ShopSmarter has a rating of 1.2 stars from 331 reviews, indicating that most customers are generally dissatisfied with their purchases. Reviewers complaining about ShopSmarter most frequently mention credit card, customer service, and bed bath problems. ShopSmarter ranks 819th among Discount Shopping sites.
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I have been using shopsmarter for months now and every time I have not had any issue with them. I have contacted the customer service and they are 100% transparent. They are not a scam get with them and earn real money back guys 10 percent everytime you buy at WalMart or whatever, begins to accumulate and by the time you get your check you see the actual savings and they are awesome. Yes you pay a monthly membership fee of 10$ or 9.95 or w/e but it's great to save money guys. This is NOT a scam.
Ordered in October and after waiting for two months, asked for refund. They stated 5-7 business days, is now twice that. I wish I could make a negative rating-avoid this scam.
Ordered in October and after waiting for two months, asked for refund. They stated 5-7 business days, is now twice that. I wish I could make a negative rating-avoid this scam.
Unlike other cashback services they charge $16 per month to have an account. I have my food delivered from Walmart and I used ShopSmarter. At some point, when payouts became substantial ($50+ per month), they closed my account claiming that I used it for commercial purposes.
Products used:
Cash back service.
According to ShopSmarter website, payout is done by either check or PayPal. According to webchat representative Maria, PayPal is not an option. On top of being incompetent, she's also rude. Not the best way to start business relationship.
Products used:
Cashback
I use this service for about four months, intermittently, making my normal purchases at the qualifying retailers, and each month saw about a five dollar gain over what I spent. Then when it came to the reason I signed up (holiday shopping around Black Friday), I spent $5000 across various stores that all qualified (mostly Best Buy). Then I tried to log into my account and I got an error. After calling multiple times, the only thing I was told is that my account had been closed prior to my transactions, and that I had forfeited any of the pending cashback I was owed with no option for a refund. I called multiple times and they said everything was sent to me in an email and that they couldn't tell me anything over the phone, and the only way to communicate with a supervisor was through an email.
I work in IT, I checked every aspect of my email servers, and there was nothing ever sent to me. Even after explaining this to them, they did nothing to assist me. So in the end I guess I made $15 but I would've made more if I just used Rakuten which is an awesome, reputable (and free) cashback service. Please don't give shopsmarter your money.
Tip for consumers:
It’s clearly designed not to provide cash back after you earn a certain amount
Products used:
Cash back
Placed an order 1month ago to buy a portable BBQ grill oven, but the goods was never delivered, and no refund was made up to this moment. Complaint email is not responded. Finally, complained this disputed transaction to my credit card company to chargeback and have my money back. Shop Smart's malpractices include: 1) misrepresentation on supply of goods; 2) unnecessary holdup of customers' monies; 3) failure to refund.
Don't fall into this online company's trap!
I never really used them but from the get go when I got a 19.99 charge and was told it was my membership fee, I called and canceled right away. The guy in customer service had a voice that just sound's always put out. He told me that the information about the membership fee pops up when I agree to join. I don't remember it, or otherwise I wouldn't have signed up. Plus I was told that they mail me a $10 check for their big rebate hook. Yeah I can't vouch for huge savings with them one way or another, but I know I can save myself 19.99 a month by not being a member.
Products used:
Nothing because I didn’t want to pay membership fees to save money
I have been using shopsmarter for months now and every time I have not had any issue with them. I have contacted the customer service and they are 100% transparent. They are not a scam get with them and earn real money back guys 10 percent everytime you buy at WalMart or whatever, begins to accumulate and by the time you get your check you see the actual savings and they are awesome. Yes you pay a monthly membership fee of 10$ or 9.95 or w/e but it's great to save money guys. This is NOT a scam.
A place my order in September 2023 and it's January 2024. Still waiting for my refund to come through. Every time I email them, they just ignore my email. It's a scam company.
Tip for consumers:
Fake scamming company.
Products used:
Nothing
ATTENTION Ils utilisent les photos et produits vendus par Costco.ca pour annoncer... et ne vous livrent pas vos produits et ne répondent jamais a vos demande de remboursement. Ce sont des arnaqueurs.
Products used:
jamais livré le produit , disent qu'il est en back order, et ne répondent pas aux courriels envoie des messages depuis plus de 6 mois. c'est une arnaque.
On January 31,2019, I received an email from ShopSmarter.com saying "Claim an introductory rebate of $20 Cash Back for your recent Walmart purchase Just for trying ShopSmarter. I tried it and they did send me a check, but it was only for $10, not $20. I emailed Customer Service several times asking where the other $10 is, and today I received a check for $20. Can't complain about that!
Hi Stephen,
We have reached out to you directly to resolve this issue. I apologize for any inconvenience.
Thanks,
Samantha
ShopSmarter
Customer Service Supervisor
From my experience this site has been more than trustworthy and reliable, I used them once about 2 years ago to buy my TV and had no issues getting the cash back and had since canceled my membership about 2 months later. I recently signed up again and even with the $13/month it's more than worth it, you can get cash back on pretty much any pickup order you can imagine including samsclub which has been a personal favorite for me getting 10% back on all of my groceries and gift cards I purchase for eating out. I recently made several purchases in the thousands of dollars and so far have already been paid out over $200 from the first one. This site is not a scam but you have to make sure the membership fee is worth it for you.
Tip for consumers:
Make sure the membership fee is worth it for what you buy.
Thanks for taking the time to share this great feedback Adam! We're happy to hear you're enjoying the savings with ShopSmarter. Happy Shopping!
Cheated me out of over $200. Saying that I didn't go through shop smarter and I have proofthat I did. Also started charging double for monthly.fee without even notifying. WORST CUSTOMER SERVICE EVER
I come to notice a monthly transaction on my credit. I never created an account with this ap. It must not have been clear that I was connecting to a monthly subscription plan. This is deceptive marketing.
Products used:
Mine
They flagged my account because I bought a expensive purse for my wife and told me the reason was according to a review that purse was bought for retail purposes not personal. Meaning they were saying they won't give me 10% cash back because I bought that purse to sell. I have no idea how they even came up with that conclusion. I reached out to customer service at least 5 if not 7 diff times, and each time it was "a manager will get back to you". No one ever did. They also said they sent checks from previous months that I never received either. Again "a manager will get back to me". No manager was ever available to speak even if you wanted to wait, only option was they'll call you back. Which they of course never did. This website is a SCAM, stay away from them!
Tip for consumers:
SCAM!
I have been a Shopsmarter customer for 4+ years. I have recommended at least 14 current customers to the platform because I truly thought that it was a great service. As I was shopping for the holidays, I purchased 5 higher ticket items for my close friends—each shipped directly to them. As part of the terms, all items purchased need to be sent directly to the buyer's (as registered with Shopsmarter) address. This was an honest mistake I made and I clarified as much. It's clearly understanble that because I didn't follow the guidelines these purchases would not be eligible for cashback—totally makes sense. What doesn't make sense is that because of this, my account was locked and deactivated, and cannot be reinstated. No warning. Nothing. I have had multiple conversations with customer (not-so-) support, and most of their responses were templated. I pushed further asking to speak with someone over the phone, but again fruitless.
What once was a great service, I can no longer endorse. Additionally, the cost per month is now 30% higher than it used to be, but the total max cashback is still the same. If you are a frequent online shopper, you may still find this service useful, but you have to spend about $1,800 online in order to just breakeven.
Most terrible website I ever met.
Take away my money without authorization.
3 times without any notification or email/text msg.
Never notice This because I am busy with my newborn baby also
This is not a right way to do business!
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Thanks after contact the Shopsmarter I get the fully refund for the IC member fee and I would like to suggest next time can improve this, don't deduct the memebership fee in this way.
Hello,
I am sorry for any inconvenience and will be happy to assist you. Please reach out to me directly at Help@ShopSmarter.com
Thanks,
Samantha
ShopSmarter
Customer Service Supervisor
Otherwise, You might shop intermittently. Makes no sense to spend $64.85 for Shop Smarter over a few months while you bought nothing for several of those months. I spent $194.83 at Target. I spent $93.88 at Macy's, as well. Bought $288.71 worth of items. Add the $64.85 for $353.56. Shop Smarter cost me 6%; like another sales tax. The company didn't give me any money. More like Shop Dumber.
Tip for consumers:
How much $ you have to spend before you see a rebate of any kind.
Products used:
Dress, household products.
How can u be in buisness. They promise rewards. But thier charges fees monthly charges have put me 478 dollars in the hole with my bank. While I wait for my. Cash back reward from best buy I'll have to take it to court. It's not fair. And it's not. Right. They best fix this
Tip for consumers:
They trying to take money from more then one bank ?
Products used:
None
I would give 0 star if I can. This company has no business ethics at all. Simply shut down your account when you have hundreds of savings in your account. There are lots of free cash back websites out there with unlimited cash back. What shopsmarter does is charge your monthly subscription fee, get paid from the websites you make purchases and pay you nothing. A total of money and time waste. Stay away from them.
Tip for consumers:
Stay away!!!
Products used:
None
We're sorry to hear about this experience Yingfei. ShopSmarter is for personal non-commercial use only.
Non sense you will be charged and you can not get in touch with them this capital punishment its another way of being cheated
Tip for consumers:
stop the harrasment
Products used:
cancel my subscription and refund me all your charges this is shipway rubbery
First, it is not a free service, nor even in the trial period. It would charge you ~2 dollars even in first 7 days;
Second, if you cancelled the service in the trial period, they will not pay you any cashback, and they even close your account!
Third, they pay money sooooooo slow. I used them service on the first day, but they updated records 5 days later, and claimed to pay the check only in the next month.
Thanks for sharing your feedback, members receive their savings payout on the 15th of each month. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to reach out directly at Help@ShopSmarter.com
Thought I was signing up directly with Best Buy, the sign up came at the end of a TV purchase online I just made, had Best Buy logo on the form, gave them my credit card information. I'm usually pretty good recognizing this stuff but they were VERY slick. I feel a bit dumb but hope I can warn others. Fortunately my Bank picked it up as fraud before I called them.
Even called ShopSmarter on the phone and they tried to tell me they are an authorized partner with Best Buy! I hope not...
Hello, we're sorry for any confusion regarding the membership fee. If we can be of any assistance please reach out directly at Help@ShopSmarter.com.
This is the second time I've changed a negative review to a positive one because the website later came through. When the check actually arrives, I will change the number of stars to five. I have changed it from one to three because the rebate for my second purchase showed up in my account as "pending" - possibly because I called Walmart support and asked them to report my purchase to shopsmarter.com, but show up it did, in less than a week.
They still say a purchase can take ten days to show up - and if it does, you won't get a rebate for it during a 7-day trial membership. That hasn't changed: you should make a second purchase only on the assumption that you might or might not get a rebate for it without paying $12.95 - that's ten percent of $129.50 in purchases per month just to break even! But they don't always take ten days; mine didn't, and I hope to receive a rebate around July 15 and come back to tell you so.
Hi Shirley,
Thank you for providing your feedback. Normally, it can take up to 7 days for your cash back to appear in your Savings Center, depending on how long it takes for the retailer to report the purchase back to us. However, we can promise you'll receive the cash back you earned on purchases made through ShopSmarter as long as you abide by our terms of use and double check the cash back restrictions implemented per retailer. If after seven days you do not see your cash back appear in your savings center please email customerservice@shopsmarter.com for assistance. Once they can confirm the purchase qualified for cash back, they can add it in for you manually!
If you have any other questions or concerns about how our service works, please feel free to email help@shopsmarter.com for more details. Thank you!
Sincerely,
The ShopSmarter Team
I'm a member of ShopSmarter, and I love how I can get 10% back for most of my purchases. But I found people working at ShopSmarter are inefficient and inaccurate. It takes them more than a month to have your cash from Pending to declined or approved, unlike Rakuten which is fast and free. ShopSmarter also declined my welcome bonus because of their own mistakes, and i had to call in multiple times to get this (maybe) working.
We're sorry to hear about this experience. If your cash back doesn't track our customer service team will be happy to look into it for you. Please reach out directly at Help@ShopSmarter.com for assistance.
Never got the confirmation email BUT I didn't get charged any additional $ and I finally got the $10 rebate in the mail a few days ago... so no login, no confirmation email, no additional charges and almost 3 months to get the rebate -> looks like a scam, quack's like a scam... but if you follow the directions properly its honestly not a scam. Go figure...
Hi Nathaniel,
Thank you for the feedback. We always try to use our member's feedback to enhance our program. If you have any specific feedback you would like to send along, I would be more than happy to forward that on to our team. Please email me directly at Help@ShopSmarter.com.
Thanks!
I signed up to get my $10 rebate via Walmart and attempted to login THE NEXT DAY (11/29/2017) to cancel my membership. It told me there was no email associated so I called the number and the guy looked me up and said "ok you've cancelled. You should be getting the email shortly". I asked if i would still be getting the rebate and his reply was "you can" (wtf?). An hour later I still hadn't gotten the cancel confirmation so I called again (because I saw this site, read the reviews, and figured they might be scamming me). A new woman picked up and she said that I had already cancelled but her system was unable to send out an email to my email address (she said that it happens sometimes). She gave me the confirmation number but I'm going to call again today to ensure they send out that email so I can be sure they will not charge me
Dishonest company and terrible customer service. They have charged monthly membership fees for months and NOT paying me the cashback. Been communicating with the customer service and not getting any help.
ShopSmarter gives online shoppers consistent 10% cash back, instant price comparisons and exclusive coupons at over 1,000 retailers.
Thanks so much for the great feedback Mike! We hope you continue to enjoy the savings with ShopSmarter. Happy Shopping!