I'd be curious where you saw the verbiage indicating the account had to be linked.

[SICUnurse9]

When I try to add any new offer for CVS, I get a pop-up stating that I need to link my account to get cash back and then below it states "linking your CVS Pharmacy account is the only way to get cash back at CVS Pharmacy..." The pop-up repeats each time I try to add a new offer...the same way it pops up when I add offers on Hannaford (which has been a link-only retailer since I started Ibotta I think). I'll try to attach a screenshot.

[SICUnurse9]

MB2 Deal Sharer: I tried to reply to your question re: verbiage stating CVS Pharmacy account link is mandatory to get cashback and I attached a screenshot. However, my post didn't show up directly under or above your post so not sure if I replied correctly. My post posted at the end of the thread. This post may do the same idk.I don't post on here much at all. I'll attach the screenshot again.

[Amydstotts]

That's what I've been thinking all along.  Everything was going great and I don't see why ibotta would just switch things up without a good reason.  I am just terribly disappointed with how it all was handled. 

[MB2]

@SICUnurse9 Interesting.  When I add a CVS offer, a popup comes up recommending linking but doesn't require it.

[MGoldstone]

I wouldn't be able to continue to afford to use ibotta. It wouldn't be viable for me to utilize without coupons and savings. If I'd use it at all it would cut me down by 80 to 90% as well. I am an avid user with over $1500 in savings. It's been a life saver. I think they've made a business destroying mistake by taking away savings stacking. Anyone else agree? I forsee ibottas entire company going out of business within 6 mos over this. Don't they realize that their entire platform is couponer's and frugal people? Nobody want's to pay $10 oop for a razor without any savings for $2 or $4 back. Lol we will just wait for a better sale and pay a cheaper price instead. I can't afford to pay a larger oop to wait for the money to come back. That's why I use coupons and ibotta together. It's kept my light's on once or twice. What a loss.

[MGoldstone]

Thank's for the clarification. I appreciate it. Do you think all of them will soon have "no stacking"? Or just certain one's?  I'll never buy Walmart whatever. I have 0 interest in it and I have one near by. I hate Walmart and they aren't coupon friendly. To be honest all this digital stuff is really going to backfire. I can feel it. I'm right there with you- free offers only. If I happen to buy some cheese like last week cabot was on sale and had a cash back.  Then cool. Otherwise, goodbye ibotta.  You've completely tanked your incredibly successful platform. 

[MGoldstone]

Seriously ANY STORE DISCOUNT? Hahaha ibotta really went crazy here. They want everybody bleeding for full price for the pennies of cash back? Sometimes a store sale can be pretty good. I don't want their .75c back if I'm saving $2 off sales price + my $1 off coupon. They're really off their rocker if they think anybody is going to choose full price over that. Life is far too expensive now. Even the most privileged people I know are using their store cards and paying attention to sales.

[MGoldstone]

I see your point. They have to know. Ibotta is largely aaroet research company. At least that's how this all began. The cash back and the occasional surveys they provided must tell them a story about who their audience is.

[FelskyNY]

@MGoldstone  I think the initial idea was to save money with 1 rebate app, and then so many other apps came along that people started stacking.  Let's say Airwick. They have to reimbursed for paper coupons, then they reimburse for CDC, then they reimburse Ibotta, then SK, then SB, etc etc etc.  In the end, the companies profit margin goes down to .01.   Honestly, we've run this gravy train into the ground. Not all couponers STACK the way we do, and in the end, we have pushed this system as far as it can go.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I blame Ibotta for the ABYSMAL communication with US, the users.  The fact that we can't stack like we used to, isn't their fault.  It is the LACK of communication and the change in verbiage that has me annoyed the most.

[SICUnurse9]

I agree. This change is ridiculous. They could've just reduced the cashback amounts. I was initially going to say they should offer 2 separate rebates on items. For example, Aveeno Calm+Restore Facial Moisturizer $3 back if no additional coupon used, and then $1 back or even $0.75 back if a coupon was used. However, that would probably cause too many errors. So why not just reduce the cashback amounts across the board? They would get a lot less backlash from the Ibotta community imo.