In this article we will take a closer look at the ShopKick program.
Can you really make money with this reward program?
After doing some research on Swagbucks, by the way a well working program, I ran into the ShopKick program.
It made me really curious. It`s a reward program for your smartphone, that almost sound too good to be true… Is it, we will dig deeper and find out more.
ShopKick Review
Website: shopkick
Price: Free to join
Would I recommend this program: Nah, it sounds too easy to get your account shut down for no reason (and with that loose your kicks). I would recommend Swagbucks instead.
Shopkick, according to their website, claim that 11 million people love their program. Now if this means that 11 million people use the program is uncertain. The program was launched back in 2009 so they have been around for a while, in ”online time” that`s a long time, I will give them credit for that.
What is a Kick?
Kicks are like reward points. You collect kicks and redeem them into gift cards.
How to Earn Kicks
Download the app to your smartphone, android or iPhone. Through your phone activities you will earn kicks.
Walk into Stores
Walk into a store that works with the Shopkick program, open your app and collect the kicks. But does this really work and how much is it worth?
For walking into a store and opening up the app you will earn around 30 – 100 kicks.
You will have to walk into the store, you might have to wait a while for the shopkick app to recognize through WiFi where you are at. When the app does you will earn the points.
People have had issues with this though. Some have experienced that the kicks will not be added to the total shopkick amount as promised. When they approach the store management about the issue they know nothing about the shopkick program. When contacting shopkick with the issue there is still no way to redeem the points.
Scan Items In Stores
You can also redeem kicks for scanning specific items. Kicks earned per scan is usually around 10 kicks.
Purchase Items
Another way to earn kicks is by purchasing items. The kicks you can earn depends on the item you purchase and they amount they cost. This is for in app purchases only.
Surprise Kicks
They also have a section on the app where you can earn surprise random kicks by looking through the “look books” of each participating store.
Refer Friends
If you send friends to the shopkick program and they signup you will earn kicks on their first 2 weeks of account use. There is a maximum of 2500 points though.
Add Your Credit Card
For easy shopping they want you to link your creditcard to the program, if you do you can earn upto 200 bonus kicks (worth less than a $1). The app can then be used for in store purchases using your credit card.
How Much Is the Kicks Worth?
In most cases you will need 250 kicks to earn $1. Minimum payout is $2 for 500 kicks with Target, just to give you an example. Say that you are earning 50 kicks to walk into a store, then you will have to visit 10 stores to earn $2. Here is a breakdown:
- $2 = 500 kicks
- $5 = 1250 kicks
- $10 = 2500 kicks
- $15 = 3750 kicks
- $25 = 6250 kicks
How to Redeem Kicks
You can redeem the kicks for gift cards at many different places, a few of them are:
- Target
- GameStop
- Toys”R”us
- iTunes
- Lowe`s
- Nike
- BestBuy
- Starbucks
To redem the kicks go to your account and visit the ”rewards mall”. Choose a reward or gift card, tap ”I want this”. You have to verify your phone number before you can redeem your kicks.
What Are Users Saying About ShopKick
Some love it, but some have experienced issues…
Some users have had their accounts shut down with out notice or explanation to why. Messages like “TOO BAD!” “Unfortunately your account history indicates that you have not followed the shop kick rules…You will not be able to collect or redeem any more kicks.”
Another complain has been that the app doesn`t always work and let you collect the points. If you contact them or complain your account will most likely be closed.
Some users even go as far as saying it`s a scam or fraud, they feel cheated on the kicks that they have earned but could never redeem.
My major concern here is the respond from Shopkick. Issues happens, apps don`t always work, there will be things happening with that many users BUT the way they respond to their users are sad.
When users are asked about closed accounts, the Shopkick respond is that they don`t have to explain and that there will be no further communication.
If they shut down accounts and don`t have to redeem the kicks, well more money for them. It sounds like they have put this into a system.
Our Final Verdict
This program will not make you rich. You can make a little money on things you do already, sure. But be aware of how they treat their users. Shutting down accounts just because you have a question or complain is not a good way to treat your users.
That is NOT how you communicate with people that are using your product and should enjoy your program. For that reason only ”I`m out”.
I have tried both ShopKick and Swagbucks and I prefer Swagbucks, same set up but Swagbucks have more options to earn. You can earn by searching the web and watching videos or take short survey`s. Swagbucks is just my personal preference.
If you are ready to earn some good money, check out my #1 free way to make money online.
Do you have any experience with ShopKick? I would love to hear your thoughts about the program please leave a comment below.
Vicky
jus – July 27, 2015
Reply
Amazing idea: Companies pay an app techie to move customers (app users) in the door (rather than wasting it on advertising). App techie shares its profit with the app users, as the motive to move them in the door.
Problems:
1. The app often (read that as OFTEN) does not record points (thus money) earned by customer.
2. There is NO RECORD of history for customer to review, to see they have been deprived of money due to them. They only get a point total (Caveat Emptor – WATCH YOUR POINT TOTALS!)
3. Even when the app recognizes you entered a store (and will not let you enter again), it often takes those points away with a quick notification, saying: “Oops, this store is not awarding (points) today.” Why? Well, if you read their fine print (and you should), the stores only allocate so many reimbursements, and shop kick does not have to inform you when that limit is reached (and it doesn’t). So if the store only pays for the first 3 customers, and 2000 more come, shop kick only has to give kicks/points to the first 3 customers, and will continue to let the remaining 1,997 come in, justifying their fee and encouraging the store to retain them. I tried to use an offer they were boasting of in their OWN BANNER – but it was worthless; no points could be earned.
4. Many app users have reported being banned for “breaking a rule”, with the caveat:
a. they are not told which rule they broke,
b. all the money they previously EARNED in their account is forfeited back to shopkick. (Many users report losing significant amounts, and encourage cashing out earned funds frequently.)
c. all future correspondence with the app user is officially declared terminated; so the app user is never allowed to learn what rule they allegedly violated. (one user reported having over $200 in money due, which she planned to buy Christmas presents with; they banned her and took all of her money, again citing she had broken some unidentified rule.)
5. All of this is reviewed on the wikipedia entry about shopkick, and numerous complaints can be read on the Shopkick Facebook page. It has received a grade of “F” which can be reviewed in detail on the California location of the Better Business Bureau.
They purportedly took in 110 million dollars in profits in 2014.
Thanks for the details!
Is this info from your own experience?
Shopkick has obviously put a system in place to rip their users off… If somebody ever consider using it, read the fine print first.
Sounds like we both agree on choosing another alternative.
Thanks,
Veronica
Thank you for your clear review. I am a Swagbucks user and have had great success with them! They are very good about issues in receiving credits.
I was curious about this ShopKick app, but leery of how much you earn versus redemption.
I also use MyPoints which like ShopKick gives you a way to earn without purchase. There isn’t a limit on MyPoints though, but email clicks have to be done by a specific date listed on them.
Sounds like between the two I have there isn’t any good reason to add ShopKick.
Hi Laura, thanks for your input! There are just too many hick-ups with ShopKick. Accounts shut down for what seems no reason. I think you are better off focusing on the ones you are working with already. Swagbucks is a good one.
How is MyPoints compared to Swagbucks?
MyPoints has been around for a very long time, and is a great one. You can get 5 points for clicking on emails, but I forget to do that. I use it for when I online shop. It is a good one to combine with Swagbucks, since they both have different vendors.
Thanks for the tip Laura!
The spelling and grammar in this article is atrocious! If you’re going to write an article use spell check and grammar check.
Welcome Edie, I`m flattered that you “the Internet grammar police” took the time to leave a comment.
Let me just give you a friendly advice for next time you stop by 🙂
Since English is my second language, I will happily accept any spelling or/and grammar correction.
Instead of being judgmental offer to help, the Internet and the world would be a much better place.
Vicky
Glad I have started to take the time to search reviews,of a lot of deals that sounds too good to be True,My neighbor sent me the shopkick link I looked at it,then decided to check their Reviews,and your site with comments from others who really didn’t have any good comments for ShopKick,Thanks Vicky keep informing the innocent people about those who Preys on the Consumers.
A lot of times, if it sounds too good to be true, it often is…
I’m glad you enjoy my content.
Vicky
I tried Shop Kick because my friend recommended it, plus if I joined through her link she sent, she would receive points and so would I. That didn’t happen. When I first installed it, I walked into Wal Mart and received points. That was the only points I ever received .i had to contact them several times only to be told the stores I was using my debit card at wasn’t a part of shop kick even though they were. I sent customer service several Screen shots of their page telling me I would get points for shopping there, only to be told it was a mistake on their system. In the end I sent them an email telling them they were a total waste of a consumers time and a BS company. They added 500 points to my account to get me to keep their app, it was worth a $2 Wal Mart gift card. After laughing at their attempt to keep me, I deleted their app. Don’t bother with this program! It’s not worth any ones time and you will never get anything from them!
Thank you so much Kellie for sharing your experience. It sounds like ShopKick is not delivering.
Sounds like time wasted and low income if any potential.
Appreciate you sharing your story with us,
Vicky
Had 100 dollars worth of kicks saved and was banned, same as all the trusting people here. No one’s doing anything wrong, Shopkick just doesn’t want to pay out. Shopkick is stealing. Even when an employer lets someone go, (for whatever their reason) the employer will pay them their last check. Pay people what they have earned. Shopkick is the one cheating. I would even be happy donating the money to “Feeding America”. Shopkick just change your name to Shoplift. Because that’s what you’ve done to a lot of people’s gift cards that you owe them. Their “walk ins” are recorded in the activity section. Did all these people here, cheat on their “walk in” kicks all over the city too Shopkick? Really Shopkick? Really? Wow?
Hi Zack,
Sorry about your ShopKick experience!
They seem to have a lot to explain and a lot to fix, before this should be back out on the market.
It really does sound like the take points away for no reason,
Hope you find something that works for you,
Vicky
Do not use shopkicks. Its the most absolute waste of time. My account was suspended for no reason saying that I had suspicious activity. How can you cheat the system when all you do is scan the items they give you. I deleted mine and will not be apart of their app ever again.
I feel so bad for some of the experiences here! I think that you should keep emailing shopkick because you did nothing wrong, Zack, and I bet someone will be nice enough to correct the mistake. I hope they fixed their mistakes, and I haven’t tried to cash out like Zack has but I love shopkick so far!