Originally Posted by Counsellor

True. I also have received only one of those.

The number of zero point e-mails certainly took a leap this last week! On the other hand, they seem now to be offering double the usual amount of points on those e-mails for shopping at the featured site.

Maybe this is a new business model? If so, I would think it would backfire. The key to MyPoints was that you at least glanced at each e-mail and got 5 points (about 4 cents) for clicking through. It forced you to look at the ad, at least, and that might have gotten some folks interested that wouldn't have looked if it had been a banner.

If they're doing away with the 5 points, or cutting them way back, it suddenly doesn't become as worthwhile to open the e-mail in the first place. If half of the e-mails are no point and only half pay the 5 points for clicking through, that means your gain on average would be 2 cents for opening a MyPoints e-mail. I'm not sure I work that cheaply . . . .

The double points may get some new business, but might just divert existing customers to the MyPoints portal from other portals, which could cost the advertizer without bringing an increase in sales. For instance, recently I was going to order some books from Barnes and Noble. Usually I go through ebates for the 4 cents per dollar rebate; this time I went through MyPoints because they offer 10 points (about 8 cents) per dollar. It has to cost B&N more for the MyPoints than for the ebates rebate, but it is otherwise the same sale.