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Microsoft touts 25 percent eBay Cashback rebate

The software giant's program to pay people for using its search engine for purchasing is dangling more significant incentive for eBay purchases.

Stephen Shankland Former Principal Writer
Stephen Shankland worked at CNET from 1998 to 2024 and wrote about processors, digital photography, AI, quantum computing, computer science, materials science, supercomputers, drones, browsers, 3D printing, USB, and new computing technology in general. He has a soft spot in his heart for standards groups and I/O interfaces. His first big scoop was about radioactive cat poop.
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  • Shankland covered the tech industry for more than 25 years and was a science writer for five years before that. He has deep expertise in microprocessors, digital photography, computer hardware and software, internet standards, web technology, and more.
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Stephen Shankland

Microsoft is getting more aggressive with Live Search Cashback, a program that offers price cuts for those who buy products found with the company's search engine, touting a 25 percent rebate for items purchased through eBay.

eBay has long been a Cashback partner, but the company went to the trouble of promoting the deal on its Live Search blog Thursday. Kok Waii Wong, Microsoft's group product manager for Live Search, announced the 25 percent eBay rebate on the blog. There are some conditions, though, including a $200 cashback limit and payment through PayPal only. It's offered only in the United States.

That rebate rate is significantly higher than the rebate from most stores, though a few come close, such as Footlocker.com with a 20 percent rebate.

Microsoft also offers a program called SearchPerks that awards points for searching; points later can be redeemed for prizes. The programs are part of its effort to bring more attention to its search engine and compete better against Google and Yahoo.