Cash-back promotions

Promotions

Traders often provide promotions in the form discounts or extra goods or service to encourage you to buy from them. Two common forms of this are cash back promotions and discount vouchers.

Cash back promotions

You may have seen advertisements or in store promotions that include offers of cash back on certain products when you are shopping for electrical equipment, computers or whitegoods.

Cash-back offers are a popular marketing tool used by traders to give you an incentive to buy their brand. 

These offers often come with terms and conditions in order to qualify for the offer, such as applying for the offer within a set period of time.

These offers are normally provided directly by the manufacturer and are most often redeemed from the manufacturer after the sale.

It is unlawful for a trader to offer a cash-back or bonus item without providing them as promised or without intending to provide them. Traders must not mislead or deceive you about your purchase. See the ACCC’s false or misleading representations webpage for more information.

How to get the most out of a cash back promotion

• Read the offer carefully before you buy
• Find out all the steps needed to claim the cash-back including any expiration
• Find out if a waiting period for receiving the offer applies
• Keep copies of documents used to claim the cash-back such as your application, receipts, barcodes and serial numbers.

Discount voucher schemes

Discount voucher schemes, including shopper dockets, may give you the opportunity to purchase goods and services from traders at a discounted cost or with other benefits.

Discount voucher schemes can include shopper dockets, gift vouchers/certificates, or vouchers books.

Before you purchase or use a discount voucher, read the terms and conditions, which may include limitations of usage such as being applicable at specified stores or times.