Online rebate sites aren't new, but a site called Extrabux is getting a lot of attention on Cyber Monday, thanks to an ABC News report on getting "extra bucks" out of Cyber Monday. In reality, some, like the LA Times, have questioned how relevant Cyber Monday really is, what with more people gaining access to broadband.
Cyber Monday is called that because, as the first day "back in the office" after Black Friday, it was in the past the first chance consumers had to gain access to fast Internet speeds to do some real cyber shopping. With more people gaining access to high-speed Internet in the U.S., it's not so important in that vein. Still, many online sites will have deals guaranteed to give you "extra bucks" in your pocket, and many online rebate sites will be offering higher rebates (including Extrabux).
Extrabux was profiled today because it is a little different. It aggregates product search (as Pricegrabber does), rebates (such as those offered by eBates, Mr. Rebates, More Rebates, Bing cashback), and coupons (such as Coupon Mountain and Current Codes).
Here's how Extrabux works: you plug in an item (say a Flip UltraHD camcorder), and up will pop a list of search results for "relevant" results. Click on an entry and it will list the stores for that item, the savings available, and the final price. Sometimes there's a coupon you can use, and that's listed in the handy grid format.
While that is nice, there are some caveats. Extrabux may not offer you the best rebate, for example. If you really want to maximize your rebate savings (and get some extra bucks), you'll take the results from Extrabux and search the rebate sites for the best rebate percentage. That's another problem with Extrabux: it lists the rebates in an amount, not a percentage like everyone else. It makes comparisons more difficult.
Is it really necessary to search the rebate sites for the best deal? Yes, it is. Extrabux may offer 10%, but Bing Cashback may offer 20%. It's not uncommon for such large discrepancies between sites. In fact, it's common enough to make a search worthwhile.
Additionally, much like Pricegrabber, Extrabux does not list Amazon.com comparison results. That's a choice of Amazon.com, as it doesn't appear on any price comparison sites, so don't blame Extrabux. Still, it makes things more difficult.
Finally, is Extrabux really all that different? No, it isn't really. It does combine things, and if you aren't going to try to maximize savings by searching rebate sites, it is a decent alternative. However, what is really necessary is a site that takes everything Extrabux does, and aggregates rebate sites as well. Any startups out there listening?
Written by Michael Santo
HULIQ.com
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