up to the challenge, right? Here’s how it’s gonna play out. (Take it from us, we’re psychic like that.)

You, being responsible and ever-prepared, do your homework. You browse Black Friday ads ahead of time and make, dare you say, the best game plan in Black Friday shopper history.

You give yourself a little pep talk. It’s a big day and you’re gonna kill it. Right?

Then you get yourself pumped. Whether with a run around the neighborhood, wrestle-sesh with your nieces and nephews, or…whatever this chick is doing.

You’re getting a little scared so you cordially invite your BFFs to come along to help you navigate your shopping list and grab those deals.

And when you arrive, the parking lot looks like this.

And if you can’t park like a boss the second a spot opens up, it’s circle-around city for you, my friend.

Then the crowds LOOK LIKE THIS OMG.

But you stay determined.

You have a little snack to keep your energy up and your game face on.

Just as you finish the smushed granola bar that you stashed in your purse, you spot the one item you came for.

After casually elbowing a few people, you successfully claim your prize.

You realize you’ve hit your fun ceiling and it’s time to go home.

Time to scoop up all your friends from whatever pile they’re hiding under and hit the checkout.

Be careful not to break your back as you gather up your things and head to the register.

You feel so accomplished as you head to the car.

But when you get home and see the pile of receipts, you have second thoughts.

But not for too long, because you have to get prepared for Cyber Monday and all the online shopping you’re going to do.

At least this time, you can do it in your pajamas.

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November 18, 2015

Infographic: Dad’s Black Friday Survival Guide

Dads. They’re the unsung heroes on Black Friday. They drive packs of kids to and from the mall that day. They wait in parking lots while their wives ransack favorite department stores. They do so much of the work that makes Black Friday possible and get none of the credit. Well, dads of the world, we can’t give you a trophy for your acts of Black Friday selflessness, but we can show you how to make your Black Friday a little bit more enjoyable and a whole lot less stressful.

Step 1: Be a Park Shark

There are a lot of things that are going to push you over the edge on Black Friday, but finding a parking spot has to be at the very top of the list. Spending hours circling a mall lot looking for a place to park can make you feel like you’re trapped in some kind of sedan-filled time loop. Luckily, there are a few things you can do to keep from going crazy. The first, and most important, tip is to let all the other riders out of the car first. It’s hard to stay calm with a bunch of back-seat drivers telling you what to do. Once they’re out and safely at the front of the store, don’t continuously circle the same spots — it’s Black Friday; no one is going anywhere for a while. Instead, try to find the spots other people are avoiding. The back of the lot may seem like a long walk, but you save a lot of time in the long run if you just take a spot and move on.

Step 2: Stay Away From Savings

If the rest of your family wants to kill themselves grappling with other shoppers to save a few bucks, that’s their business. You just want to get through the day avoiding serious bodily harm. The best way to do that is to stay away from any store that’s offering insane sales. JCPenney and Macy’s are the two prominent mall stores that typically have the biggest sales, which means they’ll attract the biggest crowds. Get as far away from them as you can if you want to stay out of danger. Better yet, why not seek out the stores that offer lower savings? Big Lots and Costco both offer statistically low savings on Black Friday. Head over there for a few hours and you should be able to avoid getting trampled.

Step 3: Become a Food Court King

The food court isn’t just a great place to kill some time dining on the finest pretzels and cheese the mall has to offer; it can also be a great place to really unwind. There are some fast food restaurants that will serve you alcohol with your mass-produced meals. Baja Fresh and Chipotle both offer beer and margaritas in the $4 to $7 range. Sbarro, meanwhile, will give you an entire bottle of wine for $23.99 (but maybe only go for that option if you’re sharing it with a few other dads). While we must stress that this tip is only for dads who are going to be spending at least three more hours at the mall, grabbing a few drinks could really help you get through Black Friday with a smile on your face.

Step 4: Catch a Movie

“Holiday Movie Season” is total “Dad Movie Season.” It’s when all the overly long, self-serious historical dramas that dads love come out. Thank goodness it lines up so perfectly with Black Friday. This year, there are a ton of awesome Dad movies out in theaters, including “Bridge of Spies,” a three-hour Cold War spy drama directed by Steven Spielberg; “The 33,” a testosterone-fueled true story epic about a bunch of miners trapped in a cave; and the Rocky sequel “Creed.” Best of all, there’s “Spectre,” and everyone knows that all dads are genetically predisposed to love James Bond movies; they just can’t help it. See one or two or all four of these movies on Black Friday and the day will be over before the final credits roll.

Extra Tips: If you really want to come out of Black Friday feeling like a million bucks (instead of just feeling like your family spent a million bucks), use the day to get some exercise in. The mall is actually a great place to get fit. The long corridors and hallways are perfect for power walking; you can use mall benches to assist in leg stretches, sit-ups or other small exercises; and if you look for it, you should even be able to find a staircase — climb it a few dozen times instead of taking the elevator or escalator. Bring an iPod along so you can drown out the crowds by listening to some of your favorite Dad rock (all of The Moody Blues’ albums are available on iTunes) or getting through a big chunk of the latest Tom Clancy audiobook.

Finally, the best Black Friday survival tip for dads? Skip it! Try and convince your family to just forget Black Friday altogether. After all, Cyber Monday is right around the corner — and your kids spend their entire life on the Internet anyway!

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<a href="https://www.ebates.com/blog/dads-black-friday-survival-guide/"><img alt="Dad's Black Friday Survival Guide" class="ngg_none" src="https://www.ebates.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/dads-black-friday-survival-guide_IG.png" width="600px" height="3869px" /></a><br><a href="https://www.ebates.com/blog/dads-black-friday-survival-guide/">Dad's Black Friday Survival Guide</a> Created by:  <a href="https://www.ebates.com/"> Ebates</a>

Sources:
https://wallethub.com/edu/best-worst-retailers-for-black-friday/8385/
http://www.slate.com/articles/life/food/2012/04/fast_food_restaurants…

Prices and Cash Back Percentages are subject to change.