Expensive shopping trips can leave you feeling guilty. But it doesn't have to be this way. Rewards apps like Fetch can help you save money, even if you primarily order Amazon products. To double down on those sweet Fetch offers, you only need a quick snapshot of a US shopping receipt and download the app on any working Android phone. Below, we explain in detail what Fetch Rewards is and why you should use it.
What are Fetch Rewards?
Fetch is a rewards app where you upload a photo of your shopping receipt to earn and collect points. You can exchange points for gift cards from a range of retailers within the US. The app also gives you access to exclusive deals from more than 500 brands that offer point bonuses toward more gift cards. It's an easy way to get more out of the shopping you already do. Unlike other points rewards programs, Fetch rewards you for any receipt you upload from any physical or digital purchase (yes, this includes Amazon).
How does Fetch work?
Fetch is simple to use. When it's installed, take photos of your receipts and earn points immediately. Behind the scenes, Fetch uses receipt scanning technology to extract your purchase data. This data helps companies learn consumer buying habits, including how often people use certain promotions or sales. Fetch also sells the in-app special offer spots to its brand partners and uses your profile data to feed you the most relevant ones.
Fetch's business model focuses on giving you product recommendations tailored to how you shop, so the more you use Fetch, the more relevant Special Offers you'll receive.
For each snapped receipt, Fetch rewards you with a minimum of 25 points. Redeem a special offer to grab up to 5,000 points toward your next gift card. Fetch also allows you to collect daily bonus points, so the more you use the app, the more you earn. Since Fetch accepts any receipt, you collect points easily. Fetch also teamed up with GoodRX so that you can earn Fetch Rewards from your prescriptions (10,000 Fetch points for your first prescription refill and 1,500 for each refill after that). And yes, you also earn GoodRx points.
Keep in mind that Fetch Rewards has a receipt limit. You can only submit up to 35 receipts over a 7-day window; once a receipt falls below the window, you can submit a new one.
How do you get Fetch?
Download the Fetch app from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store. After installing the app, registration is quick and painless. Complete the required information to create your account, and you're ready to start!
So what's the catch?
It all sounds great. You can shop regularly, scan the receipts as you go, and cash in at the end. All for free. What does Fetch get out of it? It's been said that if a product is free, you're the product. In this case, that means your data. Fetch states plainly on its website that its promoted special offers for bonus points are paid for by partner brands and that it uses the personal information you provide to customize the offers you see. This information includes:
- Name
- Birthdate
- Email address
- Billing address
- Shipping address
- Any photo you upload
- Any other information you give them
If you add your GoodRx card to earn rewards, Fetch collects your GoodRx member information. If you're data-conscious, you need to know about GoodRx's history with data sharing. The FTC recently called out the company for not notifying users about its data-sharing practices earlier this year. If you use Fetch and find the data sharing to be intrusive, delete your Fetch account.
Related
How to delete your Fetch rewards account
Here's how to delete your Fetch Rewards account
You lose your points balance when you delete your account.
Speaking of points, another thing to keep in mind is that you don't maintain points forever. Fetch gives you a window of time to remain active, either scanning receipts or redeeming special offers, at which point your account and rewards expire. Fetch gives you 60 days before your account is deemed inactive, and it expires after 90 days of inactivity. So, as long as you use the app once every five months, you keep your points.
Earning your gift cards can be a slow process. Each receipt is worth 25 points, which isn't many, considering you must earn 3,000 points before you can cash out. Unless you take advantage of the bonus points, it might be a while. That 3,000 points translates to a $3 gift card, which can be a lot of work for little return.
When redeeming your first reward, you must redeem a reward worth either $10, $25, or $50 to unlock $3 and $5 redemption.
It's also important to know that Fetch is designed to push you toward buying special offers, and it does this very well. Make sure you don't spend beyond your means to buy offers that are a small bonus at the end of the day.
Better Fetch those receipts
While it may not be lucrative, Fetch is a great way to acquire a small bonus every time you shop. But Fetch isn't the only app capable of scanning receipts. Google has a receipt scanner for its Google Opinion Rewards program, earning you Google Play credits in exchange. The next time you're shopping, don't feel bad about spending when there are plenty of (rewards-based) programs to help you.
