(EXPIRED) Rakuten: 12% / 12x from 200 retailers (IHG / Viator / Orbitz / more), 12/13 only

With 12 days left before Christmas, Rakuten is today (12/13 only) offering 12% cash back or 12X Membership Rewards points at over 200 retailers (see below for how to choose which you’d rather earn). This could be a great return for some retailers. If you still have holiday shopping to do, these rates could certainly make a difference. Furthermore, 12x is a nice return for IHG — if you have IHG stays to book, today would be a good day to do so.

The Deal

• Earn up to 12X at many retailers through the Rakuten shopping portal.
• Direct link to offer.

Key Terms

• Available 12/13 only

New to Rakuten?

• Earn Membership Rewards
  • Sign up with this link: www.ebates.com/american-express
    Deal: Sign up with the above link and make $25 in qualifying purchases in 90 days to get 1500 bonus points.
• Earn cash back
  • Sign up with our refer-a-friend link
    Deal: Sign up with a refer-a-friend link and make $25 in qualifying purchases in 90 days to get $10 bonus.

Quick Thoughts

12% cashback is a great rate for many of the participating retailers, although 12x Membership Rewards is an even better return if you prefer Membership Rewards points. In case you missed that news, you can now switch an existing cashback account to a Membership Rewards account. For more on how to do that, see Rakuten (formerly Ebates): now change from cash back to Membership Rewards points.

Some options that stuck out at me either because of the increased rate or an opportunity to stack or both:

• IHG: Keep in mind that you’re clicking through Rakuten to go to the IHG site, so you are booking directly with IHG and can earn points / elite credit. You do not need to book an advance purchase rate. Also stack with a current Chase Offer good for 10% back up to $38 (but note that offer expires 12/20).
• Orbitz / Travelocity: 12% back on car rentals
• Viator: Not eligible if you use a coupon code though
• Boxed.com: Stack with 10% back via Amex Offer
• Casper: These mattresses look expensive to me, but stack with a Chase Offer for 10% back up to $50.
• DavidsTea: Stack with Chase Offer for 10% back up to $7.
• HP.com: Stack with Chase Offer for 20% back up to $186. Note the Chase Offer was extended to 12/16.
• Saks Fifth Ave: Stack with Amex Platinum benefit if you haven’t yet used it for this half of the year.

Surely there are some other values to be found. If you’re shopping at the last minute, don’t forget to compare rates using a tool like Cashbackmonitor.com.

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