iOS App of the Day: Consmr Barcode Scanner
It happens to me all the time. I am in the drugstore and looking at two different kinds of shampoo and ten minutes passes by. I always get caught up staring at two products wondering to myself which one is better, and more importantly, which one should I actually purchase. More often than not, I get so flustered that I just end up leaving without buying anything. Talk about a waste of time. Thankfully, a friend told me about the Consmr Barcode Scanner app for iOS, which has literally solved my buying anxiety completely. All I have to do now is point the app at a product’s barcode and instantly a multitude of real-life user reviews and ratings appear. This app has made my shopping for everyday goods experience so much easier and I hope it helps you in the same way.
Pros:
- Scan barcodes of grocery or drugstore products
- See user reviews and ratings covering quality, effectiveness, health, nutrition and more
- Share your own reviews instantly
- Filter by dozens of attributes like gluten-free, curly hair, sensitive skin, non-gmo, etc
- See alternative products
- Connect Facebook & see friend recommendations
- Recall alerts if you scan a recalled product
Cons:
- Local chain store generic products may not be found
- Scan barcodes with iPhone 4, 4S, and 3GS only, older devices are not supported
How it works:
- Download the app
- Sign up for a Consmr account or sign in with Facebook, you can also bypass using an account and still access the app
- Select a retail category that you think the item will most likely be found under
- Categories include: grocery, personal care, beauty, hair care, skin care, baby, household, oral care
- To filter out specific results select a sub-category
- To scan an item tap on the barcode scan icon which is the icon on the bottom of the app in the middle
- Center the barcode inside the square and hold still, avoid shadows and glares
- Once image of barcode has been accepted wait a moment and user reviews and ratings will appear
- To read reviews scroll up or down
- To leave your own user reviews on products you have to create a Consmr account and profile
- To view a list of saved items (favorites) tap on the “My List” icon on the bottom right hand side of the app
Conclusion:
As I buy most of my medicine cabinet items from the drugstore, I absolutely love this app. I love that I can instantly view hundreds of user reviews on the product I have in my hand in the store. It makes comparison shopping so much easier and helps get me in and out of the drugstore quickly. I love the app so much that I have even started rating my own products to give back to all of the other Consmr users out there that have helped me so much. If you buy products from places like CVS, Walgreens, or Rite Aid, then this app is the perfect shopping companion. Check it out for yourself and don’t forget to tell us what you think in the comments below.
Consmr Barcode Scanner is available for free in the iTunes Store. Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad.Requires iOS 4.0 or later. iTunes Link
This is part of our iOS App of the Day series. We take our favorite app for iOS for each day and post it here for you to check out. Feel free to check out all of our App of the Day posts here.
