[Update 3/5/19: Based on mine and Walter’s experiences (and our email conversation), it seems the method described below will not work. The correct method to get referral credit is to have the new member use your ordinary Ebates referral link (not the deep-link idea mentioned below), then tell them to type into the URL bar ebates.com/american-express (with the hyphen) and they’ll proceed to signup for the new Ebates-MR account. The Ebates cookies will retain your tracking information and you should see the referral tracked in your Ebates account within minutes. Big thanks to reader Walter for his help on this. Here’s my ordinary Ebates referral, thanks to anyone who uses it.]
[Update: Multiple data points (1, 2) suggest this will work properly to trigger the referral bonus.]
Original Post:
Ebates has a sweet referral program which offers $25 for each friend you refer. When the new Ebates – Amex Membership Rewards program began earlier this month which allows us to earn points instead of cashback, I couldn’t find any way to refer friends to that site since the referral link found in Ebates leads to the standard cashback version of Ebates.
Today, I realized that Ebates referrals links actually have deep-linking capabilities whereby you can affix the referral code to any Ebates page, not limited to the main signup page. For example, if you want to refer a friend to Ebates due to their terrific in-store cashback program, you can find the link for Ebates in-store cashback and affix your referral link to that page.
Using deep-linking, one can easily refer a friend to the new points version of Ebates. The URL for the new Ebates site is: https://www.ebates.com/american-express. Simply add your referral code (find your referral link here) at the end of the hyperlink and it’ll bring your friend to the points version of Ebates, along with tracking your referral. The link should look something like this:
https://www.ebates.com/american-express?r/johndoe
The bonus for the new member remains the same, and hopefully these referrals will track back to the referrer and get you a referral credit. It’ll take some time until we have confirmation either way, please let us know in the comments if you have a data point. Do not leave referrals in the comments of this post.Â
Deleted. It’s too early.
Late to the party but this appears dead now that URL changed to Rakuten.. Cannot connect to MR account message upon sign-up
Has anyone tried referring an AU? Would they see it as the same account even though it’s a different card number?
Also curious about this.
I referred my sister, and father for ebates via my referral link. They joined ebates for 1st time ever via my referral, and made purchases. Initially ebates gave me referral credit as well as both of them got cashback for their purchases as well as their welcome bonus.
Now ebates cancelled my referral bonuses as well as deactivated their accounts and forfeited their welcome bonuses and earned cashback, citing abuse of program………..
We have emailed them but no positive responses………..ebates is totally wrong in their decision as there is no abuse at all.
ANYWAY EBATES CAN BE SUED? Please guide on how to proceed as their customer service via email is horrible, and not willing to oblige despite them being wrong completely.
lol, yeah, sue them.
I keep getting “Sorry, this American Express Card account is not eligible”. Have several amex card including charge and CC that have many amex points on it.
Do you have any personal cards? Business don’t work.
FYI https://www.rakuten.com/american-express loads the first page but not the Amex login box.. It requires https://www.ebates.com/american-express
I tried this and did not see any referral activity tracked on my account (it’s been 24 hours). Did anyone else try?
They need to make at least a $25 purchase through their new Ebates account before you get the bonus. Did they make a purchase?
The referral activity did not even show up on the “sign up” tab on the referral tracking page, so I’m pretty sure it’s not tracked correctly. (not because of spending requirement)
I see Chuck has updated the post. The new method is working for me!
How many days it took to see the referral points? Are those referral points or $25 cash? Finally, do the points show as pending or in Amex account?
It let me add my account with platinum – but didn’t let me do using another email and my business blue with has MR
Personal cards only
DP – I’ve referred one of my friend for Ebates by following the above work around. He got 1500 MR Points. Where as I’ve received $25.
Thanks DoC
Just wanna be extra clear: you received $25 in the form of 2,500 points, right?
dumb question: do we need to have an MR earning card to be able to cash out these MR points?
Yes, you must need it.
Yes, but not just any MR card. I believe it has to be a personal card
Oh Hey, my name’s featured in the referral link above!