Shop talk

[jason]

...maybe I'm not participating properly but I used UPromise as the link between me and all of my Christmas shopping, holiday travel, and spending for family visiting.  I shopped at Dell.com, Dillards.com, eBay, and various other places whereby I got "money for college", pennies at a time.  It's clear to see all the contributing company contributions but all in all it only added up to $20.  That's it.  This was a good Christmas, so I'm blessed with that, but doesn't that meager amount of "savings" seem kinda small to you all in the community?  I have everything linked for gas, groceries, prescription medications, etc and my yearly total won't even break $50...  Something's wrong with this whole thing if that's all it's going to be worth.

[littlefoot777]

It is small, in the short term. I look at this, though, for the long run.  Look at it as "free" money that will pay for college/loans that you don't have to pay yourself.  If over the 25 years that it will take to pay back my student loans I don't have to pay $2000-5000, I will be extatic.

Just remember to never pay extra for an item just to get a "few pennies".

[spoiler16]

It may not seem like a lot...but remember this is Free money. Its something extra you get back for doing NOTHING. Say you get 50$ back in a year...thats 50$ for just clicking through Upromise first. I shop online a lot so clicking through upromise has become second nature for me and over the years the contributions have really added up. For example I bought a top of the line laptop through Newegg for 1500$, got 15$ back for clicking through upromise and then another 15$ back through my upromise credit card. Thats 30$ back on an already great deal ( the same laptop through HP costs 1700$). So in that one transaction 30$ back for doing nothing isn't too bad.

[jason]

That's kind of what I've been expecting as well, especially with how much we spent over the holidays, but it seems like I'm missing some opportunities somewhere because the benefit doesn't outweigh some of the hassles (I could just still be new at using this service, I dunno).  I've been a member since my daughter was born 7 years ago and one thing I've noticed:  contributing companies and contributions have dwindled.  We used to get credit from companies like Kellogg's and Coca-Cola but no longer.  I got credit from the following day-to-day activities over the past 120 days or so:

Kroger (groceries)

CVS (prescriptions)

Exxon (easiest-to-reach gas station)

Sears (needed a bed for the top bunk)

Dell (Christmas presents for the family, including a PS3 and a Nintendo DS)

Newegg (computer parts in bad need of upgrade)

The total is $39.45.  There's one order missing from Dell where the link got broken so that should add about $5.50 once it posts.  All in all, every little bit helps but when UPromise first started, my grocery store contributions were significantly more than they are now!  I'm only getting about 3 to 9 cents for each trip to the grocery store!!!

I don't normally spend like this so a greater than average 6 months of consumption only netted $45...

[Donna2417]

The greatest savings that we have racked up by far comes from our Upromise Mastercard. I had absolutely refused to have a credit card until this one, but the additional 1% on use seemed like a good deal. We only use it for things that we would buy anyway (groceries, paying city taxes and water bills, putting car insurance payments on it) rather than writing checks. On the Upromise items at the grocery store the card pays out 10% of the price (added into the account each month) - so, purchase Tide for $10.99 get a $1.10 into the account. That's on top of the 1% - So $2,000.00 of expenditures for the month, $20.00 in the account. This racks up money quick and the $300.00 limit per year has now been removed (which can be easy to reach if you put everything possible on the card). You just have to be careful to pay the full balance each month on time. We have earned $1,334.11 since 2003 from the card company! There are no renewal fees and if you never carry a balance no interest so, Free Money!

[ELLENLF]

yes and no. If you buy through the site and go where the % back is greater you can get some good deals. Trouble with some stores, the % is good but then they add a hefty shipping and handling charge; seem s like sometimes it's cheaper to go to a local store for the item. Also, if you don't qualify for their Visa you don't get the extra credits.

[twinboys2002]

Donna - Tide is no longer a contributing item with Upromise (and hasn't been for over a year now!)... so, you won't be getting 10% that you think you are!  Only the 1% from your Upromise card.  The groceries that you can buy that contribute to the program have become fewer & fewer... I just noticed that Motrin no longer contributes as well.

[jason]

...this is exactly what I've noticed.  I used to get kick-backs from Coke, Tide, P&G, Dow, Kellogg's, etc, etc and now I get nothing from many of my favorite brands.  I average 3 cents per grocery trip!

[shissncg]

Have you stopped buying from those brands?  If you keep buying from them after they leave then you send the message that there participation does not affect your consumption. 

[ELLENLF]

As far as the college loan payback...altho not a lot of savings up front, every 1/4 what is saved goes towards your loan payment. So, during that 1/4 your payment is slightly less. Of course, if you buy big saving items and have more points or credits, more gets taken off your loan payment.

So far, I figure I don't understand how if I use my credit card at a Upromise authorized place, why I am not getting those credits. No one has quite answred that ? for me. My CVS card is registered, my credit card is registered, I spend mucho $$$ in CVS but have never received a credit from Upromise. So, what's up with that?