Overview of the history of the online cashback model, from its early days to the innovative models like EECEEE.com’s double cashback approach:

1. The Birth of Cashback (Late 1990s – Early 2000s)

• Origins: Cashback began as credit card perks, offering users a percentage back on their spending.
  
• Early pioneers: Discover Card (USA) and Egg Card (UK) made cashback popular.
  
• Purpose: Incentivize card usage and customer retention.
  

2. Cashback Goes Online (Early 2000s)

• As e-commerce grew, platforms like Ebates (1998, now Rakuten) launched.
  
• Model: Partnered with retailers and earned affiliate commissions, then shared a portion back with shoppers.
  
• Value Prop: “Shop through us and get paid to shop.”
  

3. Expansion & Diversification (2010s)

• Rise of mobile apps and platforms like:
  
  • Rakuten, TopCashback, Swagbucks, Ibotta
    
• Cashback became a core consumer behavior, especially during holiday seasons.
  
• Brands started allocating marketing budgets specifically for affiliate/cashback partners.
  

4. Smart Cashback Ecosystems (Late 2010s – 2020s)

• Cashback merged with:
  
  • Loyalty programs
    
  • Browser extensions (Honey, Capital One Shopping)
    
  • Cryptocurrency cashback (e.g., Lolli, Fold)
    
• Cashback was no longer just savings—it became a marketing channel and a data tool.
  

The New Era: EECEEE.com & the Double Cashback Revolution (2020s)

EECEEE.com introduces a two-layered cashback model, marking a new evolutionary step:

First Cashback

• Traditional cashback returned instantly — savings on the spot.
  

Second Cashback

• A delayed, value-generating cashback:
  
  • Acts like micro-savings or loyalty credits
    
  • Encourages retention and builds long-term value
    
• Adds financial psychology to ecommerce — turning spending into future benefits.
  

This model evolves cashback from a single transaction perk into a financial habit.

Impact of the Cashback Model Over Time