Is Extreme Rebate Legit or a Scam?

As Amazon has skyrocketed over the years in terms of popularity and capability, so has the number of services that are able to use the platform to get their client’s products into the hands of their target audience.  The organizations in question?  Rebate portals such as ExtremeRebate and Samurai.Social. With the potential profit of selling on Amazon being so high sellers are always looking for opportunities to drive sales/reviews… this is why services like these exist. 

Rebate portals are platforms that allow buyers to receive products either for free or at an exceptionally discounted rate.  Hundreds of products are typically added daily.  It’s an attractive gig for buyers for obvious reasons.  They get to purchase products that they want or need for next to nothing.  Sellers are motivated by the opportunity to earn a positive review from buyers who are the most likely to do so, a rating that is earned and then indicated within the portal.  There has been question regarding the legitimacy of such partnerships, but the portals, for the most part, strive to adhere to Amazon’s terms of service.

HOW DOES EXTREME REBATE WORK?

On ExtremeRebate, you can receive up to 100% cash back when purchasing products on Amazon.  While sellers cannot require that you write a positive review for them, it is anticipated, and procedures are even put in place in order to strongly encourage such.

To qualify as a member, you just sign up on their website and note your Amazon profile within registration.  Sellers create listings with offers (i.e. “100% cash back”).  Once you are a member, you can peruse these listings and express interest where it applies.

Rebates are provided on ExtremeRebate in one of two ways: vouchers or rebates.  

If opting to receive by rebate, you request products that you want or need and await seller approval.  You then purchase the products through Amazon and submit the order ID on ExtremeRebate within two days of order.  Once confirmed, ExtremeRebate will utilize your PayPal account to provide cash back.

If using the voucher method, go ahead and request the preferred product, look out for an Amazon promo code via email within 48 hours of this request, and then purchase the product(s) through Amazon, making sure you enter the promo code at time of order in order to reflect your discount.

The method utilized is up to the buyer’s discretion.  Some prefer the voucher method since this gives the discount up front and at the time of order without having to wait for the rebate to be processed or having to “front” payment. 

It’s important to reflect a good rating to sellers as this will make them more likely to want to work with you.  You will rank as a “best buyer” to interested sellers if you tend to leave positive reviews for the products you typically purchase.  So, to increase your chances of obtaining a product for that maximum 100% cash back, it’s a good idea to begin positively reviewing the items within your Amazon order history.

In an effort to regulate the number of products provided, and to ensure that buyers are providing the anticipated reviews, ExtremeRebate has tiers and limits in place.  Once expected reviews are submitted, the tiers and limits adjust accordingly.

IS EXTREMEREBATE LEGIT?

Amazon’s terms of service aim to prohibit any sort of official agreement where buyers write falsified reviews to encourage others to purchase products that may not live up to buyer expectations.  This is understandable as Amazon aims to provide reviews that are helpful and truthful to ensure their customers feel as though they can trust the platform. 

In this case, these rebate portals cannot outright insist or require buyers to leave positive reviews.  The limits in place, however, strongly encourage this sort of practice.  If buyers do not leave positive reviews, then their opportunity to pursue other fully rebated products is removed.  It is a questionable tactic that ExtremeRebate employs the use of limits to garnish a review from buyers.  While not a scam, the use of a limit to extort a positive review is arguably frowned upon.

That being said, there is not much illegitimacy to the participants or sellers themselves.  The seller utilizes rebate portals at the expense of their actual products, and they risk the chance that the recipient could leave a less than satisfied review.  The buyer legitimately receives the requested products and they do have the opportunity to leave an honest, even negative review using their actual Amazon profile.  Of course, this will impact the buyer’s rating within the portal.

Here is a similar review on FullyRebate to see if it is legit.

WHAT ABOUT THE END CONSUMER?

Consumers should be aware that Amazon actively seeks out and bans users who perform tactics that go against their terms of service and they also reserve the right to delete reviews in suspicious circumstances.  This sort of protection is put in place for the end consumer who has no knowledge of rebate platforms and buys with heavy investment into the provided reviews.

As a buyer on Amazon outside of the rebate portal process, it is always important to consider the existence of platforms such as these at time of order and when factoring the weight of reviews into your decision. 

It’s vital for buyers to research products above and beyond the Amazon site to ensure the product will live up to their expectations.  Should it not, however, Amazon’s return policy and customer service is unparalleled. 

TIPS & TRICKS

As can be expected in most third-party transactions, be forewarned that the seller does not cover any applicable Amazon shipping charges, nor do they pay for PayPal fees.  PayPal is the preferred means of providing cash back within ExtremeRebate.

To maximize the benefits for both parties, it is a good idea to pursue products that suit your tastes and purchase those that are likely to satisfy your needs.  This is a moral means of participating in the program as a buyer.  As a seller, ensure that the effort you put into the quality of your product supersedes the effort you put into compensating positive reviewers for said product.

Even in our digital age, nothing beats organic promotion or “word of mouth”, and nothing certainly beats search engines’ ever-changing algorithms when bloggers and news outlets speak their truth about your products and its misleading reviews.

ALTERNATIVES

As could be expected for competition in the marketplace, several rebate portals exist, but each carry their own unique benefits.  Sites like topcashback, Rebatekey, Rebaid, Vipon or Snagshout, Jumpsend and Amazon Rebate Club only offer a maximum of 8% cashback, but their requirements and limits may be less strict than ExtremeRebate.

Samurai.Social is a newer platform that encourages the concept that “everyone is an influencer”.  It is rebate-based and their website reiterates that they strive to stay compliant with Amazon’s TOS by not requiring that buyers leave an Amazon review at all, unlike the limits and expectations put in place by its competitor, ExtremeRebate. 

Sellers and buyers alike are enticed by the multitude of promotional offerings available on Samurai.Social beyond Amazon.  Sellers are able to post campaigns requesting promotion across social media channels, for example.  influencers can register accordingly.  The platform truly pairs sellers with ideal promotional influencers and gives buyers the opportunity to enjoy the products they need while aiding in its growth within its targeted audience.  Buyers agree to promote products within their own legitimate social media profiles and they motivate followers by turning them into consumers. 

What’s even more attractive about Samurai.Social is the opportunity for lower-scale partnerships that benefit the buyer, the seller, and the potential follower-turned-consumer.  One live campaign alludes to the promotion of a messy hair bun accessory.  If already a fan of said accessory, and if already sporting said accessory on social media, how much sense it makes to speak to the benefits of that accessory openly to your following and be compensated in the form of a free product by the seller.  If you are already likely to purchase and promote items that you like, it’s simply sensical for sellers to be guided towards those who are most likely to do so.  Platforms such as Samurai.Social simply provide sellers with a narrowed likelihood that they are sharing their products with positive, influential consumers. 

Samurai.Social’s legitimacy is evident to buyers and sellers alike.  Their effort to create genuine, honest partnerships is admirable.  It speaks to the quality of the products themselves when their leaders are outwardly seeking promotional tactics more in line with organic growth than agreeing to compensate strangers for “fake reviews”.  It is undoubtedly a bit more impactful when a social media influencer shares the truth of a product with their own family and friends than it is to have an Amazon username leave five stars with exaggerated language to help sell said product.   

Taken from one actual live campaign currently on the site, a seller describes his project as, “I am looking for a real buyer and blogger who can help me promote my product and provide honest feedback.”

In this digital marketing age, no one could ask for anything more.