Shoutback, a Digg for deals, launches

Shoutback, a site that aggregates deals and coupons and then allows you to vote on same launched today. The site is "digg-like" in the sense that you can vote up/down deals and coupons that you like/dislike.

The site offers points that you can redeem for prizes for purchases at shoutback affiliated merchants.

From Shoutback PR:

Shoutback aggregates the best deals, coupons, and promotions on the web. But unlike other websites solely populated by affiliate deals, Shoutback allows shoppers to add their own deals to the site. Shoppers can comment on deals, add keywords (tags) for simpler searching, vote for deals they like, and notify their friends about great deals.

"Our users contribute to as well as moderate the site," remarks Robert Scher, President and CEO of Shoutback Concepts, LLC. "This results in a unique, high-quality blend of content."

In addition to being a social deal community, Shoutback offers a shopping rebate program with a twist. Shoppers earn points for each dollar they spend at select online merchants, which are listed at Shoutback.com. These points can be redeemed for rewards like cash, apparel, electronics, and other popular, top-shelf items. Registration and use of the site is completely free for shoppers.

As a certified Deal Hunter Level 13, I can tell you that the concept and design/coding is well done. The key for a site like this will be their ability to bring in fresh deals, and the community. The biggest site in this area is FatWallet and while FatWallet isn't the prettiest thing on the block, it has an enormous community and people posting thousands of deals a day.

Also, FatWallet offers cash back, not points. The points remind me of an arcade where you would whack the rabbit 100x to get 3 tickets for a bunny worth $1.

I think there are parts of the Shoutback site that are really well done,  but I am guessing that they won't beat the competition on the points idea alone.