SlashGear Japan
It almost sounds a little too much like those “Bill Gates will send you a check for forwarding this email” scams, but apparently Microsoft is subsidizing certain hardware purchases to encourage use of its Live web search. The “Live Search cashback” logo appears next to certain sponsored results for searches such as “cheap netbook” or “cheap wii”; log in to your Live.com account and you can find discounts of up to 30-percent at collaborating retailers.
Brian Jepson of Hackszine got an MSI Wind for $285, after a $50 MSI rebate and $144 cash-back from Microsoft (the netbook should have been $479). Several eBay sellers are participating, and you can find more details from the online auction site here. Discounts can’t be made on express eBay purchases, automobile or real estate buys, or through payment systems from other providers, among other things.
Microsoft will give up to $2,500 cash-back in all, and up to six purchases under the scheme can be made through eBay. It’s limited to buyers in the US, unfortunately.
[via MAKE]
One Response to “Microsoft Live Search Cashback scheme pays you to shop”
Randy Weber October 13, 2008
MSN’s success is great news for incentive programs like MyPoints.com and others. Given the hard economic times, incentive programs give the average consumer a way to save a few extra bucks when they shop, play games and fill out surveys. For the last two years, MyPoints has provided a toolbar that gives members points for searching the internet. The MyPoints toolbar installs right on your browser and provides results from Google, Yahoo, MSN Live Search, and Ask so our member is sure to get great results, making it easy to earn points.
Members are awarded points that they then can redeem for gift certificates or gift cards from over 70 merchants.
In the interest of full disclosure, I’m a MyPoints.com employee and toolbar user but I’m pulling for MSN with the hope that our industry will get a little more publicity.
Neutral