eBay is testing a new shopper rewards program. Once shoppers sign up for the program, they earn eBay Bucks on qualifying purchases from May 15 through August 14. Participants will then have 30 days to spend the "bucks" on eBay. Purchases in certain categories are excluded from the promotion, such as all categories in Motors except Parts & Accessories; Classifieds; Live Auctions; Giving Works; Real Estate; and Business & Industrial Capital Equipment.

The reward amount is calculated as a percentage of the total qualifying amount spent, and it appears eBay is testing different percentage amounts with invitees. Some invited to the eBay Bucks Rewards Program also receive a starting balance.

eBay has been spending its marketing budget on such shopping programs this year, including coupon programs (http://blog.auctionbytes.com/cgi-bin/blog/blog.pl?/pl/2008/2/1204153476.html).

http://rewards.ebay.com/terms.jsp