Deal alert: 25% back at PetSmart on Wednesday only and other Rakuten summer deals
Rakuten, one of TPG's favorite online shopping portals, is offering an alternative to Amazon Prime Day with bonus rewards at hundreds of retailers from July 7 to 11. Plus, more deals will be revealed every Wednesday this summer — including 25% back at PetSmart on Wednesday, July 2, only.
We love Rakuten because it helps users earn easy cash back on everyday purchases (you'll get a check in the mail or deposited in your PayPal account every quarter), and because you can opt to earn valuable American Express Membership Rewards points instead of cash back.
Here's what you need to know about Rakuten's summer deals.
Rakuten summer deals
From July 7 to 11, Rakuten's Big Stack promotion will offer 10% cash back (or 10 Amex points per dollar spent) at hundreds of participating merchants, including Dell, Lego, KitchenAid, Macy's, PetSmart, Ray-Ban and Walgreens. Several travel merchants, such as Expedia, Hotels.com, Tripadvisor and Viator, are also included.
But you don't need to wait until July 7 to start earning bonus rewards. With its summerlong Big Deal Reveal, Rakuten will unveil a new bonus offer each Wednesday. The latest deal is a whopping 25% cash back (or 25 Amex points per dollar spent) at PetSmart, so if you're a pet owner, it could be worth stocking up on supplies now.
Each Wednesday deal will be revealed one week in advance. There's no specific deal next Wednesday (during the Big Stack event), but check back for the following week's deal.
How to use Rakuten
Rakuten and other shopping portals are a great way to earn rewards on everyday purchases, but you can also leverage them to save on your next trip. Rakuten partners with several travel brands, like Priceline and Travelocity; there's also Rakuten Travel, a booking platform for hotels in Japan.
With travel costs rising and exchange rates falling, booking hotels and activities through shopping portals that offer cash back can help recoup some of your travel budget.
Just be sure to read the fine print before shopping through Rakuten with any merchant, as earning rates often vary by category and exclusions may apply. For instance, Expedia is offering 10% cash back right now on hotel bookings only; you'll get 3% back on activities and vacation rentals and only 1% back on car rentals.
And remember to only use coupon codes found on the shopping portal, as others can void your rewards.
Lastly, Rakuten is offering unlimited $30 referral bonuses from now through Sept. 30. If you already use Rakuten, have your friends sign up with your referral link — you'll both earn $30 after they make $30 in qualifying purchases in the first 90 days.
Bottom line
If you don't use a shopping portal for your online purchases, you're leaving valuable rewards on the table. Some portals offer cash back, while others let you earn airline miles or valuable transferable points.
We recommend using a shopping portal aggregator to make sure you're getting the best return on your purchase.