[Update 3] It is possible to trigger Rakuten’s 1500 MR payout (HT: Zhang Sijie). If your cash back has not tracked, you need to contact customer service proactively to have it added; you can start via online Help. Note that this payout still needs final confirmation from Siriusxm, so whether it will be awarded may take some time to determine, YMMV. Paying $1 to get 1500 MR plus an Echo Dot worth about $25 is indeed a very good deal. This deal is still alive for now, though placing an order is very difficult; after trying all kinds of methods, I personally only managed to place one order.
If you wait for Rakuten to track automatically, you may only get $1 or 100 MR (HT: Jasper Jia). If you submit a missing cash back request proactively, customer service may credit it directly, or they may need 10 days to confirm with SiriusXM before awarding it. So whether you can ultimately get the full 1500 MR may depend on customer service, YMMV. Overall, Rakuten’s service is still quite good.
Quite a few readers on WeChat were able to do multiple orders. You can try switching VPNs and using multiple browsers, though if you’re unlucky you still may not get even one order through. See below:
[Update 2] It’s available again. One billing address can buy at least 3 orders (try different browsers, changing IPs, placing the order on your phone, etc.). I had been unable to get past Payment before, but now I finally bought successfully. If you want it, act fast! If payment won’t go through, try Visa/Master gift cards, YMMV. To avoid later hassle, paying with a gift card or virtual credit card is the easiest option.
[Update] It now seems unavailable, and congratulations to readers who got an Echo Dot. Also, based on Rakuten’s Terms, the cash back may depend on the purchase amount; it will depend on how Rakuten enforces it (thanks to reader POTUS for the reminder). Still, getting an Echo Dot for $1 is obviously a good deal no matter how you look at it. One billing address can buy up to three orders, and if you modify the address format a bit, it seems you may be able to buy more. These deals are best done early.
Maximum Cash Back amount is limited to the amount actually paid for the subscription.
Also, according to a DP from WeChat reader Haodong, after purchasing you can talk to customer service, and they may help set the subscription to auto-cancel after the three months are up, YMMV.
[The following was originally posted on July 9, 2020]
About This Deal
Yesterday, WeChat reader Wangbo mentioned an interesting deal: subscribe to Sirusxm for three months for $1 and get a free Amazon Echo Dot (3rd generation). Today, major deal sites have also posted it, so here’s a quick write-up. If you go through a shopping portal, you can also get extra cash back. For example, Rakuten offers up to $15 or 1500 MR. Based on the Terms, it should not conflict with this offer; it only requires that you be a new subscriber and that it not be a free signup, and this one does cost $1.
If you don’t like SiriusXM, you do not need to actually use it, and you also do not need to own a car to sign up.
Exclusions: Cash Back is only valid on new subscription.Special Terms: Cancelled subscriptions or services will void Cash Back. You will only be eligible for Cash Back after merchant has confirmed your order payment has been processed. Maximum Cash Back amount is limited to the amount actually paid for the subscription. Limit one per member. Cash Back is not available on free trials.
One important thing to note is that the sentence Maximum Cash Back amount is limited to the amount actually paid for the subscription may affect the final cash back amount. But if you get the Echo Dot, you’re already ahead.
How much is the free Echo Dot worth? At its highest price, this was the price on Amazon:
There are often discounts or other purchase channels, but it is still worth at least $20, so this is a deal where you come out at least $20 ahead. If you resell it, $30 should be an easy selling price.
Things to Note
- You must be a new user. Existing users need a different email address; ideally, have a different person sign up.
- SiriusXM does not require you to own a car to register, and the account can still be activated.
- After the initial three months, if you do not cancel, the monthly fee starting in month four will be $8/month before tax.
- Cancellation requires a phone call or online chat. Based on my experience, cancellations are refunded on a prorated basis. If you are charged the $8 monthly fee, canceling promptly should still get a good portion refunded.
Official terms:
Activate an Essential streaming subscription and get your first 3 months for $1.00 and get a free Echo Dot (3rd generation) , while supplies last. Fees and taxes apply. A credit card is required on this offer. Service will automatically renew thereafter every month. At the beginning of your fourth month, you will be charged at then-current rates (currently $8/month) . Please see our Customer Agreement at www.siriusxm.com for complete terms and how to cancel, which includes calling us at 1-866-635-2349. All fees, content and features are subject to change. This offer cannot be combined with any other and may be modified or terminated at any time. Offer good only for new SiriusXM streaming subscriptions. Channel lineup varies by package. Limit 1 free Echo Dot regardless of promotion or number of subscriptions purchased. This offer is presented exclusively by SiriusXM.
How to Sign Up
This deal seems very popular right now, so if you want in, do it quickly. Registration is very sensitive to IP address. Readers in the US should generally have no problem. But if you are back in China, you may need a native residential US IP to complete the order successfully (for example, using Google Fi). Various VPNs will most likely fail at the final checkout step, YMMV.
Most shopping portals should have some kind of payout. I chose Rakuten. Just search for SiriusXM within Rakuten and you should see this deal:
Click through. According to Rakuten’s description, as long as your registration is successful, the cash back will be added to your account tomorrow.
After that, just complete the registration. Do not choose the upgrade to Premier Streaming; if things go wrong, you would lose more.
At checkout, it will tell you when billing for the fourth month begins. Be sure to cancel before that charge hits. (Even if you cancel after being charged, it can still be refunded on a prorated basis.)
At checkout, your credit card may not necessarily go through. You really do need a native IP, and you can also try a few times. You can use an AMEX Platinum card to pay; this $1 charge can trigger the streaming credit.
Redemption
After registering successfully, SiriusXM will send you an email for redeeming the Echo Dot along with your subscription. Click the link in that email to activate the reward and subscription, and the next day you will receive a confirmation email that activation was successful. Then use the link below to add the Echo to your cart and enter the coupon code.
After applying the code, $40 will be deducted at checkout, and the tax is also removed in the final payment step, making it effectively a $0 purchase.
The payment page will show SiriusXM Promotion.
Screenshot below:
Rakuten cash back (or MR) may not post the next day as officially stated, so wait patiently a few days. If it ultimately does not track, you can submit a missing cash back request. In terms of service efficiency, Rakuten has always been one of the leaders among shopping portals.
Other Notes
- Is there any risk? Even if everything goes wrong, you would only lose $1. Considering that Rakuten has always been fairly user-friendly and that the merchant itself promoted this deal, the odds of the cash back being denied are not high. (That is also why I chose Rakuten.)
- A lot of people are jumping on this deal right now, and it could die at any time. If you want it, move quickly.
- You may want to use a virtual credit card (for example, one provided by Citi cards) for the subscription, then cancel the virtual card after purchase. This is a very effective way to avoid problems later.
- It is recommended that you wait until after receiving both the Echo Dot and the cash back, and then use the full three months before canceling the subscription. Canceling by phone or online chat is easy.
- One more reminder: after doing this deal, remember to cancel on time!