Ever use Microsoft’s Live Search? Me neither.

But it’s latest incentive, Live Search Cashback, is definitely going to get me to try it. Live Search is an ongoing effort by Microsoft to top Google, or at least give the Internet search-engine niche another go.

Now, the company has teamed up with major retailers — including eBay, Barnes & Noble.com, Overstock.com, Sears, Zappos.com — to help you buy more stuff online. If you use Live Search Cashback to search for certain items at these stores, you’ll get a cash rebate if you ultimately make the purchase.

It shouldn’t be hard to find something you like. There are more than 10 million products available from 700 merchants.

It works like this:

1. Go to Live Search Cashback.
2. Search for an eligible product. It should say what percent of the price you’ll get back. Looks like rebates are up to 20 percent (at ChicStar.com, ClassicCloseouts.com)
3. Buy it.
4. Wait 60 days — just in case you decide to return it.
5. Check your account and if it’s over $5, you can request a check. Check takes up to 14 days to be delivered.

For example, the Wii Fit is available at 5 stores through Live Search. Prices range from $89.99 to $96.24. But with the cashback program, you’ll get 2 to 5 percent of the price back after 60 days. The lowest price after cashback happens to be from Circuit City, at $85.49 (image below). Too bad no one has one in stock.

The nice thing is there is no signing up. I just typed in an e-mail after I selected an item to buy. The merchants are paying Microsoft a referral fee, which Microsoft uses to pay the consumer. Overstock’s CEO said it’s an attractive option because it brings paying customers to the site, according to Todd Bishop, who writes the Microsoft blog for the Seattle PI. But the online retailer is still going to use Google and other search engines.

The notion of giving money back to the shopper uses technology and partnerships Microsoft got when it bought comparison shopping site Jellyfish last October. That’s a quick turnaround!

Notable stores included in the program: Circuit City, eBags, eBay, Foot Locker, The Home Depot, HP, J&R, Newegg.com, OfficeMax, Office Depot, Overstock.com, PetSmart, QVC, Sears, Spiegel and TigerDirect.com. All stores are listed HERE.

Hmm… I wonder if I can use this service and FatWallet’s CashBack program — will I get double the rebate?

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