Update 1/25/09: Read the comments for others' experiences and be aware that it might be best not to make any purchases via MyPoints.
About a year ago, I read a post at The Frugal Duchess that mentioned a program called MyPoints as a means of earning points that could be redeemed for gift cards. Intrigued, I set out to learn more. Conveniently, Mighty Bargain Hunter wrote up a nice review at about the same time, confirming what I'd already learned and offering some additional tips.
So what's MyPoints? The great appeal of MyPoints is that points can be earned without spending any money. Every member receives "bonus" emails, and clicking on the link in the email usually earns 5 points. And multiple emails go out every day. When you have enough points, you can redeem them for a variety of gift cards.
It really has been that simple. The lowest value gift cards are 500 points, so you can earn rewards extremely quickly.
On the other hand, the higher value gift cards require fewer points, proportionally. For instance, a $25 CVS gift card costs 3600 points, but a $50 CVS gift card is less than twice that at 7100 points.
In fact, I had been saving up all of my points for a $50 Amazon gift certificate (no longer available). But then I started burning up my ECBs at CVS buying things my family needs, so I redeemed 3600 points for a $25 CVS gift card. I'll be able to stretch that $25 into hundreds by playing The Drugstore Game, so the loss of points is more than worth it. If not for the CVS gift card, though, I would have continued to save my points like David of My Two Dollars. (Note to self: It took about three weeks for my CVS gift card to arrive, so I can't wait until my ECBs are gone to order my next gift card!)
In addition to clicking through bonus emails, you can earn points by answering questions on the MyPoints site and taking surveys that they email you. The surveys are typically 10 points if you don't qualify (and more points if you do). They don't take very long, particularly if, like me, you select "prefer not to answer" whenever possible, since that seems to disqualify me quite often.
Other ways to earn points for free include downloading and using the MyPoints tool bar, playing their promotional games (usually held around holidays), and completing registrations and "exclusive offers". You can also earn points by shopping through their portal (though I generally try to go through Ebates since that gives me cash back), playing their online games, using the MyPoints Visa, and referring other users.
I'm not a MyPoints affiliate but many bloggers are. If you don't have a favorite blogger who's a MyPoints affiliate, please consider heading over to Mighty Bargain Hunter and using his affiliate link. He hasn't asked me to do this (he doesn't even know I'm doing it), but I've been enjoying his blog for almost three years now, and I appreciate that he came out with his post about MyPoints right when I needed it!
Monday, June 09, 2008
Review: MyPoints.com
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13 comments:
I haven't redeemed from mypoint yet, but I find that just clicking on the emails it takes forever to accumulate points... I think I have like, 1300 points and have been a member for almost a year... But then again, none of my friends will join, so that makes it hard to acquire points
I've been a member of mypoints for over 11 years now and have gotten tons of free stuff (including more magazine subscriptions I'll ever have time to read) just by reading emails and "registering". Here are my tips: 1) subscribe using an email addy that you have set up specifically for it (when you register for trials, etc. the spam will go to this email and not your main email). 3) set up a filter/label in your email account so that you can keep them all together and they don't get lost in all the spam registering for stuff will create 3) Let emails accumulate for a week or so and then read all at once 4) you don't have to wait for the web page to load, just click on the email, let the page start to load, immediately return to the email, delete, click on the next 5) Register for anything that doesn't cost money, that's a no brainer, but 6) If you do register for the free trials, put an appointment on your calendar (with a reminder) that has the cancellation info so that you don't forget. Oh, and if you want to spread the wealth on who gets bonus points for referring a friend, feel free to drop me an email with the subject "MyPoints Referral" to hazelscoupons (at) gmail (dot) com
Thankss for the other info about MyPoints. A company I work with just moved their rewards system to MyPoints, so I'm now a member, but haven't had much time to investigate.
I have a friend who's accumulated gift cards quickly too, but I've been with MyPoints since December and have yet to get past 500 points. I don't seem to get many surveys or things. I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong. I'm wondering if it's because my friend (and you) are in a higher salary category; maybe you get more offers?
I love MyPoints as well! I've already gotten two gift cards from them since January, and I have enough to get another now, but I'm hoping to accumulate even more points and get a larger gift card.
Doing the bonus offers helps. I try to visit the site daily to click on those one-question "surveys" they sometimes have to earn an additional 5 points.
I don't think I've gotten any points from friends signing up.
Thanks for the link CFO! ;)
I do what tarheel does, just make a MyPoints e-mail folder and filter everything in there. It allows you to ignore the e-mails for a while if you don't feel like dealing with them.
@trhee14vr & Jonathan - Thanks for sharing your tips!
@Gina - I can't remember for sure, but I doubt I gave them my salary info. Maybe the more times you visit the site, the more emails and surveys they send? I usually visit the site every day to click on the little polls that give 5 points.
Excellent "paying" website .. Many satisfied members all over the place .. I think MyPoints is one of the best GPT around right now. Not to mention it has been online since 1996.
Thumps UP for MyPoints :)
Thanks.
I was a member of this site for 3 years but suddenly for some reason they wrote me a terrible mail and closed my account which had almost 2500 points ready to be redeemed. The mails was really pathetic and no firm reason was given before closing my account.
Reader Joanne sent this comment via email on Jan. 24, 2009:
Hi-read your 6/08 review about mypoints program. Have used it for years, including the Visa card. Couldn't agree more up until now. "Visited" some sites-just to check out and get points. Charges appeared on card for something called "searchgrant" and FTD florist-neither of which interested in. I received no purchase confirmation or points. The card was cancelled, then received notice from Columbia House dvd outfit that they needed card info. I didn't want that either. The bizarre thing is that I received the flowers with a birthday card -it's not my birthday. My information is out there --through mypoints. My advise--be very careful about "visiting" sites at mypoints.
Mypoints has closed my account for no reason after 4 years. I did not even get a notice. I guess because I had saved up enough points for a 50.00 gift card I planned to use for my son's birthday coming up in March. I now have to pay for all that I ordered through them, they get paid and I get dumped for no reason. And there is NOTHING I can do about it! No address, No phone, NO THANKS. I won't trust any of these scammers anymore! I will be posting what they did every chance I get to warn others.
i have redeemed points 4 times and never had trouble! i received 2 waqlmart gift cards and 2 old navy gift cards. i received the FTD cards too as part of a promotion - they told me they were coming- but i wasn't interested in them so i tossed them. i have been super pleased with my points. i never buy anything- just read emails and do easy points and surveys. points add up quick!
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