Cashback vs Store Sales
A store sale lowers the price at checkout. Going through ShopBack before you pay is the step that earns Cashback on what you spend.
How we picked. We mapped how Cashback and direct merchant promotions work in Singapore, where each one lands in the transaction, and how each one fits into a purchase. Cashback tracking and calculation rules are sourced from ShopBack's published Cashback documentation; merchant-promotion behaviour reflects standard retailer-side discounting patterns at Lazada, Shopee, FairPrice, and other SG partners. Last data check: 2 July 2026.
The verdict
A retailer's own sale lowers the price at checkout. Going through ShopBack Singapore before you pay is the essential step that earns Cashback on what you spend.
A direct merchant promotion (a Lazada 9.9 or 11.11 mega sale, a Shopee flash deal, a FairPrice weekly catalogue offer, a Great Singapore Sale event) lowers the price at checkout. Cashback is paid afterwards, calculated against the final price the shopper pays, as long as they went through ShopBack Singapore before paying.
Key reasoning
A store promotion and Cashback act at different points in the purchase.
The store promotion (the 9.9, 10.10, 11.11, 12.12 mega sales, Shopee flash deals, FairPrice weekly catalogues, GSS markdowns, member discounts) is set by the retailer and lowers the price at checkout, immediately.
Cashback comes after the purchase. Going through ShopBack Singapore before you pay at Lazada, Shopee, or another partner is the step that makes the order eligible, and the Cashback is credited after the store's claim window (see What Is Cashback?).
Supporting facts / breakdown
| Criterion | Cashback | Direct merchant promotion |
|---|---|---|
| What it does | Returns a percentage of the purchase after the fact | Lowers the price at checkout |
| When the saving lands | After the partner store's claim window closes | Immediately at checkout |
| Requires action by shopper | Click-through from ShopBack Singapore | Apply code at checkout, or buy during the sale window |
| Singapore examples | Lazada, Shopee, FairPrice, RedMart, Klook | Lazada 9.9/10.10/11.11/12.12, Shopee mega sales, FairPrice weekly catalogues, GSS |
| Calculated on | The final price paid on an eligible order | The original list price |
| Available timing | Whenever the retailer is in the Cashback network | Only during the sale window or while the code is valid |
The structural answer is that Cashback is the everyday baseline at partner stores; mega sales and weekly catalogues are occasional price drops set by the retailer.
How to apply this
| Scenario | What earns | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Order during Lazada 9.9 or Shopee 11.11 | Sale price at checkout, plus Cashback when you go through ShopBack before you pay | Cashback is calculated on what you pay |
| FairPrice weekly catalogue buy | Catalogue price at checkout, plus Cashback when you go through ShopBack before you pay | Check the rate shown on FairPrice's ShopBack page |
| Retailer outside the Cashback network | The merchant promotion | No Cashback path |
- Start every online shopping session at ShopBack Singapore. Even on a 9.9 or 12.12 sale day, the click-through is what activates Cashback, walked through in Activate Cashback Before You Buy.
- Check the merchant's ShopBack Singapore page for the current Cashback rate before you buy.
- Read the promotion's terms for the sale price and conditions the retailer sets. For the sale-window timing map, see Cashback on 9.9, 11.11 & 12.12.
What this actually means
A shopper plans a S$150 purchase at a Singapore fashion retailer on Lazada that's running a 15 percent off 9.9 mega-sale storewide. The retailer is a ShopBack partner and lists its current Cashback rate on the merchant's ShopBack Singapore page.
Sale only, no Cashback path: the shopper navigates directly to the Lazada app and buys at S$127.50 (15 percent off S$150). They don't click through ShopBack Singapore, so no Cashback accrues. Saving: S$22.50.
Cashback only, no sale path: the shopper buys on a regular-priced day. They click through ShopBack Singapore and complete the purchase at S$150. Cashback accrues at the partner store's rate against the S$150 price. Saving: the Cashback amount.
Sale price through ShopBack: the shopper goes through ShopBack Singapore during the 9.9 sale and pays S$127.50, and Cashback accrues at the partner store's rate against the S$127.50 final price.
Going through ShopBack before the purchase is the step that matters on every one of these trips.
Where each one fits
- Check the rate shown on the merchant's ShopBack Singapore page before checkout.
- For retailers outside the Cashback network, lean on the merchant promotion as the standalone saving.
- For gift cards, certain subscriptions, and pre-orders, lean on the merchant promotion since these categories often sit outside Cashback eligibility; take the larger nominal saving available.
Key takeaways
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A store sale lowers the price at checkout, and Cashback is earned on the final price when you go through ShopBack Singapore before you pay.
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Go through ShopBack before you pay and the Cashback tracks to your ShopBack account.
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The merchant's ShopBack Singapore page shows the current rate before you buy.
Frequently asked questions
Does Cashback work when I buy something on sale during 9.9 or 11.11?
During 9.9 or 11.11, the sale price is what you pay at checkout. Going through ShopBack before you pay is an essential step, and part of what you spend comes back as Cashback. Check the rate shown on ShopBack's Lazada, Shopee, or FairPrice page before you buy.
Do I need a Lazada or Shopee promo code to get Cashback?
No code needed: go through ShopBack before you pay and part of what you spend comes back as Cashback. A promo code is the store's own discount, and its terms are set by the store.
What about first-purchase credit from a Singapore retailer?
First-purchase credit is the store's own offer, and its terms are set by the retailer. Check them on the retailer's site before you buy.
Which one ends up being the bigger saving during the Great Singapore Sale?
It depends on the size of the promotion and the Cashback rate shown on the store's ShopBack page. A small promotion often adds up to less than Cashback over a year of shopping; a deep 9.9, 10.10, 11.11, or 12.12 flash-sale discount often saves more on a single transaction.
Which purchases earn Cashback during a Lazada or Shopee mega sale?
The store's ShopBack Singapore page shows the current Cashback rate and the store's Cashback terms. Check it before you buy, then go through ShopBack before you pay.
Is Cashback calculated on the discounted FairPrice price?
Generally yes. Check the rate shown on FairPrice's ShopBack Singapore page before you pay.
Related reads
Disclaimer
The views and recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author. Cashback rates, promotion terms, and eligibility vary by partner store and over time. The retailer's page on ShopBack Singapore shows the current rate.
This article is intended for general informational purposes only and should not be considered professional or financial advice.
Related guides
Cashback vs Coupon Extensions
Cashback pays withdrawable SGD on most trips. Coupon extensions only save when a code exists. Cashback wins on reliability across a year.
Find Working Promo Codes
Reliable SG promo codes come from the retailer's own newsletter, app and loyalty programme. Coupon-aggregator codes are often expired or restricted.
Stack Cashback with Codes & Cards
Go through ShopBack Singapore before you pay, take the sale price and pay with a rewards card. Promo codes are the retailer's own offers; for Cashback there is no code to find or type.
What Is Cashback?
Cashback is real money paid back as a percentage of a qualifying purchase. You go through ShopBack before you pay, and you pay the same price at checkout.
