• Rakuten

Rakuten

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Overview

Rakuten has a rating of 2.7 stars from 2,123 reviews, indicating that most customers are generally dissatisfied with their purchases. Reviewers complaining about Rakuten most frequently mention credit card, referral bonus, and family member problems. Rakuten ranks 4th among Cash Back sites.

  • Service
    186
  • Value
    150
  • Returns
    63
  • Quality
    120

This company does not typically respond to reviews

Positive reviews (last 12 months): 13.3%
Positive
2
Neutral
0
Negative
13
61
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How would you rate Rakuten?
Top Positive Review

“Amazing Rakuten! Thanks so much Susan!”

Tetiana K.
5/7/24

Rakuten team are the best service I've come across in the US. We are refugees from Ukraine and we are very grateful to Rakuten for such joy as excellent service, impeccable work, patience, respect for the client and professionalism. I will be happy to buy everything only through the Rakuten service. This is a great savings and a great pleasure to know them! Thank you Susan!

Top Critical Review

“Dishonest and unreliable”

J W.
5/21/24

They boast a 25% cashback if I buy something from Temu, which I did. I was sure the system activated this cashback just before purchase. However, they never sent me this cashback, despite my multiple attempts to claim it. First they tried to play stupid by simply repeating the info I already submitted a few times, then they didn't even bother to reply in the end. I will let both Temu and other customers know how dishonest and unreliable they are.

Reviews (2,123)

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Reviews that mention popular keywords

customer service (796) customer care (55) shopping trip (51) customer support (36) response time (19) credit card (31) gift card (35)
Thumbnail of user jeane186
Illinois
1 review
1 helpful vote
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January 14th, 2016
Verified purchase

I emailed Ebates and asked them if there was any way that I could get credit for a purchase that I made without using Ebates first. They were so nice and contacted me right back after I emailed them. They gave me credit for my purchase as soon as I sent them a copy of my invoice. Ebates is the best!

Thumbnail of user tinam87
Maryland
1 review
8 helpful votes
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May 17th, 2016

Cant understand why I haven't received my 1st rebate check yet? Iwas emailed Tuesday stating it would be mailed out Friday 13th today is Tuesday 17th no check. When I contacted them was told it was mailed and they like to give it 21 days before following it up. This is my first time with them and I have a few hundred dollars due to me, I cant believe there attitude. What is the norm in days receiving your check once its mailed?

Thumbnail of user monae9
Arkansas
1 review
0 helpful votes
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September 10th, 2015
Verified purchase

I have been using ebates for about a year and it has been nothing but EASY! I love it! Today I need a little assistance so I contacted customer service by email and received an immediate response and resolution. Thank you ebates!

Service
Thumbnail of user patd57
Maine
1 review
7 helpful votes
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February 16th, 2017

Yesterday was big fat payment. I was so excited to get my cask back $19.39
I kept checking at my PayPal account to see my money. But i did not receive any money from Ebates yesterday. That too bad
Ebates Scam :(

Thumbnail of user robing270
California
1 review
0 helpful votes
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May 2nd, 2019
Verified purchase

It's real easy shopping with Rakuten. I activate Rakuten before I shop anywhere I normally would. Rakuten lets me know how much cash back I will receive with each purchase and then I wait for the check to arrive. Simple and easy.

Thumbnail of user mariannal
Virginia
1 review
0 helpful votes
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June 15th, 2015
Verified purchase

Ebates.com is ridiculously easy to use, and it covers big well known retailers as well as small boutique ones! It doesn't take any effort from the customer when using it and it brings you real money! How can you not use it?:-)

Service
Value
Shipping
Returns
Quality
Thumbnail of user rufatm
Azerbaijan
1 review
3 helpful votes
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November 28th, 2017

Here was written my positive feedback which I wrote in November 2017 and I deleted it. After the first purchase, they asked me to leave a review here, although I still did not receive any money, but I saw them in my account. I bought a few things online in Black Friday 2017. And I still have not received a $ 41 cashback. Now August 15,2018. I live outside the US and here I could not cash in his check. I advised my friend to register for Ebates. And they did not send money, they still reduced my cashback by $ 25 and his 10 dollars. At first they had information on the site that I would receive money in February 15,2018, when February 15 arrived they updated the information on April 11,2018, then May 2018, and then August and now in my account I have $16 instead $41. I do not recommend to register there, and I'll try to delete my profile from there.

Thumbnail of user gloriad90
New Jersey
1 review
0 helpful votes
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July 31st, 2019
Verified purchase

I like that everything is on one site, and that is also gives coupons for discounts.My only complaint is I wish shopping had higher points that can be earned, and that the coupon offers were bigger discounts.

Thumbnail of user enairax
Singapore
1 review
0 helpful votes
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February 15th, 2016
Verified purchase

I was trying to rectify a cash back query and the response I got from Ebates Customer Care was prompt, polite and most importantly, answered my query effectively. All my friends use Ebates and it definitely had made online shopping more exciting!

Thumbnail of user judiths223
Michigan
1 review
3 helpful votes
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February 12th, 2019

I was told that they were USA business. False. Was delivered within a couple of days. Good. Both trash cans arrived damaged so I sent pics. I traded the tops to make one good one and said that I needed only one replaced. They said they would send one right out but it never came. Communication was slow, confusing and frustrating. Finally told them that they had to refund entire $ and send shipping labels before I send both back. They did. I am packing them up now. Both trash cans were larger than what was stated but I was willing to overlook that. I would hesitate to use them again. Judy Schurr

Thumbnail of user cheryld162
Michelle U. – Rakuten Rep

I am terribly sorry for the experience you encountered. Any customer who is not satisfied by the service offered by a merchant on our site is covered under our worry free guarantee. Please feel free to reach out to our support team on 800-800-0800 or via the following form https://support.rakuten.com/hc/en-us/requests/new. Rakuten.com is based in San Mateo, CA

Thumbnail of user sharonr408
Kentucky
1 review
0 helpful votes
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February 13th, 2019

I was not sure when I first signed up for this program but now I am one HAPPY person. I get paid to do my own shopping! If I needed assistance or help their Customer Service was right there and they are AWESOME! I have received two checks already. Highly recommend.

Thumbnail of user suzyd1
Wisconsin
1 review
1 helpful vote
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April 21st, 2014

I use eBates quite frequently and have had only 1 problem, and it turned out to be my fault for not going thru their site, even tho I thought I had. Because I had previously checked the site I purchased from thru eBates, I had a tracking # and they credited me the cash anyway. I've been quite happy and to date have received close to $400 in rebates I would not otherwise have had.

Thumbnail of user guillermos7
Florida
1 review
6 helpful votes
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October 27th, 2015

I have been ebates customer for about a year and I had a lot a problem to get my cash back. They are not dependable, they has a lot of promotions just to hook many customers, but they donot deliver what they promise. Also there are many cash back sites that offers much more than Ebates in every single store like befrugal.com, mr. Rebates, fatwallet, topcashhback and many others... I will never buy again with them.

Thumbnail of user evelynp5
Virginia
1 review
1 helpful vote
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September 27th, 2015
Verified purchase

I recently made an order through Ebates but did not receive the cash back from the store. I decided to email Ebates. I entered my name, email and some prompted information about the sale and within minutes I had a response to my concern stating that although Ebates had not yet received notification from the store, they would issue my cash back to my account! Within an hour, I received and email confirming my cash back amount. It was fast and easy with no fuss. I love Ebates and I love their quick response to concerns.

Service
Value
Shipping
Quality
Thumbnail of user anap17
Texas
1 review
1 helpful vote
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November 3rd, 2014
Verified purchase

When I discovered one of my recent purchases wasn't being reflected in my eBates account, I contacted customer service. Perhaps I have just grown accustomed to slow responses and having to follow up severbal times, but I was pleasantly surprised to receive a confirmation of receipt email almost immediately. And not an automated confirmation of receipt email, but an actual person responding to my inquiry. Long story made less long, although they are currently still looking into my inquiry, regardless of the outcome I will continue to be a loyal ebates customer and fan.

Thumbnail of user vkk2
New Jersey
1 review
2 helpful votes
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May 3rd, 2019
Verified purchase

It's of course great to get cash back and so far Rakuten has timely paid the quarterly cheques. The reason for deducting a star is that sometimes a site will show up to x% of cashback but later you get nothing saying that category wasn't included. This is typically the case on Amazon. The rest has been a good experience overall.

Thumbnail of user nicoler108
Virginia
1 review
5 helpful votes
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June 27th, 2017

Poaching for ivory drives the slaughter of as many as 30,000 elephants yearly. Rakuten, still allows the sale of legal ivory on its platform. These sales mean elephants will continue being poached for profit.

Thumbnail of user steveng1
California
3 reviews
2 helpful votes
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October 3rd, 2009

They were uninterested in my report of non-delivery and resolving the missing shipment in a timely fashion. I have received the same form letter from multiple Buy.com CSRs. In the end I was forced to file a claim through PayPal and at this time it is not clear if I will receive a refund despite non-delivery of the product. My correspondence has remained polite and respectful, despite receiving the same form letter multiple times. My advice is avoid this etailer as their low pricing is made possible by unresponsive sales support and non-delivery of orders. On average I make 100 online purchases in a year, I have received better and more engaged support and order resolution from every other online store I have purchased from. Stay away

Thumbnail of user joycew10
Tennessee
1 review
0 helpful votes
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June 30th, 2015
Verified purchase

I thought I did a shopping trip through Ebates, but found out after the fact that I didn't. Ebates gave me a one time courtesy "pass" and credited me with the shopping trip. Since beginning with Ebates, I have the button to click on anytime I shop online, and will always shop through them. You can't lose. You don't pay extra for what you're buying but you get rebates for doing what you do anyway... shop online. So start winning with the rest of Ebates satisfied customers!

Thumbnail of user mindih5
Georgia
1 review
0 helpful votes
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June 9th, 2019
Verified purchase

Not sure if it is my settings or not, but when I used to click on the Ebates tab/button (if I was already on a store site)... it would create a tag/ticket and I would be logged in automatically. Now when I click the button it takes me to the main Ebates page, I have to login and find the store I was just at.
Not as convenient, but still works.

Thumbnail of user sabrinak77
Alabama
1 review
2 helpful votes
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February 4th, 2021

I've been using Rakuten every since they were Ebates (Member since 9/15/2017) but recently when they started their referrals around the Holidays in December 2020 (you and the person that signs up, they spend $40 you get $40) I referred 4 people and I got my money but when I checked days later they took the $160 away from me, which isn't fair because those are real people with their own money that spent $40 and signed up. So I feel like Rakuten just used people to sign people up, a lot of reviews are having the same issue, no one received their referral money.

Not only are they not giving people their referral money, when you spend money, you barely get anything back, there's been times I spent $500+ and I'd just get $1 back. It's pathetic.

There's also been times where you spend your money and they don't give you your cashback and you have to email them to ask for your cashback and show them proof.

After 4 years I will be closing my account.

Service
Thumbnail of user susanm1497
Pennsylvania
1 review
8 helpful votes
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February 20th, 2020

Do not order from Rakuten Japan. I have been waiting for a package sent from Japan and all customer service could tell me is that the package has been detained by the US Customs. US Customs says they cannot look for the package - go to the Post Office. Since Rakuten is the sender, they should do more than just send me to the Customs Website. It did not even have the port of entry. I have just lost all money paid for the product and no recourse.

Thumbnail of user sharonw100
New Jersey
1 review
2 helpful votes
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December 28th, 2016

No empty promises- if you have a question or problem you actually get a person and any issues resolved. Couldn't be any easier to get free money! I'm telling everyone even the sales person at Bloomingdales!

Thumbnail of user saram80
California
1 review
1 helpful vote
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December 15th, 2015
Verified purchase

I've never had a company respond to my email inquiry request as fast as ebates. They have fantastic customer service and my request for my daughter to get her referral money for me joining ebates as she had not received it for whatever reason was resolved with a few answered questions. Thank you for your promptness and efficientness.

Thumbnail of user shirleyl106
Washington
1 review
0 helpful votes
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June 6th, 2019
Verified purchase

I have to remind myself to purchase through the Rakuten app, but even if I have items in the cart, I can exit, go back and enter website via Rakuten, and check out. I am actually receiving regular checks!

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From the business

Rakuten is the new Ebates! Rakuten is the premier Cash Back shopping site that pays you. Join today and start earning Cash Back at your favorite stores. How does it work? We pay members Cash Back when they shop at over 2,500 stores, plus find them the best deals and coupons. With over 12 million members and $1 billion in Cash Back paid out, Rakuten is the easiest and most rewarding way to shop. Become a member today and start shopping smarter. Follow us for the latest sales, member-exclusive offers and more.

Business History

Ebates is the pioneer and leader of online Cash Back Shopping. The company was founded in 1998 by two Deputy District Attorneys in Silicon Valley who used to prosecute online fraud & identity theft before starting Ebates (so you can be sure we are very into secure online transactions!). So go ahead, sign up and start shopping now. Joining Ebates is always free - you'll never pay us anything. And four times a year or more, we'll mail you a Big Fat Check, or transfer the money to your PayPal account if you'd prefer. We can even send the money to your favorite charity. All 100% free.

Company Representative

Thumbnail of user ebatess
Ebates S.
Typically does not respond to reviews

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