Rakuten's Incogni Offer: A Rewards Goldmine?
Rakuten, the popular online shopping portal, frequently offers increased cashback rates and bonus points on various purchases. A particularly noteworthy deal has emerged: a 100x points or 100% cashback offer on subscriptions to Incogni, a service that helps remove your personal data from online databases.
Is this a deal worth jumping on? Let's dive into the details and consider the potential value for RewardSmart users.
Understanding Incogni and Its Value
Incogni scans and requests the removal of your personal information from data brokers' websites. These brokers collect and sell your data, potentially increasing your risk of identity theft, spam, and unwanted marketing. While you could manually contact each data broker yourself, Incogni automates this process, saving you time and effort.
Whether Incogni is worth it depends on your personal value of privacy and how much you value your time. If you are concerned about your digital footprint and the sale of your data, Incogni offers a convenient solution.
The Rakuten Multiplier: Points vs. Cashback
The key to this offer is the choice between 100x Rakuten points and 100% cashback. While 100% cashback is straightforward, the 100x points option presents a potentially far greater value, especially if you strategically redeem those points.
Rakuten points can be transferred to American Express Membership Rewards points or Bilt Rewards points. With strategic redemptions for travel, these points can be worth significantly more than one cent per point (cpp). For example, transferring to Amex and redeeming for flights through partners could yield a value of 2 cpp or more. Bilt points can also be used for Hyatt stays, often providing excellent value.
Let's say Incogni costs $13 per month. 100% cashback would simply get you $13 back. However, 100x points would give you 1300 Rakuten points, which could be transferred to 1300 Amex or Bilt points. At a valuation of 2cpp, that's equivalent to $26 in value!
Maximizing Your Rewards with This Deal
Here's how to maximize your rewards with this Rakuten/Incogni offer:
- Activate the Offer: Ensure you activate the Incogni offer through the Rakuten portal before subscribing. Check the terms and conditions for any exclusions or limitations.
- Choose Points Over Cashback: Unless you absolutely need the immediate cash, select the 100x points option for potentially higher value.
- Use a Rewards Credit Card: Pay for your Incogni subscription with a credit card that earns bonus rewards on online purchases. This could be a card like the Chase Freedom Flex (rotating categories), the Capital One Venture X, or the Amex Blue Cash Preferred.
- Strategic Redemption: Don't waste your points! Aim for high-value redemptions, such as transferring Amex points to airline partners for premium cabin flights or Bilt points to Hyatt for luxury hotel stays.
Is It Right For You?
Consider your individual circumstances. If you're already a Rakuten user and value data privacy, this is a no-brainer. Even if you're not familiar with Rakuten, signing up to take advantage of this promotion could be worthwhile, given the potential points haul.
Actionable Takeaway: Check Rakuten regularly for deals like this. Consider the 100x points offer on Incogni. If you are not already a Rakuten user, sign up and install the Rakuten browser extension to maximize earning potential. Remember to always pay with a rewards credit card!