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Shopping online has become a part of daily life, and these days, most of us don’t even think twice about buying things from online retailers. But simply going to a store's website and purchasing something means that you’re missing out on hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars every year on those purchases.
By using online shopping portals like TopCashback, you can earn cash back, gift cards, and other rewards on your online purchases. TopCashback has been around for as long as I’ve been buying things online. But there are a few quirks and perks that come with using it, so let’s dive in and give you a rundown of exactly how it works.
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What Is TopCashback?
TopCashback is an online shopping portal that offers rebates on your online purchases, allowing you to redeem them for cash or gift cards. Rather than heading directly to the store’s website, swing by TopCashback first and click on the store's unique link. You’ll be directed to the store’s website, where you make your purchase just like normal.
Like other online shopping portals, TopCashback earns a commission for referring customers to its affiliated merchants, and it claims to pay out 100% of that commission to its members in the form of cash back or other rewards. You'll typically see this rebate in your account within a few days of your purchase — although some transactions may take longer to post.
TopCashback is free to sign up for and use. You can shop through over 7,000 online retailers through this program.
How Does TopCashback Work?
Although getting cash back from online shopping may seem too good to be true, TopCashback is a trustworthy site that's actually fairly simple to use.
Join for free and log in
To earn cash back, head to the TopCashback website and create a free account. If you're not already a member, timing sometimes matters. TopCashback occasionally offers bonus rewards when you sign up through a referral link (Here's ours).
Once you've set up your account, log in (if you haven't already) and search for your desired store.
Shop online and earn rewards
If the store is eligible for cash back, you'll see the percentage of cash back you can earn on your purchase displayed with its name. Simply use TopCashback's link to navigate to the store's website and complete your purchase as normal.
Once you make a purchase through this link, TopCashback will start tracking that purchase and establish a communication channel between them and the store. The store will let TopCashback know how much you spent, what coupons you used, and how much was paid in taxes. Then, TopCashback will track that purchase and calculate your rebate.
You’ll get an email back from TopCashback that will show that your “purchase has been tracked,” so you’ll know it was made correctly through the online shopping portal.
Coupon codes
Who doesn’t like saving money on purchases? Very often, stores will try and entice you with 10% off your purchase, or $20 off if you spend $100 or more, but you might not be able to double dip. If a coupon code is listed on the TopCashback website, it’s a valid code to use and still earn cash back through TopCashback.
If you visit the website and use a discount code, or one you found by searching online, there is a slight chance that your purchase may not be eligible for any additional cash back rewards.
Keep in mind that if you use an unauthorized code, it isn’t a guaranteed denial, but it does increase the chances that your claim might be rejected.
Returns
If you return an item to a store, it'll notify TopCashback and either adjust your claim or completely reject it. That’s because, obviously, you’re not going to get cash back on something that you didn’t actually buy.
Timing
Most of the time, you’re going to have to wait at a minimum 30 days after the return date for payouts from your purchase to become payable. This is because the store wants to make sure that you haven’t made a return. They don’t want to have to pay out on something that was never bought.
What Is the Status of My TopCashback Payout?
Once you’re logged into your TopCashback account, head to your dashboard, where you’ll see all your purchases and any cash back you earned on them. Below each payout total, you'll see the status of your potential cash back. It can be confusing, but once you understand what each means, it all tends to make more sense.
Pending
Pending status means that the purchase has been tracked through TopCashback and the store, and TopCashback is simply waiting to hear back from the store and confirm that all the amounts match up. This is intended to be a temporary status, so if it sits in pending status for a long amount of time, you might need to open a case or have TopCashback look into it.
Confirmed
Boom! You’re past the probation period. The store has confirmed that you made a purchase, and TopCashback has acknowledged it. You’re going to be able to see the details about your purchase price (without taxes), the commission, and, in some cases, your order number. If something doesn’t match up, you’ll be able to submit your receipts and adjust.
Payable
Go out and celebrate, you’ve got money. These are funds that you’re able to withdraw from your TopCashback account into any one of their multiple payment options. Once you have payable funds, the time for them to be in your hands is minimal, sometimes instantly, but usually no more than a few hours.
Declined
This one can be somewhat problematic. Chances are you’ll know why something got denied, but in many cases, you’ve got no idea why. If you made a return or used a non-approved coupon code, that’s an obvious reason for a denial. It's also possible that you clicked through TopCashback but then went through another shopping portal, such as Capital One Shopping or an airline portal, and the cookies got mixed up.
Nevertheless, this isn’t the end. If you believe you’ve a valid claim and the purchase was rejected, there is a process for you to dispute the claim. We’ll go over that just a little bit later.
How Can I Get Paid With TopCashback?
Unlike some other online shopping portals, TopCashback has no minimum payout, so you can redeem your earnings right away. You don't have to wait until you've accumulated enough cash back.
Once you see your money in payable status, you’ve got a few options to get your hard-earned cash.
Gift cards
If you want to stretch your funds even further, then gift cards are a solid option. In almost all cases, you can bump up your earnings even more. Some stores, like Walmart, will offer you a small 2% boost on your earnings. But in other cases, you’ll see offers of 5% or more.
ACH/Paypal
Don’t want to mess around with gift cards? No problem. You can do a withdraw directly into your checking account or via PayPal. I’m not a super fan of doing it this way, because I think there’s always a way to stretch the money out a little further at a store I know I’m going to shop at.
Debit cards
TopCashback offers Visa debit cards and American Express debit cards, often with a little extra added on top as well. While these don’t come as physical cards in the mail, they’re still useful for some purchases. You’ll get a card number, expiration date, and CVV number so you can make purchases over the phone or online.
The one problem you’ll face with these cards has to do with their small balances. Many online stores won’t let you split purchases, meaning you have to have an exact amount available on the card. Keep that in mind before withdrawing small amounts onto these digital cards.
What to Do When Things Go Wrong With TopCashback
Not everything works as expected, so TopCashback has a dispute process where you can plead your case. If a store says that you returned something and you know you didn’t, you can send in copies of your receipts and have TopCashback fight on your behalf.
Alternatively, if something is stuck in “pending” for a long time, they can nudge the store to find out what’s going on. It doesn’t always work, but at least there’s a process for when things go sideways.
I once had a Holiday Inn say that I never showed up to a hotel stay, and they were looking to deny a claim that was for well over $200 in commissions. I sent them a copy of my confirmation email, check-out receipt, and even pictures of me in the hotel room to prove that I was actually there. It took about three months to resolve the issue, but eventually, the money was in my account, ready to spend.
Bottom Line
TopCashback is one of the most rewarding and reliable shopping portals available today. With generous payouts, boosted gift card redemptions, and a helpful dispute process when things go awry, it offers strong value for anyone who shops online.
While it’s not foolproof — especially when using third-party coupons or juggling other cashback tools — it remains a key strategy for travelers and deal hunters looking to stretch their budgets. If you’re not using a portal like TopCashback, you’re missing an easy win on everyday purchases.
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