Online Travel Booking and Bidding Agencies - Ebates Priceline Kickback changes again ...

Ebates (http://www.ebates.com/rf.do?id=29570) lowered the percentage kickback on Priceline bids from 3% to 2% in February, now they've switched to a flat $3.00 per transaction fee it looks like. This could be really good for folks who only tend to bid for one night ... bad for folks who bid longer and/or more expensive stays.

FatWallet (http://www.fatwallet.com/store.php?store=669) is still showing 3% for their program, but I've never been able to get them to credit successful bids automatically so I steer clear of them now, not sure if others have had the same problem or not (any comments?).

UPDATE (July 25, 2006) - Ebates is back to giving 2%, FatWallet still gives 3% and I have not had any of the problems with them crediting my account automatically as I had originally discussed in this post above for at least the past month, so I can now recommend them without reservation.

My recent hotel bid for stay in HK hotel using fatwallet has posted into my account within a week from the bid. I admit that previously, I always have problems getting the rebates to show up into my account, but usually an email to them will solve the problem.

I have noticed my small transactions (sub 300 or so) have posted with little problem from fatwallet, but when I tried to place a large transaction (1,800 dollars) there was no record. I don't trust them... but I will continue to use them for relatively small bids.

I was credited for a $700.00 purchase the day after a bid recently ^

I may give FatWallet a try again on my bids over $100 ... the hassle just isn't worth it though if it won't post automatically, I really don't have time to keep track of my bids, wait the specified time, then submit a request for them to post it to my account. I also don't like how FatWallet is so slow to pay after a withdraw is requested, doesn't give me the warm and fuzzies ... Ebates pays when they say they'll pay and that's that, no guessing or waiting how long they'll sit on a request to pay.

I've never had problems with Fatwallet posting.

And when I have a successful transaction (I use them for PL and Expedia) I enter the details in their 'tracking ticket'... amount I should get, confirmation #, date of travel.

Then I can simply browse through uncredited click throughs and if I see one I should have gotten credit for but didn't I have all the details in front of me to file an online claim.

I've never had one not go through w/ Priceline. But I recently had a couple (for the first time IIRC) not go through w/ Expedia. I entered the info in their online form and within an hour they credited the $, they didn't even make me wait.

So this is just one data point, but I *have* been happy w/ them.

Well, I tried FatWallet again this week on a couple of bids over $100 and they did credit automatically, so hopefully everything is in order now, but just to wrap this up, Ebates is the way to go on bids $100 and under (that's room price only, you don't get the kickback on fees and taxes) since they pay a flat $3.00 now. I say $100 and under (at $100 Ebates and FatWallet pay the same amount, so which to use?) because I like that Ebates is more reliable in paying out, February 15, May 15, August 15, and November 15 I get may PayPal payment like clockwork ... FatWallet you have to request a payment after waiting 90 days for the payment to be credited to your account and then they send it to you whenever they feel like it (of the seven payouts I've gotten from FatWallet the shortest I waited from request to receiving the money by PayPal was 6 days, the longest was 15 days).

Well, I tried FatWallet again this week on a couple of bids over $100 and they did credit automatically, so hopefully everything is in order now

Grrr ... looks like I spoke too soon, FatWallet is again back to not crediting automatically ... at least they let you leave notes on your clicks, but it's still an inconvenience to have to go back and request every stay manually.

Am I the only one having this problem with FatWallet?

Ebates (http://www.ebates.com/rf.do?id=29570) lowered the percentage kickback on Priceline bids from 3% to 2% in February, now they've switched to a flat $3.00 per transaction fee it looks like. This could be really good for folks who only tend to bid for one night ... bad for folks who bid longer and/or more expensive stays.

I just for the first time used the special coupon at ebates, ie $3.00, for Priceline hotel bidding. I did not win after several attempts following success recent cases.

I have a hunch/question: If ebates has to give you $3.00 plus some credit for itself, wouldn't this have raised the otherwise bottom acceptance price on PL's part? In other words, it'd be easy for PL to calculate the fact that this is not a new customer (per it's record), and that he's coming in via other's link which PL has to pay to per this transaction, therefore PL uses a higher bottom acceptance price to compensate somewhat? Just a hunch.

But I'd have programmed in such business rules myself in such PL system.

What do you think?? Thanks for much insights from this board.

I subsequently went on with my other typical travel hotel bid using the "familiar" bottom bidding price. I got accepted with the ebates link.

So I guess perhaps that using the link wasn't a factor. But one never knows PL's algorithm how it really calculates in the rebates situation.

One other thing: I tried ebates's MOE Money Maker download. After the installation, even for my 1G fast XP SP2 laptop, I could not deal with the sluggish performance while surfing. Keyboard inputs while using browser slow down very much. Even after the uninstall now, I still somehow feel the sluggishness!!

Besides, I was led to believe there was just gonna be "alerts" when you visit ebates partner sites. Probably the details are buried in the T&C. But now it became very clear to me of what it does: Each time when you visit a URL, it will go to ebates to check if it's a current site then retrieve the necessary append to actually modify your url to include the the appended strings from ebates. How can this not affect performance?

This is like whenever one uses a browser, the only way to go is to bring up ebates site, find the link for that particular site's link on ebates, then click on that link. Now even when you go somewhere else from that particular site, each time you have to come back to the ebates site to search if appends are available. If yes, then click on it. Lots of processing and searching, and keyboard trapping I think.

If the scenario was presented in plain English before the download and install, I wouldn't even think of trying in any way. Misleading is what it is...

I don't think the use of affiliate sites like Ebates or Fatwallet affects price, though you are right that Priceline could probably do this if they wanted to, I had never really considered the possibility myself.

I've never tried Moe Money Maker, but you're also right there, it would have to affect performance, and while I heartily recommend Ebates, I avoid tools like that from any site. Whenever I'm shopping online I go to Andrew Crams RewardsDB.com (http://www.rewardsdb.com) to compare different offers in terms of cash back versus mileage, sometimes the miles are more attractive. (I'd give you a direct link to the page you need to go to, but that site keeps evolving and it can be difficult to navigage, go to "Shopping Rewards" in the top menu, then to "Online Shopping", then to "US & Canada" and select the first letter of the merchant you are checking.

All my priceline bids thru fatwallet were credited appropriately.

Now it is a 2% rebate. Too bad, as I was using ebates for bids under $100, and fatwallet for bids of over $100.

-jeff

I don't think the use of affiliate sites like Ebates or Fatwallet affects price, though you are right that Priceline could probably do this if they wanted to, I had never really considered the possibility myself.I imagine doing so would violate PL's contract with the various hotel chains... if a revenue manager loads a $58 rate into Worldspan, I'm fairly certain that Priceline is obliged to book it if a customer bids $58...

Now it is a 2% rebate. Too bad, as I was using ebates for bids under $100, and fatwallet for bids of over $100.

-jeff

Talk about bad timing. I was making out with the $3per rebate.... except when just last week I made a bid for $700+ for a hotel. Now, I'm trying to get a cheap one-day car rental at SNA.

All my priceline bids thru fatwallet were credited appropriately.FatWallet has been working good for me lately also, none of the problems I had with them previously. I've actually been using them a lot lately, on stuff besides Priceline too ... I just wish they would not hold payments for a week, makes me wonder about their liquidity.

As part of their Holiday sale, Fatwallet is giving 4% cashback on Priceline.
Expedia is also not bad with 2% cashback.

This holiday sale ends Dec-31st.

Does the rebate apply also to retail flights (not Name Your Own Price) booked on Priceline.com? I thought that airlines no longer pay commission, so out of what does FW pay the rebate?

I want to make sure, because I'm looking at a ~$3000 fare that is only $9 more on PL than on delta.com. With a 4% rebate, I would be getting back $120?

As part of their Holiday sale, Fatwallet is giving 4% cashback on Priceline.
Expedia is also not bad with 2% cashback.

This holiday sale ends Dec-31st.Ebates is now back to 4% on Priceline. It may be a limited-time deal.

Ebates is now back to 4% on Priceline. It may be a limited-time deal.
And just like that, it's back to 2%. Limited-time deal indeed. I guess I should have bid yesterday! :mad:

On Tuesdays, Ebates picks a store and doubles the rebate. Maybe PL was the store yesterday. I wish I saw this thread yesterday.

Well, looks like I'll be signing up for FW. Not only are they offering 4%, but I'll also get their $5 bonus as soon as I rack up at least $5 in cash back (which I will easily do with just one upcoming Priceline bid).

And just like that, it's back to 2%. Limited-time deal indeed. I guess I should have bid yesterday! :mad:

Back to 4% on their website. ^

Glen

Back to 4% on their website. ^ Still shows 2% for me. :confused:

Back to 4% on their website until 1800 PST today. ^

BTW did anybody else got offered double total cashback for the 4th quarter?

BTW did anybody else got offered double total cashback for the 4th quarter?

Did not.

A few updates:

FatWallet (http://www.fatwallet.com/cash-back-coupons/Priceline) again has Priceline on "sale" for 4% through January 24th, so if you know you'll be using Priceline, you may want to do it before then if you can for the extra 1%.

When not on sale from FatWallet, I've actually switched my earning preference to MyPoints now, which pays 3 points/dollar. I typically redeem MyPoints for HHonors points (1 MyPoint = 1 HHonors point) or UA miles (2 MyPoints = 1 UA MP mile) which have roughly the same value to me as 3%, I just like banking it as points or miles instead of cash (this of course will vary depending on how you value HHonors points and/or UA MP miles).

Ebates has a special offer for new members, you get $10 bonus (instead of the usual $5) and the person referring you gets the same for a purchase before February 15, 2008, so if you're not a member of Ebates yet, this can be a very lucrative offer, depending on how much you're spending (Ebates does only pay 2% compared to FatWallet's usual 3% or sale 4% rate, but $10.00 for one purchase is a good deal too regardless of the %!). You can find a referral in this FT conga thread (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=781539), or I'd be happy to refer (www.ebates.com/doublebonusoffer/index.htm?id=29570) anyone interested myself and I'll split the $10 I get with you (I'll PayPal you $5 once Ebates pays me on April 15th), if you do this, just drop me an email or private message with your email address so I'll know who you are and where to send the money to.

I've started booking some airline tickets on Priceline too. You can earn cashback or MyPoints (the price of the ticket dictates which I choose, MyPoints pays a flat 500 points/airline booking while FatWallet pays 3%). With many airlines eliminating online booking bonuses, there is less reason to book from them directly, and in the case of US Airways you avoid their ridiculous $5 online booking surcharge (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=766990).

I've started booking some airline tickets on Priceline too.Via the Name Your Own Price product or just their regular fares? I was just curious because my impression has been that PL has virtually no discounts on airfare any longer (via Name Your Own Price). Thx.

Via the Name Your Own Price product or just their regular fares? I was just curious because my impression has been that PL has virtually no discounts on airfare any longer (via Name Your Own Price). Thx.

As of four months ago, there were still significant savings to be had from bidding on the airfare for domestic flights.

Via the Name Your Own Price product or just their regular fares? I was just curious because my impression has been that PL has virtually no discounts on airfare any longer (via Name Your Own Price). Thx.Just the regular fares I meant, I don't really have the flexibility to use their Name Your Own Price feature (I've used it in the distant past, but not for years). As I said, with PL paying a kickback through sites like Ebates and FatWallet for such bookings and the elimination of any incentive from the airlines themselves (and in US Airways' case, they have actually added an additional fee), I figure why not give Priceline the business.

Just the regular fares I meant, I don't really have the flexibility to use their Name Your Own Price feature (I've used it in the distant past, but not for years).Thanks for the clarification. That is what I originally thought you meant ;)