Red Laser to help with your Christmas shopping...

[John L]

I remain pretty much disgusted with the Iphone overall.

But RedLaser is a very cool application. Two thumbs up.

 

[CES020]

Picked it up a few weeks ago and I'm trying to use it more and more. It is a powerful tool when shopping, for sure.

 

[WILLIAMS]

I've seen it. Works awesome.

 

[briankb]

I use it all the time. I wish I could mute the loud beep during the scan. It's saved me quite a few bad buys because of Amazon reviews. Paid for itself many times over and it's just neat how it so quickly scans and reads the bar code on just about anything.

 

[briankb]

two things I just learned.

1st - go to General Settings - Red Laser to make it scan silent mode
2nd - IMPORTANT - do NOT update to v2.5 which uses "thefind" it sucks and there are plenty of like minded people complaining about this "upgrade" on their forums http://support.redlaser.com/discussion/108/HATE-the-new-version

 

[gabagoo]

I dont have an iphone but my son does, what does this red laser app do?

 

[John L]

You click the app on the Iphone and it opens a camera image screen, like you are going to take a picture of something. You focus your photo on just the bar code of the actual item you want to check. It takes the pic, scans the bar code to get the upc, and then searches the net for the current costs and availability of that item. It checks amazon, ebay, and other sources for you and gives a list with costs. All with just one click... really cool.

I haven't been kicked out of walmart yet.

Thanks for the tip on the beep, I have been getting looks. But you might be too late to save me from the update. I think i just updated it along with everything else on my device last night.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_hFGsmx_6k

 

[briankb]

if you updated to v2.5 from the iPhone and have not synced yet. just delete the app from the phone then go do a sync and recheck the Red Laser app in iTunes. Got a few emails from the developers and they are aware they just made a #3 iPhone App a dud... says its all Amazon's fault because of their policy's on mobile phones accessing their site data. I don't get it but hey I don't care. I have my old reliable Red Laser v2.2 back!

 

[John L]

I just did the same.

http://www.filesaveas.com/2009/11/redlaser-barcode-scanning-iphone-app.html

Don't forget to tick the check box and resync again. It fixed mine too.

 

[gabagoo]

You click the app on the Iphone and it opens a camera image screen, like you are going to take a picture of something. You focus your photo on just the bar code of the actual item you want to check. It takes the pic, scans the bar code to get the upc, and then searches the net for the current costs and availability of that item. It checks amazon, ebay, and other sources for you and gives a list with costs. All with just one click... really cool.

I haven't been kicked out of walmart yet.

Thanks for the tip on the beep, I have been getting looks. But you might be too late to save me from the update. I think i just updated it along with everything else on my device last night.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_hFGsmx_6k

why would you be kicked out of Walmart? just checking pricing...nothing wrong with that

 

[John L]

That was tongue-in-cheek. I dare them.

 

[Kottwitz-Graphics]

why would you be kicked out of Walmart? just checking pricing...nothing wrong with that

I was looking at a couple of things for my sister in law the other day, and I was standing beside an employee in the electronics isle. She was listening to me try to describe the thing to my wife and sis, and they just were not getting what I was saying, so I said, "hold on, I'll take a picture and send it to you...that'll help."

The csr told me she understood the problem, trying to describe over the phone, but she had to "walk away" because they don't allow photos to be taken. She just asked that I not linger while doing it...

I do know that Malls don't allow photos to be taken. I almost got tackeled by mall security once for taking photos of an install I did. I had to explain to them, and show them paper work showing that I needed photos of completed work to get paid for the job...

Now that red laser app sounds pretty cool. I wish my blackberry had something like that.

 

[CES020]

why would you be kicked out of Walmart? just checking pricing...nothing wrong with that

There are companies that do nothing but send in people to scan for pricing. I have a friend that works for one of those companies. They send it people with scanners to actually scan bar codes from stores. They gather that data, from various stores, put it in a report and sell the report to the customer. For instance, CVS may call and want a study done on cosmetics (or dairy). They send in the people to walk into stores and scan all the cosmetics. Then, they compile the data in a report and give it to CVS so they can know what the competition is doing on pricing.

Some stores don't mind it and allow the people to do it. Some will not, so their people have devised ways to do it without getting caught. Walmart is one place that doesn't allow it and they will kick you out of the store.

 

[Poconopete]

A bit ironic when we b*tch about our clients going down the road to get it cheaper...

 

[CES020]

That's always been something I've noticed with so many people, and the sign world isn't alone in that one. When customers want a bargain, they are picky bastards and we should fire them, but when we're shopping for vinyl, plotters, printers, etc, we're always asking for the best deal.

I think it's human nature to think that your services are worth $80 per hour while the services you need from people are only worth $15 per hour

 

[John L]

I don't really get the similarity... if an item has a barcode setting on a store shelf isn't that now a commodity for the most part? If you produce Now Open banners.. the ship might be finally sinking but there is still hope for more custom services.

There isnt yet any barcodes on decent design, safe installations, punctual response, aluminum, plastic, and cement formed into effective advertising devices.

 

[CES020]

John, I think the similarity isn't in the fact it's custom, it's larger scale, more in the business side. They are in business to make money. So are sign makers. If they have people bargain shopping for their products, it hurts their profits too, just like it does ours.

In the end, you are selling a product or service. So are they. So is the guy that's installing your heating and air, wiring your house, cutting your hair, fixing your car, etc.