Recently we talked about FoodScanner by DailyBurn which can read the barcode on food items and give you the calorie and nutrition information as well as helping you keep track of your calorie intake. I found it pretty handy and so naturally my eye was drawn to Occipital’s RedLaser app which powers FoodScanner. RedLaser just [...]
Recently we talked about FoodScanner by DailyBurn which can read the barcode on food items and give you the calorie and nutrition information as well as helping you keep track of your calorie intake. I found it pretty handy and so naturally my eye was drawn to Occipital’s RedLaser app which powers FoodScanner. RedLaser just takes it on a slightly different angle and pulls from an allegedly huge database of products to give you a listing of the lowest local and online prices for the product you scan. Potentially pretty handy right?
Well, it is, I think. I mean it is really handy to be able to see a list of the lowest prices for something you’re looking for, especially if there are some local locations; there’s nothing wrong with a little comparison shopping, and who doesn’t need to save some coin nowadays? Maybe it’s just me, maybe I’m not really with it these days, maybe it’s all the Kool-Aid, I don’t know, but I just don’t find myself using RedLaser that much.
Now first of all, since we’re about to discuss shopping, let me make it known that I am a man and therefore do not have the same visceral and somehow spiritual reaction to shopping that women do. Having said that, I realise that any women readers I have just experienced a sudden fit of rage, and now look upon me with a cold, low level hatred and I’ll probably start receiving threatening emails; however, I know that all you guys understand exactly what I’m talking about. OK, let’s carry on then.
Here’s the deal, if I’m out shopping for something, a) I usually know what I want, b) I want it now, c) I know where I’m going to get it, and d) I want it now. Once I get to where I’m going it would be highly unlikely that I would drive somewhere clear across town to obtain said item(s) for a cheaper price. Even if we’re talking about groceries. Especially if we’re talking about groceries actually. Grocery shopping is, for me, a trying enough experience as it is; I’m lucky enough to get out of the store without throttling someone, much less getting everything on my list. And to be honest, after a trip to my favorite local grocery hypermarket, I’m not that impressed with RedLaser’s identification abilities.
Pork Jowls
For instance, RedLaser was completely flummoxed when I scanned some individually wrapped pork jowls from the meat department. And seriously, who doesn’t love pork jowls? C’mon!
I tried something a little more conventional with a bit more success I suppose, but still not enough to make me want to hunt down the suggested price savings. Also, RedLaser seems to return the prices on bulk purchases of scanned items. Now in some cases I can see how this may be beneficial, but I myself am not particularly interested in purchasing $140 worth of mac & cheese. I mean, mac & cheese is good, but it’s not that good.
Kraft Macaroni and Cheese
In the end, if you’re a serious penny pincher, then RedLaser might really help you out, but for me it’s just a bit too much trouble. Even if I’m aware that the item or items I want to purchase can be had a few cents cheaper on the other side of town, I’m just not willing to make the effort to hunt them down. RedLaser is now free to download from the App Store, so if you’re a consummate coupon clipper, then you might check it out for yourself. Personally I’ll stick with my pre-purchase research for items I really want or need, and save the extreme penny pinching for the neurotically cost conscious.
Malin Akerman
Mila Kunis
Eliza Dushku
Adriana Lima
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