You probably read the title to this post and don’t believe it. Well, it’s true. I did this by doing an online offer. Now, I’m not the expert on these offers, but Carrie over at Money Saving Methods has done them for a while and as of September of 2008 she had made over $15,000 doing these offers. I was skeptical but I trust Carrie, so on December 29, 2008 I completed the 8 offers required for the prize and site I selected. I ended up receiving the brand new Wii and Wii Fit on February 20, 2009 so the whole thing took less than 2 months and around 3 hours or so total. The next one I do will take less time though, now that I am familiar with these offers.
You have probably seen these offers/banners before and said, “yeah right, that’s not legit.” Well, the ones I am highlighting here are legit. The parent company for these offers is I-deal though there are subcompanies such as Top Notch Media, Bullseye Media, etc. Once you do your first you’ll be hooked – but you can only earn $1,000 per sub-company in a 6 month period.
You’ll need a credit card (ideally one capable of giving you a virtual card number – look on their website or call customer service), a calendar, pen, and some patience but you can do it! Block off at least 2 hours the first day to complete all the offers. You’ll want to get them done in one sitting.
Choose the prize you want. Here are a bunch of options below. All the ones in this post are I-deal parent company site with different sub-companies. Please be advised that sometimes a component of completing an offer is to refer people to do the offer as well. Those can get complicated (not to mention ruin friendships) so all the ones included here are DIY (do-it-yourself) offers with no referrals needed at the time of posting (terms can change so please read the front page carefully to see how many offers are required and whether or not referrals are a part of that).
Wii and Wii Fit – this is the offer I did (FYI: The terms have now changed on this offer and you need to do 2 silvers, 2 golds, and 8 platinums PLUS refer 2 users and have them complete the requirements)
$500 in gas gift cards to your choice – Hollister, Abercrombie or American Eagle
$100 in Restaurant giftcards (Chilis or Fridays)
$500 Ikea Giftcard
$100 Visa Giftcard and Game Jersey
$50 McDonalds giftcard
$500 Orbitz.com giftcard
Pair of Nikes (your choice of Air Zoom Kobe IV, Air the Six or Air Jordan Retro 15 LS
There are more so please email me if you are looking for something different and I’ll look around.
Ok, so now that you have found the prize that you want, look to see how many “offers” you will need to do to get the prize. Offers are divided up into 3 categories – silver, gold and platinum. Usually for a $500 value prize, you will do 2 silvers, 2 golds, and 4 platinums. It may be less offers if there is a referral or two involved. Again, I did not include any referral sites here at the time I posted but these offers can change so be sure to CAREFULLY read the fine print on the first page – you should also open the terms and conditions and copy them into a wordprocessing document that you will use to keep track of this offer.
Set up a new free web-based email address for this – you will get spam from the offers you sign up with. Use this new email address for every offer you do.
Fill out the registration on the first page. Then you will get page after page of questions. If there is a “skip” click it, if not make sure to select “no” for each and continue. You’ll finally to get the page that has silver offers on it. I keep going until I reach the platinum offers, then I work backwards. The platinum page will have the fewest and most expensive offers so if there’s nothing on this page for you, pick a new prize and start over! You should figure out which offers you are going to do before starting to do them. Make a plan. This is a good time to research the offers you are doing. You are only allowed to do one offer per parent company. The sites don’t tell you who their parent company is so you’ll need to do some research. For instance, if a site looks similar and/or especially if the checkout page looks similar then they are likely from the same parent company.
Now you’re asking what an “offer” is – offers are trials for things like Netflix, skin and make-up products, book clubs, etc. Each offer will have its own terms. Make sure to copy and paste the terms of each offer (including price of offer, how long trial period is, price of trial, price after trial expires, number to cancel, etc.) on the same document you used to copy the general offer’s terms and conditions. Make sure to reference the first page to make sure you are doing the right number of offers under each category. Please make sure to read each offer’s terms VERY CAREFULLY.
A helpful hint is to open an offer, wait a few minutes and then log back in under “check gift status” on the main page to make sure that the offer shows as “pending”. Many may show as pending, don’t worry. Each offer that you open should show as pending whether you complete it or not. If you have an offer open and it doesn’t show as pending, close it out, wait a few minutes and start over until it shows as pending.
Another hint is to use a virtual credit card number for these offers. My Discover and Citibank cards have that feature available on their websites. Using the feature I am able to disguise my true credit card number by getting a virtual credit card number. Check your credit card company to see if this number is good for one use only or for one vendor only. Each company has different terms.
Sign up for offers that interest you. These companies are subsidizing the fabulous prize you chose so try the product and give it a chance – maybe it would make a great gift for someone on your list?
After you have completed the requisite number of offers, you play the waiting game (on pins and needles). With my experience, all of my offers had approved within 2 weeks. 2 of my co-workers just did one and they were also approved within 2 weeks. It is also common to have an offer or 2 not approve. If this happens, you need to do a replacement offer. Replacement offers generally credit within a day or 2.
Once all offers are approved and you “check your gift status” from the main page it will say that you have completed all offers and link to a redemption certificate. You must fill in and print this certificate as well as a W-9 form (these earnings are taxable) and send them in. I send them priority mail with delivery confirmation. I then wait until I see confirmation on the postal service website and give the company 2 week to process my redemption certificate and paperwork. If, after 2 weeks, your status has not changed, you need to email them with your delivery confirmation number. My status changed exactly 2 weeks from the date they received it and it said that my prize would arrive within 6-8 weeks. It arrived earlier than that, on February 20, via FedEx.
Ideal gives you 60 days from the date you first register until the date that everything must be completed and all paperwork mailed to them. Do the offers on the day you register as your clock starts ticking then. Keep track of all dates, company names, terms and conditions, cancelling instructions, phone numbers, etc. I found it easy to create a table (or spreadsheet if you’re more Excel-literate than I am) with that information for each offer I did.
Whew, this has been a long post and I’m sure many of you will have more questions. Please leave a comment or send me an email through the “contact me” button on the left sidebar and I’d be more than happy to help. Please remember that organization is key to successful completion of these online offers! Good luck!
Related Coupons
Check out HOT Amazon deals on your favorite items!
I started Nicole's Nickels in February 2009 to bring all of the great deals I was finding to my friends and family and then it took off! Since then I've continued my full-time day job as an attorney while blogging in the evenings and on weekends. I help my clients during the days at the non-profit I work for and then my Nicole's Nickels readers trying to find the best deals for their family! I live in south/central Florida and have 2 cute dogs (see their picture under "mascots") and an amazing boyfriend who has a spunky 6 year old we get to spend a lot of time with. I love telling my readers about great deals and also about the cool products I get to try. Most of all I love giving stuff away to my readers! I hope you'll take the time to
{ 173 comments… read them below or add one }
← Previous Comments
Next Comments →
My husband and I did this offer but have had a terrible time of it. We’ve done at least ten platinum offers and even opened a credit card (which we received and made the first purchase on even) and STILL only three have approved. We aren’t sure what to do. We are only one platinum offer away from being able to get this thing done!
Hi SDK: I am sorry this has been such a frustrating process for you! My only advice would be to keep on going and do another platinum offer. How many days away from the 60 days are you?
Hi Nicole,
I just wanted to give you an update on my status. I emailed customer service who told me that my registration didn’t go through and I needed to reregister. I did so and emailed them back, but they said I STILL wasn’t registered. I registered again, and have emailed them several times, but have not received a response. I’ve even tried going through the customer service link again, but it looks like they won’t even respond.
TCita: I’m sorry you’re still frustrated. I’m not sure what happened with your offer as I haven’t heard of this happening before. My only advice would be to keep contacting customer service.
Nicole, do we have to use the same credit card for all the offers?
Dawn: No, you do not have to use the same credit card for all of the offers. Many credit cards will put your account on hold if you try to do them all on one card, because of the small charges online in one quick period. I used 3 different credit cards.
I just got my Wii and WiiFit in the mail today!! YAY!! Thank you for taking the time to explain all this for us! I’m very happy with how it turned out!
Dear Mrs G – I’m thrilled for you! Thanks for posting the comment. Are you going to start another offer now? I’ve posted a more updated list, just click online offers on the top navigation bar…
don’t I have to wait 6 months before I do another one?
Mrs G: No, you don’t have to wait 6 months to do another. The rule is that you can only earn $1,000 for each sub-company (that’s the DBA for Ideal so the one you did was a Top Notch Media offer) in a 6 month period. The Wii/Wii Fit is valued at $500 so you can do another $500 from Top Notch or choose another Ideal site (Bullseye, Jasper, etc. – they are listed by sub-company in my other post) and you’re good to go!
I was just curious if you ever have any problems with companys that you have signed up for offers. Do they always cancel, do they keep charging you even after you have cancelled? I signed up today to do my first but got scared when I was going to do an offer for a jewelry company. Their terms was about 8 lines long, no phone # or email. How long have you been doing this? Is it always succesful? Have you ever had any big headaches?
I’m doing the $500 amazon
Hi House of Howells: No, I haven’t had any issues with the companies I did offers with. I haven’t had any big headaches personally and have several co-workers who do these offers as well. Choose your offers wisely and move on if the offer looks suspicious to you. Make sure to read the terms and conditions carefully and print the page or copy and paste them into a separate document. Check your credit card account online and if you see anything suspicious, dispute the charge with the credit card company. Let me know if you have any other questions.
Nicole – I got my Wii & Wii Fit on Saturday! Perfect timing because my hubby was out of town and it is going to be his birthday/father's day present. He totally knows he's getting it, just not sure when. He will be sooo surprised! I'm so glad I did this offer. Thanks again for all of your help and encouragement throughout the process.
I just got my Wii & Wii Fit on this past Friday. This was a great offer. I had no problems whatsoever & received the wii & fit within 5 weeks after receipt of my certificate. Thanks so much for the detailed instructions! I couldnt have done it without you Nicole!
I'm interested in doing this, I clicked on the Orbitz.com giftcard link and it sent me to a corrupted link with another link to go to….now I'm confused as to what steps to follow on the pages.
Also are all the platnium offeres in reference to applying for credit cards?
Dear Anonymous: The links for these offers come and go so I suggest looking at my most recent post on these offers from last week, those offers should be still valid. You sign up and then make sure to click through the pages selecting "no" or "skip" – it will take a while but you'll finally get to a last page of platinum offers. Start there. And no, the platimnum offers aren't all about credit cards, there is a large variety. You can see the offers on the offer signup page in the fine print below there is a link to click to see the offers. Hope that helps. Please let me know if you still have questions.
Can I start two of these at the same time under the same sub company?
Jen – I don't see a reason why not!
I am doing the Top Notch $500 Visa giftcard and have run into problems with cancelling one of the offers through National Credit Report.com I have called the number provided and placed on hold for 21 minutes each time then my call is disconnected. I only have 4 more days to cancel until they start charging me again. Not to mention they have already charged my card(authorization only) for $14.95 at the start of the "free trial" Any suggestions. I am not sure I will ever do this again it takes way too much time to sign up then cancel everything. And my status on all of my gold and platinum orders still say pending.
Dear Kirkham Family: I'ms orry you're so frustrated. Online offers aren't for everyone. As far as National Credit Report, I haven't done their offer but have you looked into an alternate phone number or perhaps cancelling by email or their website? if not, I like to call companies right when they open or close, I find those are the best times to get through. Many companies do the "authorization only" holds on credit cards, that is probably in their terms and conditions that you agreed to when you signed up. How many days into the offers are you? Golds generally approve in 3-5 days, platinums in 7-12 days – have you gone beyond these time frames?
Thanks Nicole. I was able to finally able to reach the company I got at 6 AM my time to get a hold of the company I still held for 20 minutes but I was finally able to talk to a real person to cancel. I would not do their offer they are given a C- rating on BBB if I do another offer again I will be careful and check BBB first. I have not gone over on the time frames so I will anxiously await the approvals to pop up. The 14.95 has been deducted from my account and the company stated it would be removed in 3-5 business days. I cut and pasted everything into a word doc. to keep organized my hubby already wants me to do another. I told him I want to see how this one turns out first. Do you need referalls on this one to complete the offer? I noticed in the terms and conditions something about referrals or you recive $50. Is this the case?
Thanks again
Dear Kirkham Family: Which offer are you doing? The only thing I know about referrals are the offers that require 2 referrals that I don't recommend at all.
Okay so I was not paying attention I cut and pasted the wrong terms & conditions from one that I was linked to from a popup that was a $500 dollar card and did not realize it until I re-read the terms and conditions on the site.
Thanks so much.
I am new to this and was going to try out for the kohls card, and today on babycenter.com I stumbled across one for a $1000 grocery card! Do you know anything aBOUT this one, here is the link http://grabbitrabbit.com/rd_p/?p=188044&t=10785&c=&a=
Dear Maranda and Sariah: The offer you linked to is NOT an Ideal offer so I can't recommend it or comment as to whether it is legit.
Thank you for responding so quickly! You are awesome. I think I will just stick with the Ideal ones you posted. How did you find out the company? (ideal?)Also, I called all my credit cards and none of them have an option for the online number you were talking of. Would you reccomend me getting a discover card or will like a preloaded visa card work?
Oops look like you already covered the question about the prepaid visa card! Thanks again
Okay, sorry to have left so many comments. Turns out my husband has a citi card so I should be able to use that. Can I cancel these phantom numbers after I use them?
Maranda and Sariah: I believe with Citi the numbers are one-use only, there is nothing to cancel and no option to do so but you'll want to check with Citi to be sure.
Thanks, I took the plunge today, did all my offers and so we'll see hope I did it right!
Thanks for all your help
Good luck! Keep me posted.
I did all 8 of my offers on wednesday and today my silver offers approved. Is it typical for these to approve first. Should I still wait for my gold and platinum offers to approve?
Dear Maranda and Sariah: Yes, you're right on track. Silvers generally approve in 1-2 days, golds in 3-5 and platinums 7-12. You just wait now until day 13 and see what's approved. Remember though, it is likely that you will have to do some replacement offers.
Yay! thanks! I am going to send lots of people to check out your site! This is so awesome, thanks for all of your help, and not thinking I am too annoying!
Hey Nicole. I've been skeptical about these things for years, but last month I decided to try it your way. I did the wii + wii active offer from top notch. I started on July 15th and used my BofA credit card online to limit the charges, and this morning, I was all approved. I'm printing everything out now, but if all goes well (or it doesn't), I will keep you updated on the status.
Thanks so much for the tutorial. I haven't sent everything back yet, but I believe it will come out to about $55 total including shipping costs.
Great, Kia! Make sure to send it delivery confirmation and mark down 2 weeks after they receive it to make sure your status has changed to processed. Keep me posted!
OKay, me and my sister both wanted to try this out. So far it has worked out great! I only have one replacement left and she mailed in her certificate today. I told her to make sure to get delivery confirmation but when she went to the post office she sent it certified mail (i think this requires a signiture) now I am worried for her. Was this a horrible mistake? Will she still get her gift card?
Sariahdawn: I responded to the comment your sister left about this – she left it in one of the other online offers posts. Yes, it was a mistake for sure. A horrible mistake? I'm not sure. She can email Ideal to see if they will accept it but from what I have read they likely will not. In that case, she can resend her materials using the delivery confirmation that I have in my instructions and hopefully it will all work out.
oh thanks I read through the comments but didn't see it. so sorry you had to answer it twice!
Nicole. You have been great and so much helpful info here. I completed mine and I am waiting on my $550 GC to arrive!!!
Ok so it has been 2 1/2 weeks since they got my letter with delivery confirmation and I emailed them and they said it can take up to 4 weeks to process. That I should email them back if it hits 4 weeks since delivery. Is this weird that mine hasn't changed the status yet? That they are saying this?
"Anonymous" – The scenario you are describing is completely normal. That is their standard response when you email about your status changing to processed. Usually, after you email, in a few days your status will change…
I sent in my w9 and my form via priority mail with delivery confirmation and they received it on 8/27/09. Yesterday I emailed becuase my status has still not changed. I haven't even gotten an email response back, should I be concerned?
Dear Rachael: No need to be concerned yet, the scenario that you describe is normal. It takes them a day or 2 to email back and they will just send you a form email saying it can take up to 4 weeks for your status to change. I find that a few days after I send this email my status will change!
I started my second online offer about a week ago. The first one went fine with only having to redo one silver offer and I have already sent in my w9 and gift claim form. I am just waiting for them to finish processing it. I am now on day 8 or 9 of my second offer with a different parent company, esolutionsmedia. However, none of my offers silver, gold, or platinum are showing approved. All are listed as pending. Does this mean that I will have to redo at least 4, 2 silver and 2 gold offers? That will really raise my cost and trouble. The offers that I signed up for all went through and I have gotten the samples in the mail. The only thing that I can think of that would cause a possible problem is that the virtual credit card that I used had my husband's name on it for billing. Because he is the primary card holder the credit card website wouldn't let me put my name on the virtual credit card. I did use a virtual credit card with his name on it for several offers of my first gift card set and it worked fine. Sorry this is long and involved. Any thoughts?
Hi Catherine: It means you may have to redo the offers, or they may credit soon – I have heard of a longer crediting cycle on ideal – like 10 days for silver, 20 for gold, and 30 for platinum but haven't experienced it or heard of too many others experiencing it. It might have been the virtual credit card that caused the problem – when the names don't match. I'm not really sure about that. I would wait a few more days and then reasess the situation.
just wanted to say thank you for this post. I never would have had the courage to try one of the offers without it. I just got my $500 gift card yesterday. Thanks again!
Nicole,
Hi. I too finally took the plunge and just did it. I started the process on Sept. 2. All my offers posted almost right away except 1. So I did a replacement offer on Sept. 18th. It also never posted. On Oct 2 (today), I contacted the company via email to see what I could do since it had been 30 days. They said that I could fax them my credit card statement showing the charges and the confirmation emails, but they could not guarantee they could give me manual credit. I kept excellent records, so it will not be a problem providing the documentation, but I still feel leery about the whole situation. Have you ever dealt with Top Notch Media personally, and if so, has it been your experience that they will issue a manual credit if you provide the documentation they need?
Thanks,
Jessica
Jessica: You need to hurry! You're already 30 days in and the offer expires after 60 and that includes the processing time of your certificate. From my experience and what I have read you cannot rely on Ideal (Top Notch) to manually credit you. I would do another replacement offer (or even 2) tonight and hopefully you'll be able to mail in your redemption form on Monday!Just so you'll know for next time, replacement offers credit in 1-2 days so if it goes past that you'll need to do another replacement offer. Hope this all helps, let me know.
Nicole,
Wow- that was a fast response. Thanks. I faxed all the docs to them Friday and I did a replacement offer today, Saturday. My fingers are crossed that one option will pan out. I hated to do yet another replacement offer because to some degree I feel like I am throwing good money after bad money, but I'll give it one more go. It has really stressed me out. Hopefully, this new offer will process by Monday or Tuesday and I can get my reward mailed right away, I guess I can always expedite the shipping. Thanks again for your advice. I'll let you know how it all turns out.
Jessica
← Previous Comments
Next Comments →
{ 2 trackbacks }