Rakuten Gives You $40 for Signing Up and $40 for Referrals

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With cashback and rewards programs becoming increasingly popular among online shoppers, many platforms are offering bonuses and incentives to attract new members. However, the $40 sign-up and referral bonuses currently offered by Rakuten are some of the highest we’ve seen, making them an excellent opportunity to maximize your savings. Since these bonuses are not guaranteed to last forever and are subject to change or reduction at any time, it’s important to act quickly and take advantage of them now while they are still available.

What is Rakuten?

Rakuten is a Japanese e-commerce company that operates a variety of online services, including e-commerce platforms, online travel agencies, digital content services, and financial services. The company was founded in 1997 by Hiroshi Mikitani and has since grown to become one of the largest e-commerce companies in the world.

Rakuten’s e-commerce platform allows businesses to sell their products online, while also offering a variety of other services such as payment processing, shipping, and customer support. The company also operates several other online services, such as Rakuten Travel, Rakuten Kobo (a digital book platform), and Rakuten Viber (a messaging and calling app).

In addition to its e-commerce and digital services, Rakuten has also expanded into the financial services industry. The company operates Rakuten Card, one of Japan’s largest credit card companies, and offers a variety of other financial products and services, such as banking, insurance, and securities brokerage.

Is Rakuten “the Amazon of Japan”?

While Rakuten does operate a large e-commerce platform similar to Amazon, it’s not entirely accurate to describe it as “the Amazon of Japan”. While Rakuten is a major player in the Japanese e-commerce market, it has a different business model than Amazon and offers a different range of services.

Unlike Amazon, which sells its own products as well as those of third-party sellers, Rakuten operates a marketplace that allows third-party businesses to sell their products through its platform. Rakuten also offers a wider range of services beyond e-commerce, such as digital content, online travel booking, and financial services.

Additionally, while Rakuten is based in Japan and operates a strong presence in the Japanese market, it also has a global presence with operations in other countries such as the United States and Europe.

What Brands Can You Shop at Rakuten?

Rakuten partners with thousands of popular brands and retailers across a variety of industries, so you can shop for almost anything you need while earning cashback rewards. Some of the most well-known brands available on Rakuten include:

  • Amazon
  • Walmart
  • Macy’s
  • Target
  • Sephora
  • Best Buy
  • Nike
  • Adidas
  • Home Depot
  • Kohl’s
  • Lululemon

In addition to these big-name retailers, Rakuten partners with many other stores and businesses, both large and small. You can find everything from clothing and beauty products to electronics, home goods, and travel bookings on the platform.

What Are the Current Rakuten Promos?

There are currently three promos to take advantage of at this time:

  1. Rakuten $40 Sign-Up Bonus
  2. Rakuten $40 Referral Bonus
  3. Rakuten American Express Membership Rewards Points

Let’s get into each of these.

[Promo #1] Rakuten $40 Sign-Up Bonus

The Rakuten $40 sign-up bonus is a promotion offered by Rakuten to new members who sign up for an account and make a qualifying purchase through their platform. To receive the bonus, you must sign up for a new Rakuten account and make a purchase of at least $40 through one of their partner retailers within 90 days of signing up. Once your purchase is confirmed, Rakuten will credit your account with a $40 bonus.

Here are the steps to follow to receive the $40 bonus for signing up for Rakuten:

  1. Go to the Rakuten website or download the Rakuten app on your mobile device.
  2. Click on the “Join Now” button to create a new account.
  3. Enter your email address and choose a password for your account.
  4. Provide your personal information, such as your name and address, to complete your account registration.
  5. Once your account is set up, search for a store or product you would like to purchase using the Rakuten platform.
  6. Click on the store’s link through Rakuten to be redirected to the store’s website.
  7. Make a purchase of at least $40 on the store’s website within 90 days of signing up for Rakuten.
  8. Wait for Rakuten to confirm your purchase, which can take a few days to a few weeks depending on the store’s return policy.
  9. Once your purchase is confirmed, you will receive a $40 bonus credited to your Rakuten account.

[Promo #2] Rakuten $40 Referral Bonus

The Rakuten $40 referral program is a promotion offered by Rakuten to members who refer new users to the platform. Under this program, current Rakuten members can refer friends or family members to sign up for a new account. If the new user signs up using the referral link provided by the current member and makes a qualifying purchase of at least $40 through Rakuten, both the current member and the new user will receive a $40 bonus.

Here’s how the Rakuten referral bonus program works, step-by-step:

  1. Log in to your Rakuten account and click on the “Refer & Earn” link.
  2. Share your unique referral link with your friends via email, social media, or text message.
  3. When your friend clicks on your referral link and signs up for Rakuten, they will receive a $40 welcome bonus after they make their first qualifying purchase of $40 or more.
  4. Once your friend’s qualifying purchase has been processed, you will receive a $40 referral bonus in your Rakuten account.

Here are some important things to know for the Rakuten referral bonus program:

  1. The referral bonus is a one-time offer and is only available for the first qualifying purchase made by the referred member.
  2. Referral bonuses are typically credited to the referrer’s Rakuten account within 30 days of the referred member’s qualifying purchase.
  3. There is a limit of $500 in referral bonuses per calendar year.
  4. Referrers are prohibited from using any deceptive or fraudulent practices to refer new members, and Rakuten may investigate any suspected violations and take appropriate action.

[Promo #3] Rakuten American Express Membership Rewards Points

You can earn American Express Membership Rewards points when you shop with Rakuten. To earn Membership Rewards points, you will need to link your American Express Membership Rewards account to your Rakuten account and shop through Rakuten using your linked American Express card.

Here’s how to link your accounts and start earning Membership Rewards points with Rakuten:

  1. Log in to your Rakuten account.
  2. Click on “My Account” and select “Link Account” from the dropdown menu.
  3. Select “American Express” as your loyalty program and enter your American Express Membership Rewards account information.
  4. Review and accept the terms and conditions.
  5. Shop through Rakuten at eligible stores and make sure to use the linked American Express card at checkout.
  6. After the transaction is complete, you will earn Membership Rewards points. The points will typically appear in your American Express account within a few days, but it can take up to 90 days depending on the retailer’s return policy.

It’s important to note that not all stores on Rakuten are eligible for earning Membership Rewards points. You can check the Rakuten website or app for current offers and eligible stores.

Additional Cashback Bonus Opportunities Similar to Rakuten’s

It’s great to use multiple cashback shopping sites to save money on your purchases! Mr. Rebates, TopCashBack, and RebatesMe are also popular options for earning cashback on your online shopping, and they each offer their own unique features and benefits.

Mr. Rebates offers a $5 bonus for new members, and they have a wide selection of retailers and stores to choose from. They also offer a browser extension that makes it easy to earn cashback on your purchases without having to navigate to their website each time.

TopCashBack offers a $25 bonus for new members, and they have a reputation for offering some of the highest cashback rates in the industry. They also have a “Highest Cashback Guarantee” program that promises to match any higher cashback rate you find on a competing site.

RebatesMe offers a $40 bonus for new members, and they have a user-friendly platform that allows you to earn cashback on your purchases from over 2,500 stores. They also offer a browser extension and a mobile app for convenient cashback earning.

Each of these sites has its own strengths and weaknesses, so it’s worth exploring them all to see which ones work best for your shopping habits and preferences.

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