TopCashback AU Waste of Time (in My Experience)

FiveDarrah on 11/06/2025 - 17:51

Your experience may differ of course. I know using cashback sites has a cost - in time. I'm not new to it but I am new to TC.

I used firefox specifically for this purchase but later found out they have tracking blocking built in, so maybe that messed with it.

My purchase was in early feb and I had to wait a bit before submitting a claim, which was in early March.

They then asked for some info which I didn't have in April. Their response to this took 14 days, asking me to email them (which I did on the same day).

That was nearly 4 weeks ago and the status is "We're almost done preparing your claim to send to the retailer."

This is like Trump saying he has concepts of a plan. I can't imagine forwarding the relevant info I provided takes 4 weeks to prepare. And then it will be another period of time for the retailer to reply and so on.

I've had issues with cashrewards but it was never this bad. I've had long waiting periods too, but not on manual claims. I'm told reasonably quick whether my claim is valid or not.

So yeah, I think at this point i've tipped past the 'not worth it' point. For around 40 bux.

Their messaging system is subpar. Just piecing together what happened required me going back and forth between my emails and their claim page, which doesn't log staff correspondence, only my messages.

Maybe it's an outlier but this is a terrible first impression. Not impressed.

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Comments

  • RogerLoger on 11/06/2025 - 18:23
    +4

    I use a few browsers and have ad blocking in two of those: Librewolf; and, Brave. When necessary, I use Microsoft Edge, which is a Vanilla installation that has no extensions, other than my password manager and perplexity. I had an argument with a cashback provider. I was unable to redirect any of their associated sellers with both extension and website claiming I was using an ad-blocker. I have no ad blocker in Edge and was also using and InPrivate window. I was also supposed to have my credit card linked. Not a cent came through to the account for any spend. Their advice was repetitive, 'disable your ad blocker'. My response was repetitive - I don't have an ad blocker in Edge and am using an InPrivate window in any case". Their stone wall response wore me out. I deleted the account.

    • FiveDarrah on 11/06/2025 - 22:47

      Frustrating. I get why they need adblockers disabled but i've generally had stuff go through manually with cashrewards. So the adblocker shouldn't be a dealbreaker, it just makes it harder to track or attribute transactions to yo (or whatever voodoo they do in the back end).

      One thing that annoys me is the minimum wait period - it's long enough that a good % probably forget before it's too late to claim.

      • haemolysis on 11/06/2025 - 23:48
        +3

        They very clearly advise you to disable adblockers. What part of that did you not understand?

    • haemolysis on 11/06/2025 - 23:56
      +4

      So let me get this straight. You want to be tracked doing your shopping, so they can link you back for Cashback.

      In order to facilitate them being able to track you, you used an InPrivate window, a feature designed for privacy which minimises cookie and tracking sharing….

      Right.

      • RogerLoger on 12/06/2025 - 04:52
        -1

        All InPrivate does is clean up everything when you close the browser. It allows all the cr@p to flow in use.

        • haemolysis on 12/06/2025 - 08:46

          That is not correct. In a default browser configuration, InPrivate has the tracking prevention setting set to "Strict." The default browser tracking prevention is "Balanced."

          Cashback sites are, by nature, commercial tracking. Therefore, to avoid issues, you should not browse in either of these modes. You should turn tracking prevention OFF.

  • jv on 11/06/2025 - 19:34
    -1

    TopCashback AU Waste of Time (in My Experience)

    Agreed…

  • DingoBilly on 11/06/2025 - 22:05
    +1

    Unfortunately this is just the case with all cashback type apps.

    It's not always consistent and you should only really buy what you were going to originally in case it doesn't track.

    • FiveDarrah on 11/06/2025 - 22:44

      Of course - but offering cashback IS an incentive to purchase. We aren't robots.

      That's why there's such fierce competition in that space and is present in virtually every ozb newsletter.

      It can be a reason to purchase more or purchase at a particular time. It may sway you to one seller over another. In short - it has an influence.

      I never had this much trouble with cashrewards. Can't remember what shopback was like.

    • Store Reptightarse @ TopCashback AU on 13/06/2025 - 09:33

      they declined my bigw order for no reason at all

      Just checked your account. You applied code THIRTY, which was not advertised on TopCashback and therefore ineligible. So there definitely was a reason.

      https://www.topcashback.com.au/big-w-market/

      Cashback is ineligible on use of any codes not approved and posted by TopCashback.

      • USER DC on 13/06/2025 - 11:39
        -1

        ohhh my bad i didnt realise that sorry

  • Downvoter on 12/06/2025 - 00:00

    Another trashback related post. Yawn. Makes me hope for an uninsured traffic accident post…

    • tenpercent on 12/06/2025 - 06:58
      +1

      Unisured traffic accident post isn't a good analogy.
      A better analogy would be: insured by dodgy dave's homebrand no frills insurance pty ltd and they refused to pay out even though the other driver admits fault and the dashcam footage is enquivocal but there was no gps tracking at the time of the accident so no payout.

  • surfingedge on 12/06/2025 - 10:23
    +1

    I use firefox and manually disable "enhanced tracking protection" for every site. Never had an issue with tcb

  • ihbh on 12/06/2025 - 12:25

    Many OZBers have $5k+ cashbacks from the various players.

    (in My Experience)) People either learn how to make it work for them or they post a complaint.

  • mitt on 12/06/2025 - 17:26

    Every cashback site is like that if your tracking does not work.

    Always use the app they provide when counting on cashback, I have never had an issue with TCB, CR or SB so long as I used their respective apps. There is so much plugin BS with any browser its basically gambling on if the tracking works with them.

  • Store Reptightarse @ TopCashback AU on 13/06/2025 - 09:37

    @FiveDarrah Hi. Feel free to reach out directly to me and I'll see if there's anything I can do. Please note however that the initial tracking failure would likely not have occurred had AdBlock been disabled. It's an unfortunate part of the industry we're in as other have commented in this thread. We also have this in our terms on ever retailer page:

    Engaging with plugins such as Honey, AdBlock, uBlock, Pi-hole, VPNs, and browsers such as Brave may prevent your order from tracking.

    Anyway, here to help should you need it. Cheers!

    • FiveDarrah on 26/06/2025 - 04:56

      I want to see how long it naturally takes. If it's happening to me, it's probably happening to others.

      So if you want to help, perhaps poke around in processes and procedures.

      It's an unfortunate part of the industry we're in as other have commented in this thread.

      People intentionally or accidentally blocking tracking is also part of the industry since the start of it.

      Anyway the status of my ticket is still "We're almost done preparing your claim to send to the retailer."

  • ATTS on 14/06/2025 - 17:19

    Oddly i have good exp with shopback when alot of people have tracking issues, i wonder why though

  • Xyzzy on 27/06/2025 - 10:33

    I had my first attempt at using topcashback yesterday. And…
    this morning I have $39.05 in my account. Yay!

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