Shopping online is not only fun, it's also the easiest and most convenient way to get exactly what you want in most cases. Online shopping avoids the hassle of travel and parking, dealing with annoying salespeople, or spending all day visiting different stores trying to find everything you need. It's no wonder that online shopping is rapidly replacing in-store shopping in so many ways. But did you know you can get paid for shopping online?
I know it may seem like offers to earn money while shopping online are too good to be true, but there are many ways to legitimately earn rewards, incentives, and even cash back when you shop online. Often you can earn these rewards for products and services you would be buying anyway, so it's a great way to save money and earn extra money at the same time.
Here are some of the best ways to get paid for shopping online.
Mystery Shopping
With mystery shopping, store owners pay ordinary shoppers to go to their businesses, perform ordinary tasks, and then report back about their experience. Mystery shopping allows owners and managers to find out about the average person's experience in their establishments, and gain feedback directly from customers, for an accurate assessment of their business.
Generally speaking, as a mystery shopper, you will be tasked with going to a particular store or restaurant, and finding or purchasing a particular product, or requesting a particular service, or other simple tasks. Afterward you will fill out a questionnaire about the experience, and then you will be paid for your time, and reimbursed for any required purchases. If this sounds good to you, can find many mystery shopping jobs at FlexJobs.com.
Pros
- Mystery shopping can be simple and easy to do.
- Mystery shopping can allow you to make money and get refunds for experiences that you enjoy and would often do anyway.
Cons
- Pennies – Mystery shopping does not pay a lot of money.
- Broke – Mystery shopping is not a consistent, regular source of income.
- Move – Mystery shopping usually involves leaving your home.
Mystery shopping can involve expenses that reduce the overall profit of the experience. For example, you may find yourself spending gas money to reach a location you don't normally go to. Or, if they ask you to order an appetizer at a restaurant, you might order a meal and a drink as well. On the one hand, it's a free appetizer, but on the other hand you've just bought a restaurant meal you may not have otherwise bought. When you factor in these expenses, mystery shopping can be less profitable than it may seem.
Fortunately there are other ways you can make money right from the comfort of your home that may pay more than Mystery shoppings. You may want to look into sites like SurveyJunkie.com, InboxDollars.com, Swagbucks.com and FusionCash.com. These sites pay you for things you already do online like watching videos, visiting sites and more.
Cash Reward Sites
There are a number of websites and apps that will give you a cash rebate for shopping via their website. These sites get commissions for referring customers to popular retail sites you already use, and will share their commissions with you in return for using their services.
Even better, the large number of different sites that work in this way means that, if you sign up with a few different services, you can compare the current offers to see who has the best rewards. Using cash reward sites, you can earn cash-back incentives for shopping online major retailers like Amazon, Target, and Walmart. Provided you shop with these retailers through the cash reward site.
Some of these cash reward sites include Ebates, Swagbucks.com, and InboxDollars.com. Depending on the store, you will receive a certain percentage back in cash rewards.
Pros
- Many of these sites also have surveys and other ways you can earn money using the site.
- You can earn cash back for major retailers and purchases you would have made anyway.
- It's easy and simple to do.
Cons
- Some sites are more legitimate than others, and should be chosen carefully.
- Some sites may result in you getting an increase in spam emails and other unwanted sales messages.
Browser Apps
They've designed browser apps to help you and earn you rewards or find cost savings when you shop online. Some of these extensions will comparison shop for you while you shop online, looking for competing, low-price offers for the item you are looking at. Some will offer discounts on specific items or specific online retailers.
A few will reward you for recording your purchases in the app, and give you cash back afterward. There are a wide variety of browser apps that will earn you money while you shop online. And they work in all kinds of different ways.
The more popular apps are Ebates, Swagbucks, and Inboxdollars. Besides getting cash back, they also have a referral program where they will pay you for referring someone. Whoever said online shopping was boring, right?
Pros
- It's an easy way to earn cash back and rewards during your normal browser behavior.
- The app may find items, retailers, or deals that you couldn't find comparison shopping on your own.
Cons
These apps typically make their money by collecting your online shopping data, so it's not ideal for those who are particularly concerned about their online privacy.
Credit Cards
Many credit cards have great rewards and incentives for online shoppers. The right credit cards can give you points redeemable for travel and other rewards. They also extend your warranty or offer greater protections for online shoppers. They can even give you cash back on your online purchases.
Some store credit cards have great bargains if you shop frequently at that store. Some cards (like the Amazon Prime card) reward you not just when you shop at that store, but offer additional rewards anywhere you shop. Choosing the right credit card for your online shopping can actually put money back in your pocket.
Pros
- There is no easier way to earn rewards.
- Easy to access and cash out your earned rewards.
- Earn rewards for shopping you would have done anyway.
Cons
- Some cards have an annual fee.
- Credit cards can have high interest rates, so it's best to pay off any balances right away. That way you can earn your shopping rewards without paying any more money than necessary.
Can You Really Get Paid For Shopping Online?
While it may seem that the idea of earning cash back, rewards, points, or incentives for shopping online has to be a scam, it is far from it. There are many ways that you can earn cash back when shopping online. It lets you keep more of your money, or enjoy a few treats you may not have been able to afford otherwise.
If you want to earn cash back from shopping online, you can do this by using sites like Ebates, Swagbucks.com, and InboxDollars.com. They have partnered with hundreds of stores online so earning money back from your shopping is quick and easy.