View Full Version : Get 30% off on ebay
Others have posted here about Microsoft's Live Search cashback program. Basically, you search for something on live.com and buy using paypal and you get a certain percentage back after a 60 day wait. It works. I've used it now for several purchases.
Well, the percent cashback varies from time to time and also depending on where you purchase. It tells you the percent you're earning up front. The max refund always seems to be $200 no matter the percentage you're getting. When I bought my M8 it was 8% on ebay, and I saved $200.
Well, now on ebay the value is 30%. So you can buy something that's $666 and you get $200 off. That's huge. It only works for buy it now stuff.
Just go to live.com, search for anything that gets you a link at the top to ebay. I search Leica MP. Then once you're within ebay, you can search for anything. As long as you buy within an hour, you'll get the reward. It's a bit of a hassle to sign up for the account and wait the 60 days, but it works.
Not sure how long the 30% will last. I've seen 17%, 20%, 8% over the past month or so.
plummerl
10-05-2008, 20:42
Since Friday, I have now used it three times, for an average cashback of $100 on each purchase. Nice! If your looking for a nice tripod, ReallyBigCameras is where I've been shopping (http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Feisol-CT-3442-Carbon-Fiber-Tripod-w-Center-Column_W0QQitemZ220290449156QQcmdZViewItem?hash=it em220290449156&_trkparms=39%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A10%7C240%3A1318&_trksid=p3911.c0.m14). If you email Kerry at ReallyBigCameras, he can put together a special listing that you can find with Live Search. You then get the 30% off. This is where I got started: http://www.apug.org/forums/forum280/52284-microsoft-live-search-20-cashback-offer-ebay-2.html#post689231. Note that his email address is really "sales@reallybigcameras.com".
Others have posted here about Microsoft's Live Search cashback program. Basically, you search for something on live.com and buy using paypal and you get a certain percentage back after a 60 day wait. It works. I've used it now for several purchases.
Well, the percent cashback varies from time to time and also depending on where you purchase. It tells you the percent you're earning up front. The max refund always seems to be $200 no matter the percentage you're getting. When I bought my M8 it was 8% on ebay, and I saved $200.
Well, now on ebay the value is 30%. So you can buy something that's $666 and you get $200 off. That's huge. It only works for buy it now stuff.
Just go to live.com, search for anything that gets you a link at the top to ebay. I search Leica MP. Then once you're within ebay, you can search for anything. As long as you buy within an hour, you'll get the reward. It's a bit of a hassle to sign up for the account and wait the 60 days, but it works.
Not sure how long the 30% will last. I've seen 17%, 20%, 8% over the past month or so.
I've been trying for a while now to get it to work for me, but it appears that it won't work when you have a British IP address.
Anyone wanting to set me up with a shell account that I can port through to a proxy with will be very welcome :)
//Jan
mackigator
10-05-2008, 20:49
I just bought the LX3 with this. Here's hoping the discount works.
I just bought the LX3 with this. Here's hoping the discount works.
I hope it works for you, and DAMN you for being able to use it when I can't! Bloddy yank ;)
//J
plummerl
10-06-2008, 13:09
I hope it works for you, and DAMN you for being able to use it when I can't! Bloddy yank ;)
//J
This was part of the recently passed bailout package! ;)
This was part of the recently passed bailout package! ;)
That's a good one! :D
It's a shame that those outside the US of A can't take advantage of the offer. Oh well..
Cheers,
It's back at 20%. Damn. Wish I had known that earlier. I would have purchased either an M8 or the CV 35 f1.2 lens. Damnit.
That's a good one! :D
It's a shame that those outside the US of A can't take advantage of the offer. Oh well..
Cheers,
We need to get some IP proxying going, I will happily proxy into the UK or Other european countries for anyone who needs it.
//Jan
It's back at 20%. Damn. Wish I had known that earlier. I would have purchased either an M8 or the CV 35 f1.2 lens. Damnit.
20% vs 30% won't matter for an M8. The max bonus is $200. I bought my M8 when it was 8%, and even that is more than $200.
For the 35/1.2, you probably could have saved some more with 30%
30% is back. Just checked.
SolaresLarrave
10-16-2008, 13:12
Alright... how does the cashback work? Is it applied when you purchase or you get funds after a while? As a check, or on your Paypal account?
BTW, I just registered myself.
PhotoMat
10-16-2008, 14:02
Francisco:
After you pay for your purchase via PayPal, you will receive a notification in your eBay account inbox notifying you of pending cashback. You have the option of payment into your PayPal account, bank account or payment via check. Your cashback is redeemable after a period of sixty days has elapsed. Be sure to thoroughly read the program description and requirements, but actually, it's a pretty straightforward deal and a good bargain to boot!
padraigm
10-16-2008, 14:09
Yes I have used it and have received $600 back total. You have to wait 60 days before they transfer it... I used it when it was 25% and bought Biogon. Ebay was also offering an instant 10% off so over all a great deal.
Lani Kai
10-16-2008, 19:47
Just bought a Nokton Classic 35mm f/1.4. Good deal.
Yes I have used it and have received $600 back total. You have to wait 60 days before they transfer it... I used it when it was 25% and bought Biogon. Ebay was also offering an instant 10% off so over all a great deal.
The cash back amount still says 30%. I showed this to a friend who noticed that it says "May" receive 30%.
Is this foolproof?
Jamie Pillers
10-17-2008, 11:52
Thank you for posting the Microsoft savings idea. I used it today to purchase a $485 camera for $340. Much appreciated! :)
Jamie Pillers
10-17-2008, 11:54
Same here... bought the LX3 today. I was hesitating, until I saw this savings offer. Keep your fingers crossed re: the refund. :-)
Jamie Pillers
10-17-2008, 11:55
Today.. Oct. 17, its at 30%... at least for an eBay purchase of the LX3.
Jamie Pillers
10-17-2008, 11:59
Aside from the possibility that its part of the Treasury's bailout package... does anyone know who's providing the refund money? Is it Microsoft, the merchant, eBay, PayPal... or some combination of these? Just curious who our benefactor :angel: is.
ijohnnyz
10-17-2008, 12:30
I can't find any eBay items. I even checked the supporting stores and eBay is not listed. Any ideas what happened?
Does this work with any item purchased thru Ebay, once it is found via Live Search or just certain items? The reason I ask is last night I went looking for a lens. Ran the Live Search, clicked on the Ebay link and a list of the lenses came up. Some of the listings indicated the savings in their description but most did not. The auction I was most interested did not indicate that this rebate would apply. Didn't want to commit and then find out I was paying full price.
I can't find any eBay items. I even checked the supporting stores and eBay is not listed. Any ideas what happened?
Go to live.com, then type in what you want. At the top of the page you'll see "live search cashback" with a $ icon if the item is available. i've been playing with it all day trying to think of something to buy.
Go to live.com. Search "Leica MP". You'll get an ebay link at the top indicating how much the savings rate is at the time. It's 30% now. Click the link. Once you're sent off to ebay, you'll see along the top of the page the cashback graphic indicating that your "session" is active. Now you can search within ebay for anything. You have an hour to purchase. You have to use Buy It Now and you have to pay with paypal. When you go to buy the item, you should get a clear message on the page, before you've hit the final confirm button to buy, that you'll be saving money. If you don't see something telling you it's working, you've done something wrong. It's a great deal. You just have to wait 60 days to see your refund, and I think you can only do it six times total, however long they keep running the cashback program. So use wisely. I regret now using it a while ago on a $300 purchase to save something like $40...
That's a good one! :D
It's a shame that those outside the US of A can't take advantage of the offer. Oh well..
Cheers,
Of course you can, just log to a US proxy server and from there, surf to eBay.
http://www.anonymizer.com/
Some explanation here:
http://www.publicproxyservers.com/
kkdanamatt
10-19-2008, 13:14
I just bought a Leitz/Minolta CL with a 40mm CV lens. We'll see if it really works. I'm a bit skeptical, but I figured the Buy-It-Now price wasn't too bad, anyway.
Microsoft must really be flush with cash to be able to fund this anti-Google search program.
Does anybody else have an idea why Microsoft would hook up with eBay?
tbarker13
10-20-2008, 21:06
Well I gave this a try. Just bought a Nikkor 80-200/2.8 lens for 750. Getting $200 back.
Not too bad for $550.
ijohnnyz
10-20-2008, 21:34
Well I tried it and it surely works. I purchased the new VC 28/2 Ultron. Originally $588, I paid $412, for a savings of $176. However, I've already begun to get buyer's remorse. I don't need, nor can I really afford another lens at this moment. The deal was just too good to pass up-what a marketing scheme. :::sigh::: I'll probably feel better when I get the lens. I can then tape over my M6 frameline window to cure the flare issue and use the entire VF to compose.
Frank Petronio
10-20-2008, 22:10
I am 99.9% I followed the rules but haven't seen the Cashback message in my inBox -- it's been 15 minutes -- how long did it take afterwards to get the message?
ijohnnyz
10-20-2008, 22:48
I am 99.9% I followed the rules but haven't seen the Cashback message in my inBox -- it's been 15 minutes -- how long did it take afterwards to get the message?
It took a full day for the cashback credit to show up on my "Live" account.
Wish it worked in Australia. Anyone want to check if a canon 28/2.8 rf lens shows up on it for me? If it does I might have to see if my aunt over there has PayPal.
The few items I just searched for were only offering 3-6% cashback
I bought a Leica IIIF a few days ago through live.com. The BuyNow price was $245, and I will get $75 back. I set up my cashback account first, and then used live.com for the search that led me to ebay. There are excellent buys that way.
I bought a Leica IIIF a few days ago through live.com. The BuyNow price was $245, and I will get $75 back. I set up my cashback account first, and then used live.com for the search that led me to ebay. There are excellent buys that way.
How do you set up cashback account first? is that how it's done?
How do you set up cashback account first? is that how it's done?
Thardy,
Yes, you first set up the aaccount. I just followed the lnk given on ebay about "conditions" for the cashback program.
You have to use common sense to first decide if the BuyNow price with the discount is actually a good price or not. I noted for cameras and lenses, there are super deals. There are items for which I know the values quite well, such as Contax IIa with 5cm 2.0 Sonnar, and even when a BuyNow price wa squite good, you would get a 30% discount on top of it.
Not everything shows up as a cashback item. My wife bought a designer pair of sunglasses [way too expensive!] through the regular ebay.com, and when she tried it with live.com, the same exact model was not displayed. There were other sunglasses models by the same designer but not the same model anymore.
In the end, you can't lose anything if you are careful in your shopping at live.com.
I just tried the live.com link, and I am not anymore being given ebay links today.
The key is to use the discount for "Buy It Now" items off eBay, not stores per se. The savings are real, albeit delayed like an old-fashioned mail-in rebate, & can be significant.
This does not work on all purchases, the seller must participate. The discount is paid by the seller.
Do a search for a legitimate product, from a legit seller such as a Macbook Pro from B&H photo. Note they will offer you whopping 2% discount! This their standard price.
While not a scam you don't actually save any money, sellers simply adjust the buy it now price up, to work with the "discount."
No one is going to legitimately sell you a Leica MP for 30% off.
Do you guys really want to buy from Abe's of Maine???? There are no free lunches.
I humbly disagree. Many sellers on eBay have not raised their prices to cover the discount (Microsoft pays eBay, not individual sellers on eBay). As far as items being cheaper @ legitimate sellers, that depends on the item. E.g., I recently picked up a new Panasonic DMC-LX3 off an ebay seller for a "Buy It Now" price that was identical to B&H's, but I will getting a 30% rebate in 2 months, so I have effectively saved money compared to buying the same camera from B&H.
There is no savings -- the price is raised to cover the discount. In !00% of the cases you can find the items cheaper at legitimate dealers, as their normal price.
There is no savings -- the price is raised to cover the discount. In !00% of the cases you can find the items cheaper at legitimate dealers, as their normal price.
You may be right in some cases. However, there's quite a lot of obscure camera related stuff available via BIN on ebay that's difficult to find anywhere else. KEH or another used equipment dealer may have something you need in stock, or maybe not. If you can get a cashback bonus (even a small one) on an otherwise unobtainable item then you're still making out pretty well.
There is no savings -- the price is raised to cover the discount. In !00% of the cases you can find the items cheaper at legitimate dealers, as their normal price.
Fred -
This is how I do it...
Click on this link: http://search.live.com/results.aspx?q=nintendo%20wii&form=QBRE
There is a grey box on top. The top item is for a Nintendo Wii. To the right is a yellow dollar sign, and then a link which say "live search cashback" Click on the link.
This will get you to ebay. In the upper left corner, you should see the green microsoft cashback bonus. It is currently at 20%. Click on the "My Ebay" button on the right, and sign in to your ebay account.
You should still see the microsoft cashback banner on the left corner. You can now do a search for any item available on ebay (both from stores and from private sellers). If the item is being offered as a "buy-it-now" and you pay with paypal, you will be eligible for the cashback.
It is for real, and I do not think that the seller is footing the bill (at least directly). There is a $200 dollar maximum per item, and also a dollar max/max item number per acoount (I think). I have bought from both private sellers, and also from ebay stores. You can buy from CameraQuest, from PhotoVillage - anybody who has an ebay presence. - as long as the item is a buy-it-now, and you pay with paypal, you will receive the refund.
In fact, if you look at stephengandycameraquest on ebay, his buy-it-now prices are the same as his website prices, but they are all eligible for a discount. If I remember, you are friends with Eli Kurland. He is also on ebay under kurlandphoto, and you can buy his stuff with the same discount. Why don't you ask him if he is being charged extra for this, or if he has to raise his asking price with a buy-it-now because of the discount?
And then come back and let us know, so that this can be settled once and for all :D
There is no savings -- the price is raised to cover the discount. In !00% of the cases you can find the items cheaper at legitimate dealers, as their normal price.
People are saying that they are receiving up to $200 off the ebay BIN price. A lens sold by cameraquest is only $40 less than an ebay dealer. After the rebate the eBay lens will be $80 less.
Until I heard about the $200 limit, I did think it would be possible to knock off $1000 on an M8 with a 30% discount.
It is no more unbelievable than any other marketing scheme funded by a company & its customers (& shareholders).
Microsoft is trying to increase traffic to their Live Search engine/site, so they're basically paying sellers (how much I don't know) to list their stores (real or virtual) on the engine & paying buyers (via the rebate) to use the same engine. As pphuang noted, there are significant limits on the rebates (see http://pages.ebay.com/cashbackoffer/terms.html?_trksid=m38) that limit Microsoft's expenses. What's unusual about eBay participating is that since they're an auction site they have little control over the prices set by individual sellers.
Microsoft handles the money, but they do not pay the money out of their pockets. I cannot imagine how anyone would believe that.
How do I get back to my live.com account? I am now asked for an email address whereas I gave a name for my ID when I signed up for live.com.
plummerl
10-21-2008, 12:23
How do I get back to my live.com account? I am now asked for an email address whereas I gave a name for my ID when I signed up for live.com.
Raid, at some point you had to associate an email address with your Windows Live ID (https://login.live.com/). I have never seen any other way to get the Live ID. As far as offers, the cashback today is still at 30%. I have found the search mechanism to be somewhat sensitive on terms. For instance: HP 8850, HP B8850 will not give a return, but 8850 does give a return. Once into EBAY, you can then refine the search (B8850), still holding onto the cashback.
plummerl
10-21-2008, 12:40
I have researched this extensively and find no evidence that it is a true savings. Or that it works on all sellers, I know it does not work on my eBay sales.
I also have not been able outside of direct searches like the one I posted above, to determine what "may be available" might actually mean.
BUT if you guys find you are saving money -- and can actually get a 30% discount on a new Leica M8 -- go for it!!
Again, it is 30%, up to a max cashback of $200. At the moment, there are at least 30 M8's with the $200 discount. This includes quite a few from Kurland Photo and one from PopFlash. PopFlash has the exact BIN price as he is listing on his web site. With the BIN on EBAY, you get the $200 off. I have been buying quite a few items, all with a "normal" price, and getting the 30%/$200 back. This includes Feisol tripods, HP 38 ink cartridges, etc. Works for me. :D
Here by the way is where you sign up to be a cashback merchant.
http://advertising.microsoft.com/advertising/LiveCashBack-Interest-form
This page explains why you -- as buyer -- will NOT save any money. Microsoft does NOT pay, the seller pays Microsoft.
http://hubpages.com/hub/How-to-Advertise--Sell-Products-on-Live-Search-CashBack
Ahh, now I think that I understand the confusion...
In the case of ebay, they have set themselves up as a "cashback merchant," which is why the cashback banner appears when you enter ebay through live search. However, they are not truly a merchant, only a conduit, so the true merchants within ebay (both stores and individual sellers) get the benefit of the cashback refund without any expenses that may be associated with signing up as an "official" merchant.
My guess is that ebay/paypal gives up some percent of their fees per sale, but make it up on increased volume. And this is transparent to the anyone who uses ebay to sell their products (unless they jacked up the "buy-it-now" fees recently)
As an example, if I have a website and want to direct traffic to my site via live.com, I would have to sign up as a merchant and have to pay microsoft a fee per sale. I can just eat the fees, and hope that I make it up on increased traffic, or I can just bump up the price a bit to cover my extra costs, but give the appearance of giving a discount. However, if I sell that same item within ebay, the buyer can still get the discount, but ebay/paypal eats the fee, not me.
If you want to run a little experiment, post some item up on ebay for a buy-it-now price of $1 and post the item number. I will buy it from you using the cashback refund, and then you tell me if you get stiffed with an extra fee for that sale...
With regards to this not being real savings, I don't understand where that point comes from. Using the cashback for an ebay purchase and searching through live.com to find other merchants are two different things.
If you go to ebay and find something you want with a Buy It Now price, then go through the live.com process as I describe, the price does not change, but you get the rebate. That's saving money. And the price is not artificially escalated. I bought my M8 from Tony Rose, through ebay, where he offered it at the same price as he had it here in the classifieds. I saved $200. I've bought two lenses from Matsuiyastore, and saved $200 on each. It's a great deal. I don't know where the money comes from, but with regards to ebay purchases I would assume it's between Microsoft (who's behind live.com) and Ebay (who's behind paypal).
photomoof, the way you're using live.com is different than the point I made when I started this thread. I'm referring to cashback on ebay purchases, and nothing else, where you can get up to 30% off (the percent varies day to day it seems) up to a limit of $200.
by the way, today the discount is 25%
I just realized something. The percent cashback will actually vary depending on what you search for. Search "Leica MP" and the discount is 25%. Search "Leica M8" and it's 30%. Of course, you don't have to buy an MP or an M8. You only have to do that to generate the ebay link at the top of the page. Once within ebay, buy whatever you like as long as it's BIN and you see the cashback graphic at the top and get the confirmation before you confirm your purchase.
Also note, I think you can only use the cashback refund 6 times (no matter if you get the $200 limit or $20 for a smaller purchase), so use sparingly! (Though I don't know how long the program will last.)
Also, I can't take credit for finding this. Robert aka digitalintrigue originally posted regarding this a few months back.
EDIT: perhaps I'm wrong, maybe it's a limit of 12?
The discount is 30% right now for me.
With the $200 limit, the 25-30% discount works out best on items around $600 or so. Works out great for a lot of the CV and Zeiss lenses, as well user M2's and M3's. It's a buyer's market!
It is only a "savings" if you are convinced it is the lowest possible price. My point is that it is the same price you would receive if you call up B&H directly and tell them you want a price match.
There does appear to be some slight savings on eBay however -- if the item is eligible, with ebay picking up the tab.
So you think if I call up B&H and tell them I want $200 off a $650 item, they'll do it?
I have done this once - back in July.
I bought a CV 35 1.2 from Stephen on eBay via BIN. There was an off the top discount of 10% and then 20% or so via Cashback. I ended up with the lens for $615 plus shipping - that is a good deal. I got the cash from MS in about 63 days.
Here is an article that outlines the program and how it works (who pays what)...
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13860_3-9949645-56.html
hjfischer
10-21-2008, 14:24
I made repeated attemts to open a microsoft account and each time the error message says they have tech problems and try again later. Would I likely have the same problem if I go ahead and buy now before opening an account?
I just went to the live search and typed in Leica M8.
I see no ads for ebay.
1. go to www.live.com
2. search "leica m8"
3. look at the top of the page
http://i529.photobucket.com/albums/dd340/atbenner/Picture1.png
I frankly do not know if this works or not. So I have deleted my posts. Of course "buy it now" prices have always been much higher than the actual selling prices for most items in the past -- but maybe that has changed?
At any rate I cannot really figure out what is going on here, and there are wildly different speculations about it on the web, hundreds of theories in fact. Each with a different theory about who is paying, or if it actually works.
The article on cnet cited above sees the "savings" the way I do, but doesn't know how it works on eBay....
I don't really care how the whole thing works, who pays, web speculation, theories, etc. The fact is, it works on ebay. Go to Matsuiyastore. Go to Tony Rose's or Stephen Gandy's stuff on ebay. You can use this program to make those purchases and save money. Unless of course you think someone is going to come and take back the nearly $600 that I've already got back in my checking account from doing this.
Also you have to click the ebay link, not the livesearch link below it.
Now you've got it. In addition to the 4th step I omitted above, I'll add another:
5. Buy the M8
You won't regret it. (Unless you're like me, and despite the fact that the M8 provides near-instant gratification and takes wonderful photos and is a joy to use, you still long for the beauty that is Tri-X and Rodinal.) Cheers.
Petroleum V. Nasby
10-21-2008, 19:28
I bought a Nikon D700 for $2600 and got $200 cashback.
You can find Panasonic DMC-L1 cameras on eBay now for $750 or less. With the $200 cashback on them, they are a steal for $550.
PS: I usually scorn these stupid rebate schemes, but this intrigued me. Microsoft is determined to give away money. I think nobody will use their search after the cashback deal ends, but I'll take the money. You really get the cashback for nothing.
So did Seinfeld.
.
Petroleum V. Nasby
10-21-2008, 19:48
The Kodak 14n I got rid of had better files due to the lack of low pass filter. If you exposed it properly, and PP properly, they were astonishingly sharp and clean. (albeit you had to expose below ISO 160)
But I figured when it broke, I would be out of luck, so I sold it for a good price. When I can buy one back for $200, I'll get another.
I also sold an R-D1, kept one.
The D700 is an incredible machine. Clean ISO above 6400. You can pull details out of almost blown highlights. Matrix metering with AI manual lenses.
Anything you can see you can photograph full frame. It is a fully mature 21st century digital camera.
I'll ask M. Valdemar to post some images.
So, does anyone want to check if the canon 28/2.8's gokevincameras have get the discount for me? I'll even give the item no: 270281430535. I'm in Australia and it won't let me check, but if they do get the discount I might have to find a way (well, find a relative in the US). :)
Petroleum V. Nasby
10-22-2008, 02:14
If it's a "buy it now" it will get the discount.
By the way, one account is now good for 12 discounts, not 6.
I read somewhere that at one moment the rebate was 35% and the upper limit on the amount was $250. Can somebody confirm if this is true? It would be nice for some CV or used ZI items if that's true.
Yefei
M. Valdemar
10-24-2008, 08:39
Yes, it seems to vary almost daily. the highest was 35% and $250 limit.
Today it's 25%
They might stop it altogether at any random time. Make hay while the sun shines.
So, does anyone want to check if the canon 28/2.8's gokevincameras have get the discount for me? I'll even give the item no: 270281430535. I'm in Australia and it won't let me check, but if they do get the discount I might have to find a way (well, find a relative in the US). :)
savings shown:
US $123.75
Item title: Canon RF 28/2.8.....10168
Buy It Now price: US $495.00
Sales Tax: 8.250% (only in CA)
Shipping and handling: Free -- US Postal Service Priority Mail. Additional services available.
Payment methods: PayPal, Personal check, Money order/Cashiers check.
Safety Tip: Never use Western Union to pay on eBay - you can't confirm who picks it up. PayPal has up to $2,000 in buyer protection. See eligibility
Does anyone know if there is a paypal fee if the cashback is sent to your paypal account?
no, there is no paypal fee.
savings shown:
US $123.75
Item title: Canon RF 28/2.8.....10168
Buy It Now price: US $495.00
Sales Tax: 8.250% (only in CA)
Shipping and handling: Free -- US Postal Service Priority Mail. Additional services available.
Payment methods: PayPal, Personal check, Money order/Cashiers check.
Safety Tip: Never use Western Union to pay on eBay - you can't confirm who picks it up. PayPal has up to $2,000 in buyer protection. See eligibility
Thanks raid, I think I might have to figure something out...
rich
Did ebay stop cashback? This morning, live.com led to ebay with a refund, but now it is gone for ebay.
Am I right?
M. Valdemar
10-27-2008, 17:33
It is there. 25% off.
Try searching on live.com for "wii", it will come up with eBay, then switch your search once you have the "cashback" logo on the ebay site.
Peter A (NYC)
10-27-2008, 18:20
Anyone use it for a "Best Offer" purchase?
It is there. 25% off.
Try searching on live.com for "wii", it will come up with eBay, then switch your search once you have the "cashback" logo on the ebay site.
Valdemar,
It does not work for me.
I don't get any cashback logo anymore.
tbarker13
10-27-2008, 19:52
Same here. It worked earlier this evening. But now, nothing.
CameraQuest
10-27-2008, 20:13
Same here. It worked earlier this evening. But now, nothing.
try clearing your cache and cookies.
Stephen
tbarker13
10-27-2008, 21:05
hmm. that doesn't seem to be working either.
I just checked out the list of stores participating in the program. Ebay no longer seems to be listed.
Petroleum V. Nasby
10-28-2008, 01:02
I assure you it works. Clear cache and cookies, as suggested, and keep refreshing the search until eBay comes up.
Search from the main search page, not from the "cashback" page.
BIG PS: If you are using a browser such as Firefox which has AD BLOCKING enabled, you will not get the cashback logo.
.
tbarker13
10-28-2008, 05:36
Well I don't know what's up.
I tried it again this morning both on Firefox and Internet Explorer. Even when I get ebay to come up, I see nothing that indicates the buy-it-now items I'm looking at will qualify for the cashback promotion
This is unlike yesterday morning when the cashback logo appeared at the top of the screen.
I did this late last week and it worked great. I have a $200 credit in my account - waiting to be released in December.
try clearing your cache and cookies.
Stephen
I have now done both, but as I noted yesterday, when I go to ebay, the cashback banner is gone. I contacted the cashback program to see why this is happening. I am being referred to stores which offer 3%-5% cashback.
I was told by Microsoft that ebay is either updating the server or in the process of changing the % discount when they take Cashback down. I waited a day last time and it came back up. However, it went from 30% to 25% a few days later.
M. Valdemar
10-28-2008, 06:27
It may be that somehow people in different areas are reaching "live.com" through a different regional server, and some are updated and working and some are not.
Maybe the server is temporarily "seeing" you as outside of a suitable ip range.
The cashback feature is working right now.
tbarker13
10-28-2008, 07:20
Perhaps so.
I just tried again from a different computer (this one at work) and still no luck.
No cash back banner on any ebay pages.
I can't always get to ebay via live.com directly, but I find that this link works pretty consistently -
http://search.live.com/results.aspx?q=nintendo%20wii&form=QBRE
tbarker13
10-28-2008, 07:41
Thanks. That link does seem to work.
I can't always get to ebay via live.com directly, but I find that this link works pretty consistently -
http://search.live.com/results.aspx?q=nintendo%20wii&form=QBRE
It works. The cashback is back!
Thank you, Paul.
How did you get the extra 10% discount?
The cashback offer is gone again! *&^%$#@!
I would have also looked at buying a good camera with a cashback.
M. Valdemar
10-28-2008, 13:06
The coupons are linked to specific eBay accounts. The coupons don't work for everyone.
If you want to try them, go to retailmenot.com and look for them. You can try it and see if a particular one works for you, probably not.
Just checked a moment ago (10am CT), cash back is back right now at 25%. I think I'll buy something first, and then hoping 35% and $250 will come back sometime later, at which time I'll buy something else that I don't want as badly.
Yes, it is back.
If we also had the ebay 10% ....
Sometimes eBay can be very nice. Once I had a dispute and eBay refunded my full expenses, and a few days later they sent me a coupon of $200 for the trouble I got from the dispute. That's in addition to the refund I received.
Rumor is that it will go back to 30% on 12/1.
J
CameraQuest
11-17-2008, 20:39
Cashback is back at 25%, at least right now. Apparently the cashback offer goes off and on, like Microsoft takes it off to evaluate the results and then puts it back on again.
Stephen
Stephen, as a high volume Ebay retailer does Ebay solicit your participation in this program? How do they promote it to sellers?
I asked eBay over the weekend was it alright to explicitly mention the MS Cashback program in my descriptive text and they said it was, provided potential buyers understand that it is not always available and receiving the discount is not guaranteed. They (eBay) are also providing an incentive to offer free shipping so that in combination with Cashback has altered my eBay selling strategy a bit.
Cashback benefits both buyer and seller. I bought a Nikkor zoom a couple of weeks ago and got a fantastic price and the maximum reimbursement from MS and the seller got his BIN price. Everyone was happy.
I wonder how well this works, really - I came across a few auctions where they seem to follow the rules for the cashback - BIN and Paypal payment accepted, and yet when I went to buy it now - there was a message - no cassh back availible as seller doesnt accept Paypal. Which was untrue, as seller specifically says that he does. Plus some other payment as well, but that shouldnt matter, should it? Anyway, I ended up not buying it.
M. Valdemar
11-19-2008, 05:01
On the eBay Powerseller forums, quite a number of sellers are finding that mentioning "cashback" in their listings is backfiring badly.
Either the buyer is too stupid to figure out how to get the cashback, or it's not working that day, or the buyer doesn't comprehend what "cashback" is at all and assumes that the
SELLER will refund the 30%, or a host of other problems occur.
The seller is then left with negative feedback, cancelled sales, PayPal disputes, buyers demanding that the seller refund them 30% or chargebacks from buyers who are furious that the 30% isn't magically deducted from the price when they buy.
This is happening VERY often, and it's probably not a good idea to mention the cashback when one lists an item.
Everyone knows the buyers don't read anything in the descriptions, and mentioning "cashback" discounts only exacerbates the problem.
Mention "cashback" at your own risk. I tried putting some of my listings at a slightly higher "buy-it-now" prices to help "cashback" buyers, and the people who knew about cashback managed to figure it out by themselves.
If someone asks me about using cashback on my sales, I tell them I have no idea, and I am not responsible for any third party discount schemes.
* On the other hand, I have used "cashback" to buy, and have saved close to $1000 already.
I asked eBay over the weekend was it alright to explicitly mention the MS Cashback program in my descriptive text and they said it was, provided potential buyers understand that it is not always available and receiving the discount is not guaranteed. They (eBay) are also providing an incentive to offer free shipping so that in combination with Cashback has altered my eBay selling strategy a bit.
Cashback benefits both buyer and seller. I bought a Nikkor zoom a couple of weeks ago and got a fantastic price and the maximum reimbursement from MS and the seller got his BIN price. Everyone was happy.
I have actually had the misfortune of needing to explain it so someone (several times - outside of eBay though). I take your points - it probably isn't a good idea to mention the program in the listing. I'll still raise the price a bit though... ;)
So, what exactly happens with this cash back? Do you get a notice and option to take it back in....money? Does it become a credit which needs to be spent at one of their signed up retailers? Will it be used like the unclaimed bottle recycling nickles to close the budget deficit?
tbarker13
11-26-2008, 13:46
You get a message in ebay saying that you are eligible for cash back. Then the money goes into your microsoft live account. The account tells you how long you have to wait to actually get the money. I think it is like 60 days.
Though, I had a strange thing happen this week.
I bought an M8 for $2700. For some reason, I was immediately credited the $200. No waiting at all. The money was credited directly to my paypal account.
Right. About a day after the transaction you get the eBay message, then after 60 days you can transfer it from your MS Live account to your PayPal account, then to your bank account. It does eventually turn into money. The max per transaction is $200, you get to apply it for 12 transactions. Theoretically you can "save" $2K+.
looks like the cash back is off for now.
You get a message in ebay saying that you are eligible for cash back. Then the money goes into your microsoft live account. The account tells you how long you have to wait to actually get the money. I think it is like 60 days.
Though, I had a strange thing happen this week.
I bought an M8 for $2700. For some reason, I was immediately credited the $200. No waiting at all. The money was credited directly to my paypal account.
I had the same thing happen recently. Not that I'm complaining :D
I also recently had a cashback credit that was mysteriously "canceled." Apparently, the system marked the item as returned. Despite several emails to ebay and the cashback people, I haven't been successful in getting the credit re-instated :mad:. Anybody else have this happen to them??
I actually read the terms and conditions and it also states that the offer cannot be combined with other discount coupons, something else to be aware of.
It is a good thing; the cashback program has made me not buy anything on the spur of the moment since I have to make sure that I first used live.com followed by checking forn an ebay rebate. If there is no rebate, it is like a cold shower. It lowers GAS a lot.
I also recently had a cashback credit that was mysteriously "cancelled." Apparently, the system marked the item as returned. Despite several emails to ebay and the cashback people, I haven't been successful in getting the credit re-instated :mad:. Anybody else have this happen to them??Not so far.
Though, I had a strange thing happen this week.
I bought an M8 for $2700. For some reason, I was immediately credited the $200. No waiting at all. The money was credited directly to my paypal account.
Yeah, what about that ? Three cash-backs so far, two on hold for 60 days, one immediately credited, in minutes. Does anybody understand what caused the difference ?
(Congrats on the M8, Tim :) )
Thanks,
Roland.
Yeah, what about that ? Three cash-backs so far, two on hold for 60 days, one immediately credited, in minutes. Does anybody understand what caused the difference ?
(Congrats on the M8, Tim :) )
Thanks,
Roland.
If I read and understood the terms and conditions correctly, the seller has to confirm the sale. I think on ebay, paid with Paypal, after 60 days they assume all is well and rebate.
I have two cashbacks [saved for me] so far. This is not bad at all.
I actually read the terms and conditions and it also states that the offer cannot be combined with other discount coupons, something else to be aware of.
From Cashback rules:
. eBay may permit you to combine Cashback Rewards with other eBay promotions, coupons, or gift certificates. With the exception of eBay promotions, coupons and gift certificates, Cashback Rewards cannot be combined with any other offer on purchases on www.eBay.com. eBay shall determine in its sole discretion whether your purchase is a qualifying purchase under the eBay Terms. PayPal may disqualify transactions or remove previously paid cash rewards from your PayPal account if you return or cancel a qualifying purchase, participate in any fraud or abuse relating to the Cashback Program (including conducting "sham" transactions or otherwise colluding with merchants, or otherwise), or fail to meet the Program Terms or these eBay Terms. In the event that you receive Cashback Rewards for a purchase that is later determined to be an ineligible purchase, you provide PayPal with the right and authority to remove the Cashback Rewards from your PayPal account, even if it means that your PayPal account will have a negative balance for which you will be liable.
With the exception of
Ok, I do remember reading that too.
What I was recalling when I typed before was a simpler statement that it was not offered with other coupons or promotions. I guess the two statements are consistent with the exception of the allowance to use ebay coupons or promotions.
tbarker13
11-27-2008, 21:16
I made another ebay purchase tonite - a tokina 12-24/f4 for my D200. Again I was immediately credited $100 for the purchase. It popped into my paypal account immediately after I sent the money to the seller.
M. Valdemar
11-27-2008, 22:26
I had one "canceled" for some unknown reason, then it was reinstated without my having to do anything. I have no idea why.
On the other hand, I've made 5 cashback purchases and not one has been credited back immediately. They all are pending 60 days.
I had the same thing happen recently. Not that I'm complaining :D
I also recently had a cashback credit that was mysteriously "canceled." Apparently, the system marked the item as returned. Despite several emails to ebay and the cashback people, I haven't been successful in getting the credit re-instated :mad:. Anybody else have this happen to them??
I had one "canceled" for some unknown reason, then it was reinstated without my having to do anything. I have no idea why.
On the other hand, I've made 5 cashback purchases and not one has been credited back immediately. They all are pending 60 days.
As an update, I just found out that the item was canceled because of a partial refund, which negates the cashback bonus. The seller had refunded some money to make up for the difference in shipping costs (it was a small amount that did not change the purchase price), but this still negates the cashback :bang:
As they say, make sure you read the fine print...:mad:
BTW - thanks for correcting my spelling - you must be an editor or teacher in real life :D
So it seems like the cashback rebate is 30% on Mondays (they call it Cyber Mondays) I will check it out in a few days.
More importantly TODAY it is 30% (Nov 28th) for sure (I just brought some things) so happy hunting!
tbarker13
12-07-2008, 18:06
Discount has dropped to 8 percent. I wonder if this thing is coming to a close.
digitalintrigue
12-07-2008, 18:27
It has steadily dropped over the past few days. Yesterday I had a difficult time getting any cashback link to work with ebay; it wouldn't show any link or discount.
But after multiple searches, a 15% link finally appeared.
Today I can't get it to show any higher than 8%.
I guess 8% is better than nothing...
CameraQuest
12-10-2008, 18:22
8% does not seem much compared to 25 or even 30%
but try telling Amazon.com or BestBuy you want 8% off
and see how far you get!
If your Ebay item is $2500 or more, it makes no difference as you will get the same as if the discount were 30%, because the limit per item is $200.
Stephen
I am thinking that it might go back up after the holidays. then again, it might be stuck at 8%. I hope a few people got to take advantage of it...
digitalintrigue
12-11-2008, 05:23
I would think you could use both coupons. When ebay offered 10% coupons, some people were getting the live.com cashback and using the ebay coupon as well on the same purchase.
Fred is right, some auctions are a bit inflated for buy it now. But many are not, like the black paint M4 MOT from the other day for $1000. Of course, who needs cashback to realize that's a great deal? :)
I believe the fine print says no Cashback in conjunction with any other offer.
No 8% is useless on a "buy it now." By it now prices are alway inflated, by at least 10% or more over a realistic selling price. But if you have the rate at 25% off the numbers work.
8% off of a price that is !0% inflated is not a good deal.
That's just not true - look at the BINs for some guy called stephengandycameraquest, for example! :D They are the same as his website. You just have to know what the going rate is to filter out the overpriced BINs. And I recently bought a mint 50mm Leica Elmar 2.8 for a BIN of $450 - then took the discount.
Also - you can use other coupons with Cashback. I combined a 10% coupon with the 30% off deal - made for a sweet price on a CV 35mm 1.2.
And, I used it a week ago for 20% off and the refund was instant, no waiting for 2 months.
No 8% is useless on a "buy it now." By it now prices are alway inflated, by at least 10% or more over a realistic selling price. But if you have the rate at 25% off the numbers work.
8% off of a price that is !0% inflated is not a good deal.
Just bought some stuff from Apple's website. It's just silly that ebay sellers charge 15% more than the original manufacturer for merchandise.
It does work with a coupon, I used a 10% one to buy a LCD TV and got cash back as well...
vBulletin® v3.6.8, Copyright ©2000-2013, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.