Rakuten Offers 10% Cash Back in Big Stack Event

Rakuten has launched its annual Big Stack Event, offering enhanced cash-back bonuses on purchases made through its platform. This year's event runs until October 7, providing shoppers with opportunities to earn rewards on a wide range of products and services. During the promotion, consumers can receive elevated cash-back rates at popular retailers such as PetSmart, Macy's, Gap, Nike, Sam's Club, and Carter's, among others. These increased rewards are part of Rakuten's strategy to drive sales during the early holiday shopping season.

Shoppers have the option to receive their earnings as cash back or convert them into American Express Membership Rewards points or Bilt Points. For instance, a 10% cash-back offer can be exchanged for 10 Amex Membership Rewards points or Bilt points per dollar spent. Rakuten suggests that converting cash back to points can yield a significantly higher overall value, particularly for individuals who strategically leverage points with Amex or Bilt travel partners. While the event advertises a baseline of 10% cash back, Rakuten has identified specific offers reaching as high as 15% or 20% for certain retailers.

New users to Rakuten can benefit from a special introductory offer during the Big Stack Event. They can receive a $50 bonus upon spending $50 at an eligible retailer, which is an increase from the standard $30 referral bonus typically offered to new members. To participate in the cash-back program, customers must initiate their shopping trips by visiting the Rakuten website. From there, they search for their desired retailer and click through to the retailer's site. Once a qualifying purchase is completed, Rakuten tracks the transaction and credits the bonus rewards to the user's account, usually within a few days.

The Big Stack Event includes a diverse selection of participating retailers across various categories. In the travel sector, offers are available for Expedia, Hotels.com, IHG Hotels and Resorts, Samsonite, Viator, and Vrbo. For general shopping, consumers can find elevated cash-back rates at Macy's, Land's End, Carter's, Crocs, Dermstore, DSW, Dyson, Hoka, Gap, Lego, PetSmart, and Zappos. It is noted that while Target is a participating retailer on Rakuten, it is not offering any increased Big Stack Event bonuses during its concurrent Target Circle Deal Days sale, which also concludes on October 7. This distinction highlights that not all retailers within the Rakuten network are participating with the same promotional intensity during this specific event.