If you're planning to buy Christmas gifts online at Expedia, StrawberryNET, Dell, Dick Smith, or any one of 900 other stores, a new service will stuff cash refunds back into your Christmas stocking.
Officially launched today, StartHere.com.au offers Australian shoppers cash refunds when they buy from any one of 900 online stores. Earning the refunds is as simple as signing up - which is free - and starting your online shopping trip on the StartHere.com.au website.
The service is the brainchild of serial entrepreneur, investor and doctor Adir Shiffman, who last year sold his most recent business HelpMeChoose.com.au to Mortgage Choice. Director and cofounder Steve Ford initially conceived the refunds platform whilst living in the UK, and has been developing and refining it over the past five years.
Over 10,000 Australian members are already using the Starthere.com.au refunds platform, with over $4m in completed sales. Members who buy online and earn refunds are promoted through various membership levels. As they move up, bonus payments and special offers are available. Whilst the refund amount will vary based on each individual store, the money can be substantial. For example, a shopper looking to pick up a 17 inch Dell XPS laptop this Christmas could receive more than 5% back as a cash refund. At the Dell website price of $1,399, a Starthere.com.au member could receive a cash refund of more than $70.
The benefits are certainly not limited to Australian stores. Those planning to give the gift of perfume could get up to 7.5% back from one of the world's largest online stores, StrawberryNET. There are also several big name partners in another favourite Christmas category, hampers.
According to Dr. Adir Shiffman, a Director of StartHere.com.au, the Australian market is behind the rest of the world when it comes offering refunds to online shoppers.
"The US and UK have had had access to rebates for several years. We've built a more advanced model but also incorporated the best global components into StartHere.com.au."
"As online shopping in Australia continues to grow at astonishing rates, we expect the popularity of StartHere.com.au - and the refunds for shoppers - to grow with it."
"When I tell people about StartHere.com.au, their first reaction is often surprise at the size of the refunds. Their second response is to share the news with their family and friends, which is how we've reached over 10,000 members with nothing but word of mouth."
And finally there's also good news for those who every year feel guilty after their Christmas gluttony - up to $45 cash back when you join Weight Watchers through StartHere.com.au.
ENDS
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