Providing a paper on generally refers to two distinct but related concepts in consumer finance and retail: the history of the deal-hunting community FatWallet.com and its impact on retailers like Best Buy , and the theoretical "Fat Wallet" strategy used by savvy consumers to maximize returns through rewards and rebates . 1. The FatWallet.com Phenomenon (1999–2017)
In a more modern, technical sense, the suggests that as applications and protocols become "thinner" (commoditized), value will accrue to the wallet or the "front end" that owns the relationship with the user. In a retail context, this means retailers like Best Buy are shifting focus toward memberships (like My Best Buy Total) and branded payments to capture long-term customer value rather than just individual product sales. FatWallet to shut down after 18 years. : r/personalfinance
FatWallet was a pioneer in the "deal-sharing" space, essentially creating a bridge between early e-commerce and bargain-hungry consumers.
: Best Buy and others participated in affiliate programs where FatWallet would receive a commission for every sale, a portion of which was returned to the user as cash back . This created a "double-dip" opportunity where consumers could use a credit card with rewards and FatWallet’s rebate.