【2022.3 Update】What surprised me is that this platform actually supports UnionPay purchases on the web, and they are processed as foreign transactions from Hong Kong. You can easily use it to complete foreign-spend cashback promotions on UnionPay and AMEX RMB credit cards. UnionPay and Alipay also have relatively high spending limits, while WeChat only has a daily limit of 500 rmb. Likewise, using UnionPay payment on Li Ka Mao also counts as a foreign transaction.

【Original article below】

The blog previously introduced a platform for buying North American gift cards with RMB:

I came across this “YouWorld Pay” by chance through a Google ad. This is not sponsored—I was interested in the nice little savings it offers.

  • If you sign up through a referral, you can get $5 off your first $25 purchase, equivalent to 20% off, through the end of this month (limited quota, likely to be extended)
  • Through referrals, the referrer can get $10 off (after the referred user spends $25)

Combined, that is essentially $15 in value. If there are two of you, you can get a total of $20 off.

Register for “YouWorld Pay”

YouWorld Pay supports multiple signup methods, including:

  • Referral signup through WeChat and Alipay mini programs
  • Supports phone number registration from China, the US, and Canada, including Google Voice
  • Click the web link (redirects to Alipay), or scan the QR code below with Alipay
  • Get a $25-$5 coupon at signup

Important reminder: Although the WeChat and Alipay mini programs are interoperable, tracking each other’s spending seems to be delayed, so please be patient.

About “YouWorld Pay”

At first I thought this might be a “fake” platform, but after looking into it, it seems to be a decent one and has already raised funding. The company focuses on cross-border business, with the goal of enabling global shopping with rmb. I asked around among some daigou shoppers, especially larger-scale ones, and they are using it too. Their best-selling cards are Saks Fifth Avenue (7% off, up to $2,000), Nordstorm, Macy‘s, and Amazon (0.5% off). In addition, there are gift cards for Starbucks, Apple, Target, Best Buy, and others, so the selection is pretty solid.

It also supports Canadian gift card purchases. Canadian gift cards have a maple leaf flag in the upper-left corner.

Register for “YouWorld Pay”

You must register through a referral in the WeChat or Alipay mini program to receive the related rewards.

  • Important reminder: Although the WeChat and Alipay mini programs and the UnionPay side are interoperable, tracking each other’s spending seems to be delayed, so please be patient
  • My personal suggestion for signup bonus churning is to use only the WeChat mini program for purchases; for long-term use, it depends on your funding situation
  • Registration appears to support only US and Canadian phone numbers; Google Voice can be used
  • Registration requires binding at least one of the following: an edu email, a referral code (I don’t have one), or ID information
  • If payment triggers ID verification, you must complete facial recognition through the Alipay mini program (China IPs are more likely to trigger review)

If you want to register, feel free to join our reader group.

Signup bonus: $5 off your first $25 purchase through the end of this month (limited quota, likely to be extended). Note that your final payment must be at least $25 to trigger it. For example, if you buy an Amazon gift card, it is calculated after deducting the 0.5% discount, so you need to buy at least $25.12.

If you do not see the reward discount, tap the “...” in the mini program and re-enter it.

After registering, you will get one month of Platinum vip service (the membership that gives gift card discounts and points), which is introduced below. If you are only doing the first-purchase bonus, you can basically ignore this vip.

Buying Gift Cards and Managing Them

  • Depending on the channel you use, purchases are supported through WeChat, Alipay, and UnionPay (Cloud QuickPass), and all count as foreign transactions
  • “YouWorld Pay” likely buys gift cards directly from the official websites and then displays the corresponding information inside the mini program. Think about Amazon gift cards—they presumably get at least 5% cashback, so this model is pretty good.
  • For people who do not have USD and only have rmb, 0.5% off is still acceptable. Together with the recent appreciation of the RMB, paying in rmb is reasonable for people who like using WeChat or Alipay.
  • The exchange rate is real-time, and WeChat is even better than Alipay and UnionPay. If you have Alipay premium status, it may be better there.

On the “My Orders” page, you can view your purchase history and manage your cards. For some merchants, the platform can display the live available balance, likely by integrating with the merchant’s Check balance service:

In addition, Saks gift cards can be purchased up to $2,000, at 7% off.

Membership Tiers

If you plan to use it long term, it may be worth studying this. Basically, the more you buy, the bigger the gift card discounts. If you are just doing the first order bonus, you can skip this section. Personally, I think it may be worth using long term if you have the capacity.

The spending requirements and benefits for each tier are shown below:

Shopping Points and Rewards Points

YouWorld Pay offers two discount systems: Shopping Points and YouWorld Points.

Shopping Points are worth 1 c/p; 1000 Shopping Points are worth $10. The referral reward is 1000 Shopping Points each time.

YouWorld Points are earned through spending and can later be used toward gift card discounts. Buying a $10 gift card earns 10 points; if a gift card discount saves you $0.1, then 10 points are deducted.

BSO

This BSO comes from the author’s Discord: Chaoku Community, showing a single $2000 Saks gift card purchase.

Register for “YouWorld Pay”

YouWorld Pay supports multiple signup methods, including:

  • Referral signup through WeChat and Alipay mini programs
  • Supports phone number registration from China, the US, and Canada, including Google Voice
  • Click the web link (redirects to Alipay), or scan the QR code below with Alipay
  • Get a $25-$5 coupon at signup

Important reminder: Although the WeChat and Alipay mini programs are interoperable, tracking each other’s spending seems to be delayed, so please be patient.

Summary

  • In the editor’s experience, the first-order bonus is genuinely pretty good. Long term, it is better suited for professional daigou shoppers or sales associates serving buyers in China.
  • Since it uses WeChat Pay and Alipay, you can also pair it with any WeChat Pay or Alipay promotions when available.