In recent weeks, one topic has been the subject of heated debate in the affiliate and cashback industry: the Honey case. The popular browser extension is suspected of having used unfair practices that have deprived content creators and publishers of their earned commissions. As the longest-standing and largest cashback provider in Switzerland, we would like to take this opportunity to create transparency.

We explain in simple terms what happened, how cashback works, and most importantly, why our system works fundamentally differently from what Honey did.

What happened? The Honey scandal explained simply

To understand what went wrong with Honey, imagine the following situation: You recommend a great restaurant to a friend. Your friend heads there because they trust your recommendation. Just before the entrance, someone approaches them and says, “Come on, I’ll get you in!” and collects the referral bonus that should have gone to you. You did all the convincing, but someone else reaped the rewards.

That’s exactly what Honey does in the digital space: Honey worked as a browser extension that automatically activated when users visited a shopping website. At the moment of purchase, the extension “intervened” and replaced existing affiliate links. The result: YouTubers, bloggers, and other content creators who had directed their viewers to a store came away empty-handed, and Honey collected the commission.

In the affiliate world, this is called “last-click attribution”: whoever mediates the last click before the purchase receives the commission. Honey systematically exploited this system by inserting itself between the user and the purchase at the very last moment.

The problem with this was that many users were unaware that this was happening in the background. They thought they were simply using a tool that found coupons for them, unaware that this tool was stealing commission from others.

How does cashback actually work?

The basic principle is simple: online shops have an interest in attracting new customers. That’s why they pay commissions to partners who refer customers to them. These commissions are processed via so-called affiliate networks. Established platforms act as intermediaries between shops and affiliates.

A concrete example:

• An online store pays a 10% commission for every purchase referred.
• You spend CHF 100 there.
• The agent receives a commission of CHF 10.
• With a cashback provider, this commission is passed on to users.
• As a customer, you will receive CHF 8 cashback, for example.
• The cashback provider retains CHF 2 as income.

This is completely legitimate and transparent, as long as everyone involved knows how the system works and no one is disadvantaged.

The key difference: How Rabattcorner works

Now we come to the most important part: What makes our system different from Honey?

1. Conscious decision instead of secret diversion

At Rabattcorner, you shop consciously.

Option 1: You start via our platform. You visit our website or app, choose a partner store, see the cashback rate, and then actively click on the partner link. You make a conscious decision to take the detour via us in order to receive cashback.

Option 2: You start in a shop and see our distinctive green notification bar. Now you have to consciously click on ‘Activate now’ at the top of the notification bar to receive cashback. At this point, you actively decide whether you want cashback—even if you have already accessed the shop via another link.

With Honey, everything ran in the background. The extension was installed and worked automatically, often without users understanding exactly what was happening.

The comparison: We are like a shopping mall. You make a conscious decision to walk through our door because you know you will get benefits there. Honey is or was like someone who intercepts you in the parking lot and says, “Come on, I’ll show you a better way,” only to then cash in for themselves while the original guide comes away empty-handed.

2. Transparency before clicking

At Rabattcorner, you will always see:

• The exact cashback rate (e.g., “5% cashback” or “CHF 10 cashback”)
• Whether there are any special promotions (e.g., “Increased cashback: +2%”)
• What conditions apply (e.g., only for new customers)?

All this information is visible before you click. No hidden surprises, no unclear terms and conditions.

3. No link manipulation

Here’s the key difference: we don’t replace existing affiliate links from others. If you access a store via a YouTube link and Honey was active, Honey replaced the YouTuber’s link. The YouTuber came away empty-handed. We don’t have this problem: if you access a store via a YouTuber, their link remains active. Our system only takes effect if you consciously start via our platform. We don’t “steal” anyone’s commissions.

4. Collaboration with established networks

We work exclusively with established affiliate networks. These networks have strict guidelines, which we respect. The current discussions surrounding Honey show that some of these networks have responded clearly and taken action. This is the right thing to do, and we also adhere to these standards.

Why is this distinction important?

You may ask yourself, “Why is this so important? In the end, I’ll get my cashback anyway, won’t I?” The answer has to do with trust and sustainability:

For content creators: YouTubers, bloggers, and influencers invest time and energy in recommending good products to their viewers. If their commission is then stolen, it undermines their business model. Fewer creators means fewer good recommendations on the internet. And in the end, that hurts everyone.

For the industry: Unfair practices damage the reputation of the entire affiliate and cashback industry. If users feel that they are being tricked and cheated, all providers lose trust. Unfortunately, this includes the honest ones too.

For you as a user: In the long term, only systems that are fair and transparent will work. Companies that rely on tricks will eventually disappear, and with them your cashback credits and payouts.

Our values: Transparency and fairness

We want to make it clear what we stand for:

Transparency: You should always understand how our system works. That’s why we explain it publicly here, without any fine print or hidden clauses.

Fairness: We respect the work of content creators and other partners in the industry. Our business model is not based on taking anything away from others.

Long-term thinking: We focus on trust and partnership rather than short-term tricks. We have been active in Switzerland for many years and want to remain so.

Established partnerships: We work with large, reputable affiliate networks and adhere to their standards.

What does that mean for you?

Specifically for you as a Rabattcorner user, this means:

✅ Your cashback is secure: We work with established systems that are transparent and traceable.

✅ No nasty surprises: what you see on our platform is what you get.

✅ Fair processing: Your cashback payments are made according to clear rules and there are no hidden conditions.

✅ If you have any questions, you have someone to contact: Our friendly support team is available to help you if you have any questions or if anything is unclear.

A word to the industry

The discussions surrounding Honey are an important moment for our entire industry. They show that transparency and clear standards are important. And networks must respond consistently to violations. We welcome this development. The affiliate and cashback industry can only be successful in the long term if all parties involved are treated fairly: shops, intermediaries, content creators, and, of course, end customers. Black sheep harm us all. That is why it is important that we stand together as an industry and draw clear boundaries between legitimate business models and unfair practices.

Do you have any questions?

We hope this article has helped you understand how cashback works and what sets us apart from providers like Honey. We believe in transparency. And that also means we are open to your questions.

If you have any questions, please visit our FAQ page or contact our support team.