Hey guys,
I've found an app for Android called Spotlight and really I should've posted it ages ago (but for some reason it never crossed my mind).
Basically it's a market research app that you actually can't get through the Market (now called Play Shop). It has "cashback" promotions which are run independently from the actual retailers, but the items themselves must be purchased from them. It's a program that's been running since around mid-Jan and I think it's ending within the next few weeks, but it is still active and still working.
Examples of what I've redeemed so far:
- Spend $15 on anything at ANY store and get $3 back
- Get $2 back when you spend at least $7 at McDonalds
- Get $5 back on a min purchase of $20 at Woolworths
- Get $5 back on a purchase of $25 or more from Coles Express, BP
- Take a photo of a red car in Sydney and get $1
- Take a photo of one word that describes you and get $1
Example of current offers:
- $5 rebate when you spend over $25 at Oportos
- Get $3 back when you spend over $15 at a Priceline
They also have quiz questions (3 per day) which you get 10c for each for answering them. There are almost 200 so if you answer them all you'll get about $20. I myself have got about $66 redeemed so far.
As I said it's run independently from the retailers themselves so most of the time they have no idea what Spotlight is. Most of the time you redeem it by taking a picture of a receipt (so remember to keep your receipt) and uploading it to Spotlight. You have to take the photo through Spotlight and you can't snap it first, and upload it later.
Catches? From what I know, it tracks your location. Personally I don't mind it, but some people might. You also need a Paypal account (just have one before the program ends) for them to credit the money to you.
So I thought I'd share this with you guys and as I said I should've posted this much earlier but never thought about it. For each referral I get $10 - and you guys can refer others too. Their referral system is not like others though where you have to follow a link of some sort. I'll post the instructions here on how to install it, and I'll need to let Spotlight know that I've referred you. You just need to let me know what email address you use to install it (probably best to message me and not post it here).
Instructions to install are as follows:
- Visit http://spotlightapp.net/Downloads/ in your phone's browser and click on the download button.
- Open the APK and install it! - if it doesn't let you install it, you probably need to allow your phone to install APKs from "unknown sources". Settings -> Security [In Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich]; Applications [in Android 2.3 Gingerbread] -> Tick Unknown Sources
- The APK (ResearchAgent.apk) once installed, should prompt you to download another app. It says something like "Your application is ready to download" in your notifications.
- [For the Referral bit] - let me know what email address you used to sign up with Spotlight. I will then let Spotlight know that I referred you and I'm entitled to $10!
Just remember that you need to keep both ResearchAgent and Spotlight installed. ResearchAgent is what pushes Spotlight updates to you and you need to keep it installed for them to work.
Note: In ICS, the font size in spotlight is a little too spaced out and you often can't see the whole offer or quiz question. It is an issue that I'm currently experiencing. My workaround for it is to email Spotlight and ask them what a given offer is, or borrow my brother's phone (who also has Spotlight) to check what the offer or quiz question is.
Update April 3rd: Received an email from Spotlight that this program is now being extended until late May 2012, so this is not ending as soon as expected!
big risk
looks dodgy