Cashback, reward apps helping Canadians save, but where is the data going?
BNN Bloomberg
Many of the apps make money from contracts with retailers and brands wanting to trigger purchases, reward loyal customers and learn more about how specific demographics shop.
She scours flyers and websites, alerting her @couponcutiecanada Instagram account's 254,000 followers to supermarket sales and deals at the likes of Lululemon or Amazon.
But one of her tried and true savings methods — apps like Checkout51, Caddle, Drop, and Eclipsa, which offer gift cards, points and cash back in exchange for uploading receipts, tracking purchases or completing surveys — poses a mystery to the savvy shopper.
"The purpose of these apps is to collect data mainly, from my understanding, but I don't know for sure," said Schaubroeck, who lives in Dominion City, Man. about 100 kilometres south of Winnipeg. "I don't know a ton about that side of it."
