This program comes around and then closes and then reopens for applications again every few months. They are open now for applications and I am not sure how long that will last. Basically you apply to be a home scan family with Nielsen (the same company that does the TV ratings).
They will send you a scanner and when you come home from grocery shopping you just scan your purchases and transmit them in. They will send you a little scanner to just scan the UPC of the item. In exchange for sharing with them the items you buy, you then qualify for various gifts and rewards from the program. My understanding is that they have some pretty nice gifts that you can qualify for.
So if you can spare a few extra minutes to participate it might be worthwhile! Click HERE to register. They usually only accept certain zip codes!
I participated in a program like this about 8-10 years ago when I was in college and I remember it was a great program and the scanner was really easy to use. The only reason I stopped using it was because I ended up moving and couldn’t take it with me for some reason.
Tried applying, said I’ll be put on a waiting list.
I tried this out for about 6 months and did not like it. You have to scan everything which takes WAY too much time (you must scan freebies and everything…gas purchases too) and that was one of the small reasons I stopped but the main reason I stopped was because the software/scanner continued to ruin my computer with blue screens of death (BSOD) nearly every time I would transmit I would get this. I am very computer literate and even called support and tried different stuff also and it always did this. So just keep this in mind. The payout was not worth the time and energy I was putting it it either. I had several helpful representatives help me and some not so nice ones (downright mean and rude actually).
Just thought I would share my experiences! Hope they help someone!
Actually the last few times I posted I got really favorable responses. Sorry to hear you two had negative experiences but I know they include a self addressed box that you can return the scanner back at no charge if it isn’t for you. Also the scanner I got had nothing to do with a computer so maybe they have updated the scanners since then.
I only did this for a short time too. It was very time consuming and I sent it back.
Hmm… last time nothing but praise and this time nothing but complaints. Ok good to know.
I just semt mine back the other day, like others said very time consuming. Maybe mine was broke or something but for every item I scanned it would ask me the price so then I had to find it on the reciept and then if you use coupons you have to find that too. More work then I planned on when i signed up, I just though you scan the items when you unpacked and that was it but each item took quite a bit of time. Well over the 20 minutes or so a week that was talked about, I could spend that in 1 light shopping day.
This is a neat program IF you have a lot of time. You have to keep in mind that you have to scan every single item you buy – for people who stock up/buy a lot of little items, you’re going to find that you can spend a significant amount of time scanning. Also, with the point system, it takes quite a while to add up to get anything really worth it.
This program may be good for some, but not necessarily for others.
I signed up for this and realized it would be way too time consuming for what you get… from my calculations it would have taken me months to get enough points to buy something I could get at the store for $13 or so.
I was also put on the waiting list. I’m up to try anything once! 🙂 Thanks for posting this – I’ve tried other times before and this is the furthest I’ve gotten.
I was accepted to join but at the last minute changed my mind. I think I relized how much time it would take and I don’t have that kindda time .
signed up and was put on th e waiting list.. i’ll try anything once 🙂 Thanks for posting this
I am a former member too. I tried it for a couple months about 4 years ago. Like many said, way too time consuming. I had to scan and enter the price of everything I bought. Then if I used a coupon for it (most things!), I had to enter the coupon value too. I calculated that after a year of this I would get a prize that would cost me about $20, if I remember correctly. It wasn’t worth it so I sent it back.