Rakuten France Guide: How to Master Club R & Cashback

Most people think of Rakuten merely as a massive online store, a Japanese version of Amazon. In France, however, it is something far more strategic for your wallet: a hybrid between a marketplace and a loyalty bank.

If you are living in or shopping from France, understanding the nuances of Club R—the local loyalty programis the difference between paying full retail price and earning substantial rebates on everything from refurbished iPhones to Sephora beauty hauls. The French platform operates with distinct rules compared to the US or Japan, specifically regarding how you earn and, more importantly, how you get paid.

Let’s cut through the noise and look at how to actually use the platform to your advantage.

The Core Mechanic: Club R vs. The World

Unlike the US version of Rakuten, which often mails you a check, Rakuten France revolves entirely around Rakuten Points (formerly Super Points) through the Club R program. As of late 2025, this program is free and automatic upon your first purchase.

Here is the math you need to know:

• The Conversion: 100 Rakuten Points = 1 €.
• The Cap: You can earn up to 35% cashback depending on the item and your status tier.
• The Ecosystem: Points aren’t just for the marketplace. They can be used for Rakuten TV (movies), Kobo (ebooks), and Viber services.

Practitioner Tip: Watch out for “Mega Peak” events. During these promotional windows, status members (Regular, Silver, Gold, Platinum) see their reimbursement rates jump significantly, often hitting that 20% to 35% mark.

How to Earn: Marketplace vs. Everywhere

There are two distinct ways to shop here, and confusing them often leads to missed points.

1. The Internal Marketplace

Rakuten France hosts over 12,000 professional sellers. This includes major brands and small businesses selling new, used, and refurbished goods directly on the rakuten.com/fr platform. When you buy here, the cashback is usually credited to your account 3 days after you confirm receipt of the order.

2. Club R Everywhere

This is the affiliate model most people recognize. You start at Rakuten, click a link, and shop on an external site. In France, the network includes over 2,000 partner sites, including heavy hitters like Nike, Sephora, and Monoprix.

The Catch: Patience is required. Validation for these external purchases can take up to 3 months, unlike the instant gratification of the internal marketplace.

Getting Paid: The Withdrawal Rules

This is where new users get stuck. In the US, you might wait for a quarterly “Big Fat Check.” In France, you must manage a digital wallet.

Once you have accumulated points, you can obviously spend them on future purchases. However, if you want cold, hard cash transferred to your bank account, you must meet specific criteria:

• Status Requirement: You typically need to be at least a Silver member.
• The Window: Transfers are usually processed once a month, specifically around the 1st of the month.
• The Limits: You can transfer amounts generally between 15 € and 75 € monthly, depending on your tier.

To set this up, go to your account dashboard. You do not need to link a bank account just to earn points, but you will need to link one (or a PayPal account) to withdraw.

What Doesn’t Exist in France (Stop Looking for These)

If you are reading older guides or US based reviews, you might be looking for services that simply do not exist in the French market. Let’s save you some time:

• No Rakuten Visa Card: The “Rakuten Cash Back Visa” is not available in France. In fact, the Visa version was discontinued globally years ago. Do not search for a credit card application on the French site; it isn’t there.
• No Rakuten Mobile Network: While you can buy electronics from Philips or smartphones on the marketplace, Rakuten does not operate as a mobile carrier (ISP) in France. That service is exclusive to Japan.
• No Rakuten Edy: This contactless e money service is also Japan only.

However, Rakuten TV is very active. In late 2025, they expanded their partnership with Free TV to launch FAST channels (Free Ad supported Streaming TV), offering free movies and action content.

Shopping & Shipping Logistics

Rakuten France acts as a trusted third party. When you buy, Rakuten holds the money. They only release the funds to the seller once you confirm you have received the item (or after a set timeout period). This makes it safer than typical classified ad sites for buying used goods.

If you are furnishing a home, check out the top online furniture stores in France that may partner with Rakuten, or browse the marketplace directly for deals on home goods.

Customer Service & Contacts

Should you run into issueslike a purchase not tracking or a missing deliveryRakuten France has local support.

• Phone: 09 70 75 64 60 (Non surcharged number).
• Online: Access the “Aide” (Help) section for live chat options.
• HQ Address: 92 rue Réaumur, 75002 Paris.

Whether you are looking for gifts from top chocolatiers or sourcing daily essentials via online pharmacies, using Club R as your starting point is a no brainer for passive savings in France.