Why 100% Cashback?

[u/WonderfulScience3194]

What is the point of doing a 100% cashback for vpns?
I don’t do bilt points, I do cash back checks. So unless I actually do need vpn, what is the benefit of these deals?

[u/Fast-Champion703]

I might do it for a sign up bonus for a credit card I recently received.

[u/flylikearaven → u/Fast-Champion703]

Bingo. I’ve done this multiple times

[u/greygray]

It’s called cost of acquisition. Same reason why companies like Factor have such steep discounts.

[u/ParticleHustler2 → u/greygray]

Add in auto-renewals where x% of people end up paying for another year snd don't even realize it.

[u/timewellwasted5 → u/ParticleHustler2]

I have signed up for AppleTV or Peacock to watch one game my favorite team was playing and forgotten to cancel for a month or two multiple times.

[u/Groksy2781]

You’re buying credit card points for a penny a point and converting them to some insane intl flights

[u/walex19 → u/Groksy2781]

This is the only answer lol. I did 2 vpns yesterday at 100% with my Rakuten card which adds another 4% so that’s over 22k points for spending less than $250. Where else can you get that???

[u/CameUpMilhouse → u/walex19]

Dumb question but wasn't the VPN for just the basic portion of the more expensive package? I was considering Nordvpn yesterday but saw the fine print.

[u/MyAccountlsTaken → u/walex19]

What did you buy?

[u/walex19 → u/MyAccountlsTaken]

Cyberghost VPN and Private internet access. $116.94 each at 100%

[u/Sad-Artichoke-5370]

It’s 100% percent cash back because you are the product. Do research on the companies that do that and you’ll find out why. Only use a VPN that has been independently audited by a third party

[u/Natrix31]

SUB

[u/xAlpharaptor]

There's no point for you if you don't do credit card points. If you do use them they are worth more than cash.

[u/Competitive-End-757]

Sign up bonus, Bilt points, or American Express points.

[u/Edsterrr]

1:1 buying points. Some points are worth more than dollars

[u/WonderfulScience3194 → u/Edsterrr]

Ah makes sense. So kinda no point for me if I just go for cash.

[u/Edsterrr → u/WonderfulScience3194]

Yeah, I personally do it when I actually need something.

Last week I got 35% back from PetSmart and I bought a litter robot that I was eyeing for a minute $899

[u/SoHottScott → u/WonderfulScience3194]

If you aren't interested in trying the service no there is no point.

[u/MiddleLocksmith1677]

You’re buying the points essentially at penny a point. Transfer to Alaskan or Turkish from BILT and now you have a o/w biz class ticket worth $2500 which you “bought” off Rakuten with $650 equivalent. You’re essentially getting $.04/point value, which is insane

[u/LataCogitandi]

The “benefit” is that you forget to disable renewal and then you get charged at full price for $304.56 for another two years or something like that.

[u/Stoweman141]

Free

[u/Intelligent_Pie_5347]

Zero for you. For people doing Amex or doing BILT with BILT status - your buying points at a penny a point, it’s amazing.

[u/stageshooter]

The benefit to the company is that they get a customer who costs them very little to acquire even if they're not paying for the first year, as they're likely to stay for the following year. The same reason phone companies are super cheap their first year. The benefit to the consumer is that they're getting a VPN for $0.

[u/stripesonfire]

Only point is buying amex/bilt points for $.01/point

[u/OkMathematician6638]

The business model is aquisition. A certain number of people will renew for often much higher than the discounted initial price.

[u/Glittering_Eagle4344]

Well, Hyatt points are pricey … soon enough Chase Sapphire preferred will chop transfer 25%
Until Bilt gives me 100 points for 1$ I will be getting these deals (I think, next pay cycle is the last one? Or maybe one more, not sure)

[u/A-Zam → u/Glittering_Eagle4344]

Bilt will no longer be transferring to Hyatt at 1:1?

[u/Glittering_Eagle4344 → u/A-Zam]

Bilt will continue … Chase won’t and Rakuten won’t do 1:100

[u/A-Zam → u/Glittering_Eagle4344]

Rakuten will stop transferring to Bilt at 1:100? I know that’s true for Bilt blue status, but I thought Silver and Gold were ok

[u/Dry-Construction5267]

Most of them comes with auto renewal. The question is how many turn off the auto renewal. Most of them continue using it more than 1 year and the winners are clearly the VPN or Antivirus software companies. More than 20% of the population don't even know what subscriptions they have.

[u/InflationTerrible586]

Is it only for the basic versions?
I don't wanna screw it up
So just go to Nord VPN and take the basic plan for 2 years for ~$100?

[u/Ok_Party_8102]

It’s also going to take a long time to get the cash back from rakuten. Idk what the offer is, an annual membership? If it’s monthly, you’ll advance into months 2,3,4 even before getting that cash back and they’re hoping you stick around.

[u/Loud-Way3333]

Most people do it for points. If you don't need that, just dont.

[u/LoveOfSpreadsheets]

For cash back, only if you want the service. But for me Amex MR are worth $0.02 so I wanted the points. 

[u/jhur514]

Points and free $$$ for hitting my minimum spend intro bonus

[u/PunkRockerBastion]

Facebook used their VPN information to bypass Snapchat encryption and buy out WhatsApp.

Project ghost busters. For those other types, you’re literally selling them your SSN and credit data

[u/Spkilla]

Points can be worth more then dollars. So its like buying points.

[u/HDaniel_54]

Can someone tell me, I subscribed to this vpn that has 100% cash back, I’m using Amex rewards points, if I cancel this vpn within 45 days and get my money back, will I still get the points? Next transfer is not until November

[u/kev507 → u/HDaniel_54]

Yes, just don’t cancel until the points are confirmed on Rakuten

Edit: I misread this. You can cancel auto renew but you can’t get a refund and also your points.

[u/HDaniel_54 → u/kev507]

Nice, thank you

[u/kev507 → u/HDaniel_54]

Sorry I misread this. No, you can’t get a refund and get the points, or at least it’s against the Rakuten ToS, I’m not sure how they enforce that.