How best to use smartphone in supermarket?

Si_Clist

Having now in my dotage been persuaded to get a smartphone, I'm now wondering how best to use this thing when I'm shopping. Normally, I consult MySupermarket on the laptop before venturing out so I don't buy whatever in Morrisons when I could get it a bit cheaper if I hang on until it's Tesco's turn, but is there anything better?

Anything else I should know, now I'm all with it and 21st Century? For example, I've seen shoppers looking like they're scanning barcodes in supermarkets. What's that about? Is it something I might save money by doing, and if so, how do I do it?

Any and all advice much appreciated

suki1964

I just use my phone for the lists I keep on it and also if Im browsing the yellow stickers and find a true bargain of something, I have a quick google of recipes to see if I need anything else to turn it into a masterpiece of a meal when I get home

Are the customers scanning the barcodes not using scan and shop using the stores own devices?

Si_Clist

suki1964 wrote: »

... Are the customers scanning the barcodes not using scan and shop using the stores own devices?

No. Definitely a smartphone. I wonder if maybe it's one of those QR code things?

Brambling

I think some people may be using apps to check for various diets I know some of the diets like WW or SW allow you to check their points or syns. I'm enough of a luddite to only have my shopping list on it

suki1964

Brambling wrote: »

I think some people may be using apps to check for various diets I know some of the diets like WW or SW allow you to check their points or syns. I'm enough of a luddite to only have my shopping list on it

Oh yes, I forgot Ive the ww app, but I rarely buy processed food so I kind of never needed it in supermarkets

bsuije

Waitrose has an app that lets you scan your shopping with your phone, instead of using a hand-held scanner. It doesn't always work 100%, as it requires a good signal, but is handy to keep track of what your total bill is as you shop, plus you can check prices and avoid any nasty surprises at check out.

There are a couple (at least) of apps which will give you cash back for purchasing certain items if you upload a photo of your receipt. Shopmium is one such app. Idea is you buy the item (paying whatever price the shop asks for it), then upload the receipt and if you've met all the qualifying conditions (e.g. you've bought it in the correct shop, you've bought the correct version of the product, etc.) you get the advertised credit. Usually, though, you have to wait until you accumulate a certain amount (e.g. £20) before you can pay out any credit, or you may get charged e.g. 15% or £5 which will be deducted from your payment.

There are also some shops where you can store your loyalty card on their app, e.g. Boots and Tesco (I think). That way you never need miss out on any points if it so happens that you forgot the loyalty card at home.

Tesco, for example, will also give you additional Clubcard points if you use the in-app payment method. Not sure if this is still live, and may be a bit too much to digest for the time being, but something to look into if Clubcard points are important.

-taff

suki1964 wrote: »

Oh yes, I forgot Ive the ww app, but I rarely buy processed food so I kind of never needed it in supermarkets

Nearly all food in supermarkets is processed in some way, from bread, to cereals, sauces, tinned foods etc...The app is useful for anything with a barcode [ unless it's not on there of course, but then, you could add it yourself if you fancied], not necessarily ready meals...

joedenise

I've got a smart phone but don't use it in the supermarket at all! I still write a list - don't even put that on my phone.

suki1964

-taff wrote: »

Nearly all food in supermarkets is processed in some way, from bread, to cereals, sauces, tinned foods etc...The app is useful for anything with a barcode [ unless it's not on there of course, but then, you could add it yourself if you fancied], not necessarily ready meals...

Of that Im aware

However the WW app is best used to find out how many points a product has that is ready made, ready to eat. When you only buy fresh meat, fish etc its not needed whilst out in the supermarket as you tend to use it to point the complete meal when you get home

At the end of the day, when you buy the same bread product each week, the same size eggs, the same packet of bacon medallions, you don't need to be scanning as you shop as you know the points value

Same as the calculator, never once have I needed to take that out in a shop

Si_Clist

OK, so it looks to me like the MySupermarket app is all I need

Whitefiver

bsuije wrote: »

Waitrose has an app that lets you scan your shopping with your phone, instead of using a hand-held scanner.

Sainsbury has started doing this in quite a few stores. Depending on your phone, I suppose, I found it worked very well when I tried it. Scanned almost as well as a hand held scanner for me.