Last week I installed a new application on my iPhone called “Key Ring“. It’s a free application that holds the information for any shopping loyalty cards you may have for your favorite grocery or department store. Instead of carrying around several different plastic doodads on your keychain, you enter the information in the app, which then creates the appropriate barcode for that store’s card reader. While the natural food store I normally use doesn’t have a loyalty card (and neither does the Farmer’s Market), the big grocery store across the street that I use sometimes makes you use the card in order to get their lower prices. I was of course doubtful that either the guy with the magic gun at the grocery store and/or the self check scanner would be able to read the barcode on my phone, but both did with ease. In fact, the checkout guy thought it was pretty cool and was going to download the app when he got home that night, as he had never seen it before in his checkout lane. Here’s what it looks like on my phone:
This is also handy for me because when I do head over to this grocery store, I rarely if ever have my keys with me… it’s across the street, so I walk to it. But I never leave home without my phone, so this way I always have that rewards card right in my pocket and don’t get dirty looks when I tell the cashier I forgot my card. (They never believe me.) Anyway, if you have loyalty cards and hate having all those little plastic things on your key chain, and use a smartphone, you might want to check it out.
Oh. my. gosh. I am scrolling through the app store right now to get this. I really need this because the hubby & I always forget our cards when we go grocery shopping or to get diapers or whatever and this will ensure the cards are always ‘with’ us!! Brillant! Thanks for sharing!!
I decided as part of simplifying my life to get rid of all loyalty cards. It means I don’t have to worry about forgetting them and I’m also not swayed in where I shop because I own a loyalty card.
In live in South Africa where loyalty cards don’t really bring many benefits. Perhaps in the States that’s different.
Oh wow, that is very cool!! I wish I had a smart phone, haha. Usually the stores around here are very forgiving if I forget my card (I tend to do this a lot too, because I often run into the store for mom as she waits outside, and she is the one with most of the cards). I have even seen some cashiers just scan the store’s card automatically, not even asking me if I had one. I always thought that was nice. 😀
Brilliant! Downloading it for my Android now! I’ve always hated having all those tags hanging from my keychain, after a couple years they look so dogged and dingy.
Cool stuff! I don’t have a smartphone but most people I know do. The app is definitely something that can make life easier.
No smart phone? No problem. I know this sounds like a sales pitch, but it’s not. For the old-fashioned ones like me, go visit this website: http://www.justoneclubcard.com/ It allows you to type in your loyalty card numbers then formats a wallet-sized card you print out yourself. You can also pay money to have a nicely printed plastic laminated one sent to you. I think this is actually quicker and better than an iPhone app–just not as geek-nerdy…
Many thanks for this. All of the other programs like this required a scanner. This is fabulous. My wallet is so much more roomy now!
The only thing that concerns me is the potential damage or loss of data that could be caused by these scanners. Could these scanners be manipulated to steal private of sensitive info?