Ebates Shopping Blog

I Want It Now: Affordable (But Cute) Tops

2009-11-14T17:00:41Z

To quote one of my dearest friends, "You need a good pair of jeans, killer pair of heels, and a great bag. The rest is frivolous." Because tops, blouses, and sweaters are easily replaceable (unlike a great fitting pair of jeans) I see no reason to spend a ton of money on them. Urban Outfitters doesn't see a reason to charge a ton, and thanks to them I'm able to stock up on this season's trendiest tops for less. Before you overspend on designer labels, check out Urban Outfitters for 2.5% Cash Back and free standard shipping on orders over $150.

Colder mornings mean warmer clothing, and this Kimchi Striped Top is a non frumpy way to keep toasty. If you can believe it, this sweater is only $42. Nautical stripes lend this a french look commonly seen in one of my favorite style blogs The Sartorialist. What To Wear It With: Your favorite trench coat, leggings, and motorcycle boots for a very Parisian look.

Speaking of Parisian, this Ruffle Top from Hawks by Geren Ford (the same Geren Ford who's full priced tops sell for around $250) looks as if it were made for Marion Cotillard. Just the thing I need for upcoming holiday parties or a first date, this sweet top is an affordable $68. What To Wear It With: Pearl earrings, suede ankle booties, and you're frilliest of skirts.

One trend I love this season is actually a mish-mash of trends. Pieces that combine rock and roll and eclectic artsy like this Webbed Tunic Sweater can be seen in fashion blogs like WhoWhatWear, and Le Fashion. What To Wear It With: Complete the distressed look with cut up denim, fringed scarf, and an oversized bag.

Find more ideas in our Clothing category.

Big Fat Payments sent out today

2009-11-14T01:00:51Z

Good news! We were able to get out payments sent out a couple days early this quarter. The checks are now in the mail, and Paypal payments are currently being processed through Paypal. We hope that you have a great time with your Big Fat Payments from Ebates!

If you expected a payment and you don't see that one is on the way to you, please make sure that you earned at least $5.01 in cash back for orders made prior to October 1st. Sign up or other bonuses do not count toward the needed $5.01. Also, make sure that we have your name and mailing address on file.

If you continue to have any concerns about your payment from Ebates, please write to our Customer Care team for assistance.

Get 10.0% Cash Back At The Body Shop!

2009-11-13T22:30:15Z

Over the weekend, I had a bit of a cold and was resting it out in bed. The idle time gave me a chance to take part in one of my favorite time consuming activities: searching the Environmental Working Group's Cosmetics Database "Skin Deep". The database is a safety guide which rates cosmetic, baby, and personal care products based on their potentially harmful ingredients. You can search the database by an individual product, product type or brand. I searched one of my favorite Health and Beauty destinations, The Body Shop and found that they have many products with a low hazard rating, which was great news for me. Even better news was that The Body Shop is a member of our exciting November Double Cash Back month and has a staggering 10.0% Cash Back with coupons galore.

Shop now and get free shipping on orders of $50 or more and shop for bath and body favorites that are buy one get one 50% off. I recently ended a seemingly futile search for something to save my dry skin. The only solution seems to be a highly moisturizing body treatment like The Body Shop's Shea Body Butter for $20. If I buy the Body Butter, I can get a Shea Body Scrub for 50% off, making it just $10. Nothing keeps Winter skin in tip-top shape like regular exfoliation and daily moisturizing.

I will pick up a few stocking stuffers to qualify for free shipping and take advantage of shopping with 10.0% Cash Back!

Free Shipping Friday the 13th!

2009-11-13T17:00:10Z

Wow, I'm surprised that so many people are so superstitious. Yes, today is Friday the 13th, which somewhere along the line became an ill-fated day full of bad omens and worse luck. Still, as I sit here examining today's free shipping offerings, I notice a surprising void: not one single merchant seems willing to end their free shipping deals on Friday the 13th. Literally, I look at the list and see plenty of coupons ending on the 14th, and I saw some ending on the 12th yesterday, but apparently offering a final day of free shipping on the 13th is just taboo. Here at Ebates, we are fearless when it comes to bringing you cash back, so bring on the black cats and ladders - we'll keep on helping you save!

Here is the rest of the week's deals:

Saturday, November 14th
- Free Standard Shipping on any order at Prescriptives. Code SLPKIT

- Free Shipping on $75+ order at RedEnvelope

- Free Standard Shipping on $75+ order at JCPenney. Code LET8SNOW

Sunday, November 15th
- Free Shipping on $50+ order at joann.com. Code OCTFSA950

- Free Shipping Over $75 at Nautica

Monday, November 16th
- Free Standard Shipping & Free Rinse Off Foaming Cleanser 1 oz. with Purple Organza Bag with $35+ order at Clinique. Code VIOLETS

- Free Shipping on any order New Balance. Code NBSHIPNOV

Tuesday, November 17th
- Free Shipping on $25+ order at Linens 'n Things. Code FREESHIP

- Free Delivery & Free Turkey with a $200+ order at Safeway. (See site for details. While supplies last.)

Thursday, November 19th
- Free Shipping on $75+ order at Kohls.

- Free Shipping on your entire order with any Mountain Hardwear purchase at REI

- Free Shipping on quality KODAK Print orders of $4.99 or more, or pay just $1.50 for shipping on Print orders under $4.99

A Killer Sale for Film Buffs

2009-11-12T23:30:44Z

Ladies and gents, every now and then a great sale just falls in your lap. For once, rather than scouting around Ebates for a sale, I had one practically come knock on my front door. See, my friends know me to be an appreciator of fine cinema, and as I own a handful of Criterion Collection edition DVDs of my favorite flicks, they took it upon themselves to keep me in the know -- Barnes & Noble.com is currently offering 50% off all Criterion Collection DVDs or Blu-Ray Discs. So this is your chance to snatch up copies of such classic films as "Brazil", or "Two Lane Blacktop", or Fellini's "8 1/2". So, in other words, these aren't your Disney classics or Jerry Bruckheimer blockbusters. The good news is that most of these movies are hard if not impossible to find otherwise, and you can get all the cool additional features that come with the Criterion Collection without the somewhat inflated Criterion Collection price tag.

So whether you are a film geek (like yours truly) or just know one who is hard to find Christmas presents for, this is a great chance to really make that movie collection of your shine with a little bit of extra independent cred. So if, like me, you get a thrill out of the idea of seeing a weary knight play chess against the grim reaper in Ingmar Bergman's "The Seventh Seal", you will be thrilled to know that you can get the Criterion Collection edition DVD from Barnes & Noble.com for just $14.99, plus 4.0% Cash Back.

Pop up some popcorn and find your movie of choice with some great cash back in our Music & Movies category!

See Ebates On TV!

2009-11-12T19:00:30Z

Ebates will be featured on a number of morning news shows around the country tomorrow, Friday 13th. Check out the schedule below and if you are in one of these cities on the list, be sure to catch us on air! All times shown below are Eastern Time.

EasternTime                Location                    Station                       Program

7:40-7:45 AM          Rochester, NY            WHAM-ABC            13 WHAM News This Morning

7:50-8:00 AM          Jacksonville, FL       WJXT-IND               The Morning Show

8:40-8:45 AM          Yuma, AZ                 KYMA-NBC             Sunrise

8:45-8:50 AM          Rapid City, SD          KNBN-NBC             Newscenter-1

11:20-11:25 AM      Fresno, CA             KMPH-FOX           Great Day

11:30-11:40 AM      Minneapolis,MN          KARE-NBC            Showcase Minnesota

12:10-12:15 PM      Phoenix, AZ              KAZT-IND                AM Arizona

12:30-12:35 PM      San Diego, CA          XETV-CW                San Diego Living

12:45-12:50 PM      Las Vegas, NV        KVVU-FOX              More!

Designer Looks = Designer Prices? Not At Sears!

2009-11-12T00:30:00Z

It's been stated before that I am a design nut. A blog reading, window shopping, Google image seeking design nut. It's also been stated that one of my favorite design blogs is Desire To Inspire. During my latest visit to this site I came across a growing trend in design; plastic furniture. Before you think of tacky patio chairs, cafeteria seating, or anything meant for children, take a look at how Kim (one of DTI founders and design extraordinaire) manages to use them in ways that are modern and really fun. Expecting hefty price tags? Not when you shop at Sears. Thanks to Ebates November Double Cash Back you'll get 4.0% Cash Back at Sears and find modern furnishings (like the chair above) by Baxton Studio.

These Accent Chairs feature the same smooth shape and retro design as the above chair, but this set of two costs under $200 at Sears. One chair alone at an overpriced retailer could cost up to $800, so you know these chairs are not just a funky addition to your home, but a great deal as well. Besides plastic chairs, Baxton Studio also makes acrylic furniture (a favorite of mine) as well as comfy sofas and modern tables. With over two hundred pieces to choose from, it's possible for all design nuts to find something they love while spending less.

Find more options in our Home and Garden category.

Make Holiday Gift Giving A Breeze With Gifts From Sephora!

2009-11-11T22:30:17Z

When it comes to shopping for Holiday gifts, I often do the majority of my shopping for gifts at Sephora. This year, with their participation in our November Double Cash Back month, I have even more incentive to do my holiday shopping there. Offering 8.0% Cash Back and a ton of free gift and shipping coupons, Sephora through Ebates is the place to be this year. With best-selling gifts from last year, like this Scent Sampler (with more varieties) back for another season and new gift collections in skincare, makeup, and fragrance from virtually every beauty brand Sephora carries, there is literally something for everyone at Sephora with increased cash back.
Even better than having a gift for every recipient on your list, Sephora has made the process a cinch with a new and improved gift guide: shop by personality (The Luxe Girl, The Natural Beauty, Men's, and more), gift type (stocking stuffer, corporate gifts, gift card) and price (with ranges from $25 and under to $50 and over). One of the irresistible new additions to the gift set arsenal is this My First Makeup Kit Deluxe Sampler, an $89 value and just $32. While this is a great kit for someone new to makeup, it is also suitable for virtually anyone looking for the perfect travel-size beauty kit to keep you looking gorgeous.

Get 8.0% Cash Back at Sephora on gifts, gadgets, and more! Want more cash back? Shop all twenty of our November Double Stores.

Did you know? #58: Bloomingdale's Friends and Family Sale

2009-11-11T17:00:53Z

If it seems like I'm writing about sales a lot, that's because I am. But the reason I am is that currently some of our favorite merchants are running some great sales. Add to the list of great sales this beauty from Bloomingdale's: with coupon code BFRIEND, you can take 20% off all purchases at Bloomingdale's through this Sunday, November 15th.

What's nice about site-wide sales is that you can really make your discounts work for you much more than on specific item-based sales or department-wide sales. This way you can take advantage of discounted prices, a great 20% off sale, and 5% Cash Back through Ebates. It's a great opportunity to get a jump start on your holiday shopping, because I wouldn't trust that some of the hotter and more in-demand products will make it through the sale, so if you're thinking you want to wait until Black Friday, you might want to think again.

So what's Bill asking for this Christmas? This cashmere Batman scarf. It's a perfect blend of high class (we're talking 100% cashmere here, folks) and low culture (I have a Batman tattoo and a Batman pocket watch, I might as well get a scarf to round out the set). Plus, it's made by a company called Psycho Bunny. Who can't get behind that? Let's not forget that by applying the Bloomingdale's coupon code to this purchase, I'll knock off $45, taking the price to a much more manageable $180.

What will you find in the Bloomingdale's Friends and Family Sale?

Shop The Latest Trends At Macys and Get 5.0% Cash Back!

2009-11-10T22:30:27Z

By now you know all about Ebates November Double Cash Back. Twenty stores that are increasing, doubling, or even more than doubling their cash back amounts during the month of November. Personally, I've already started shopping for the holidays. Maybe it's not for others, but hey, the season of giving doesn't just apply to others right? Right. With that being said there's no better place to shop for gifts than Macys. During the month of November you'll get 5.0% Cash Back at Macys (up from 3.0%) and find plenty of money saving coupons.

One of the hottest trends in footwear this season is boots with lots of hardware. Buckles, studs, straps; you name it, it's out there. The above photo is from one of my favorite blogs WhoWhatWear and it shows just how many options there are when it comes to this trend. These Astrid Ankle Boots are as sleek as the above options, but at just $149, these are definitely less expensive. Besides all the right details, these boots also have a low heel, making them easy to walk in. Perfect with skinny jeans and a loose sweater, I'll be on trend without the spend!

Shop November Double Cash Back!

Fly More and Save More with United

2009-11-10T17:00:05Z

Working at Ebates, we hear the names for new sales all the time. While saving a little a little extra cash is always a nice bonus, sometimes stores forget the importance of the title of their sale. While a "Semi-Annual" sale or a "Friends and Family" special always turns heads, it doesn't really tell you much about what is on sale or how much you can save. Then there are the really kooky "Super Extra Happy Sale" or "Wonder Deal Money Saving Super Shopper Days" that turn heads, but make you scratch your head just as often.

Hearing sale names day in and day out, it is nice when someone like United Airlines comes along and tells you exactly what is going on with a sale. Case in point: the Fly More Save More Sale. It is exactly what it sounds like: the more trips you book through the end of the year, the higher your percentage off coupon will be. If you travel a lot, and if you are a member of United's Mileage Plus frequent flyer program, this is a chance to earn up to 50% off a flight to be booked in early 2010. It's not every day that you get a chance to earn a percentage off on a flight simply by booking another flight. Check out the savings you can get based on the number of flights you book:

This sale continues through the end of the year, but applies only to flights taken in 2009 as well, so if you're going to do some holiday traveling, this is a perfect chance to earn yourself $2.00 Cash Back and to get an e-certificate for extra money off a flight between February and May of 2010.

Book all your holiday travel needs and earn cash back with deals from our Travel & Vacations category.

Holiday Gift Guide Part 1: The Food Lover

2009-11-09T22:30:50Z

Below are just a few of the many gift ideas for the foodie in your life, and they're all available through Ebates merchants. So sit back, relax, and earn cash back!

The Master Chef

For the cook who could rival Julia Child and bam! louder than Emeril comes the ultimate in cookware. In French it means the melting pot, but chef extradionares know it as Le Creuset. This 20 Piece Cookware Set from CHEFS is made from Le Creuset's famous porcelain enameled cast iron. Right now you'll save $438 on this set and get 6.0% Cash Back. For more ways to save at CHEFS, check out their coupons and Fall savings.

The Host(ess) with the most

For those who would rather entertain than cook, this La Rossa Dinnerware Set from Sur La Table adds festive charm to any table. Sixteen pieces in all, this set is just $99.99 (savings of $180) plus you'll get 4.0% Cash Back. For other entertaining ideas (and to save up to 20%) shop the Holiday Entertaining Sale going on at Sur La Table.

The Wine Lover
Whether your loved one is a sommelier or just starting out, Wine.com offers monthly wine clubs, discounts, and gift sets. They even have a section that describes how to pick the perfect bottle of wine. This Tour de France Wine Set includes three bottles each from one of France's famous wine regions. Perfect for beginners, this set is just $39.99 and you'll get 3.0% Cash Back.

Stocking Stuffers For the Food Lover

Even if you're not able to visit San Francisco this year, you can still savor it's famous chocolate. Try the Limited Edition Peppermint Bark Squares Gift Bag from Ghirardelli Chocolate. Enter code EBATES15 and save 15% off the entire site and get 6.5% Cash Back.

For the foodie who's always pressed for time, Starbucks VIA Ready Brew is a great way to enjoy their favorite coffee on the run. Just $9.95 for 12 servings, plus you'll also get 8.0% Cash Back.

Looking for even more gift ideas? Check out Gifts For Her and Ten Dollar Toys in the buzz box!

November Double Merchants Will Earn You 10% Cash Back And Save You From A Denim Don't!

2009-11-09T17:00:59Z

My bus commute home is usually spent buried in my iPhone: listening to music, reading the latest headlines or catching up on emails. Last week, whilst crammed into a packed bus, I was more alert than usual and spotted one of my fashion pet-peeves: loose, ill-fitting jeans tucked into boots. The look has been around for a while and is quite popular during the colder months because it is practical, stylish, and easy to execute. That being said, it can go terribly awry when jeans that are not slim enough are forced into boots resulting in a messy, jeans turned pantaloon look that is not fashionable or flattering. If you are fearful of the skinny jean, keep to the bootcut or wide leg style but wear your boots on the inside. If you like the look of jeans tucked into boots be sure that you are wearing the right jeans for a flattering, slimming, cold-weather outfit option.

I have enlisted the inventory of two of our November Double Cash Back month merchants: Piperlime and Old Navy, both have increased their rebate and now offer a stunning 10.0% Cash Back! Piperlime has a huge selection of skinny jeans that will pair perfectly with boots. A great black option are these J Brand Denim Leggings (a Rachel Zoe Pick) and personal favorite of mine, that will keep their skinny shape and flatter a variety of figures. For a regular denim option, try these 7 For All Mankind The Skinny and get 10% of your purchase back from Ebates. For more affordable options, head over to Old Navy, where women's denim is priced at just $34.50. Try these Flirt Skinny Jeans and opt for a inseam that is a little shorter than what you would normally wear so you can avoid any unnecessary bulk inside you boots.

Find solutions for your fashion pet-peeves and get Double Cash Back!

Take A Picture, It'll Last Longer

2009-11-08T17:00:53Z

It's now just barely a week after Halloween, and even if your candy coma has worn off, there's usually one very distinctive post-Halloween leftover still to deal with: pictures.

That's right, like the lingering traces of hand stamps for those of us who were out rabble-rousing, or like the last little Jolly Rancher that you didn't realize was stuck to the inside edge of your plastic trick-or-treating pumpkin, pictures are still floating around your friends' cameras, phones, or the internet. Just like my friend Matt the Oompa Loompa - there are some things that everyone wants to remember for years to come from this past Halloween. That's where Shutterfly comes in - with their reasonable online printmaking prices, and the various options for what to do with your pictures, they are a fantastic resource for all your post-holiday merrymaking. For instance, as soon as next week, Matt could be drinking out of a coffee mug with this image emblazoned on it, or I could be extra sneaky and give him a Christmas ornament with this picture inside of it. The possibilities are endless.

Ebates gives you yet another reason to use Shutterfly for all your photo needs - right now they are in our November Double Cash Back promotion, and they are offering 15.0% Cash Back on all your purchases. In addition to this already great deal, through this coming Wednesday, Shutterfly also has a special coupon code where you can get twelve free 5x7 greeting cards. Just enter code 12GREETINGS at checkout to take advantage of it. One final tip, and I can speak from experience on this one - nothing wins you points with family quite like making your own calendar, so now is the time to do just that and have it with plenty of time to give as Christmas gifts. Trust me, this works every year.

Find more merchants with increased cash back in our November Double Cash Back event!

Perfect Cold Weather Tights - Just $22!

2009-11-07T17:00:48Z

As the temperature declines, I realize that I need to be more creative about dressing. The denim or pants uniform that dominates cold-weather days gets a little repetitive and I start feeling schlumpy and not feminine. My only solution is to keep some skirts and dresses in the rotation by pairing the leg-bearing styles with super-opaque tights for the right look and the right amount of warmth. I know that this sentiment is shared by all women who face a closet full of clothes that they want to wear but would rather opt for being warm and comfortable above all else.

The good news is that you don't have to make that choice when you wear these amazingly affordable Hue Opaque Tights from Saks Fifth Avenue. Get them for just $22 with 2.5% Cash Back from Ebates and free shipping on any order ($150 or more) with Saks coupon code SHIPFALL9 at checkout. Fabricated in a genius blend of Merino wool, nylon, and spandex, these tights will be warm without being nubby and loose, super opaque for just the right look, and keep their shape regardless of how much you wash them. With an amazingly affordable price, I recommend stocking (bad pun) up now, because this particular style from Hue only appears to be available at Saks and quantities are limited!

Did you know Ebates has a Lingerie subcategory? Check it out and shop with cash back and coupons!