Online Shopping Portals

Of all my research into points and miles recently, the most shocking information I found was in regard to Online Shopping Portals.  I had NO IDEA that by shopping through various "portals" you could get extra miles/points and/or cold hard cash back.  While I'm still new to this and haven't taken it for a test drive, I am just waiting for the opportunity.

In my research I came across 2 websites that are simple to use and show me where the best deals for extra points (Evreward) and for cash (TopCashBack) are.  What better time to share this knowledge with the upcoming holiday season shopping assault.

Evreward.com shows you the bonus points and/or cash rebates (although the next portal discussed appears to the best for cash) you can receive for buying through various online shopping malls (i.e. AAdvantage Shopping Mall, Delta Skymiles Mall etc).  All this portal does is add a click or 2 to your shopping experience but you end up on the actual site you wanted to buy at but you'll get bonus points to your loyalty program.  For example: Let's say I wanted to buy something at REI (after doing research where I found it to be the best price).  Now that I am ready to buy, I go to evreward.com and type in REI in the "where are you shopping" box.  It then lists all the possible bonus awards available to me, like 2 miles per dollar for going through AAdvantage mall or 4 points per dollar for going through Marriott Rewards mall.  From there I just click on the arrow for the mall I want to shop through and it takes me to that mall.  There I just enter my loyalty program number and click "shop" where it then takes me to the REI actual site to complete my shopping.  So just 2 clicks and entering a loyalty number and now I'm getting bonus points.  Easy.  With all the online shopping I do, and have done, it's very hard to swallow that I missed out on so many points/miles or cash.  Anyways, the past is past, but rest assured I will be checking this portal EVERY online shopping time!  

TopCashBack is similar but it only provides you with CASH!  If you value cash more than points, this is the site for you.  TCB just gives you the commission they are paid to market websites.  In the same example as above with REI, if I enter REI in the box titled "Search Store Name" it tells me that clicking through this portal will net me 5% of my purchase back.  A free rebate for one extra click.  The portals make deals with the various website stores and provide them with a commission for their marketing of the store.  TCB gives that commission to shoppers since it makes enough revenue on the advertisements on the website.  How long that lasts is a mystery, but evidently it works.  You can cash out your money on TCB at any time.

So there you have it, free miles and points, or cash, for a couple of extra clicks on the computer.  Easy!