I'm not exactly sure how much time or energy this web technology saves, but apparently, Grocist allows you to scan products to create an electronic grocery list.You keep a barcode scanner in your kitchen and when you run out of a product, you scan the barcode from the package before you throw it away. The web application searches a UPC database to determine the product and keeps a running grocery list for you.
While the idea of this sounds pretty cool, I can't see how scanning a barcode is any faster or easier than jotting something down on a list that's taped to your refrigerator door. I also can't really see people running out to buy a barcode scanner. Additionally, using Grocist assumes that a lot of your groceries are packaged goods that would be found in the UPC database. I don't know this for sure, but the last time I went to the grocery store, there weren't any barcodes on garlic and lettuce.
However, if the Grocist were to actually send that information at the end of every week via email to the grocery store who could deliver the groceries to my front door, then I'd pay attention!
[via: Lifehacker]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
1-31-2007 @ 9:51AM
lindseyquinn said...
Grocist? Like ... "grossest"?
Marketing genius.
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1-31-2007 @ 11:43AM
Erin Janoff said...
Whats wrong with pen and paper?
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1-31-2007 @ 11:43AM
Brian said...
I suppose if people have bought those new superfridges with LCDs and scanners built into them, this would be a great idea, albeit still a pain. It seems like every day someone's coming out with a great application or web 2.0 site, and all you need is a barcode scanner. However barcode scanners themselves aren't exactly available at your local Radio Shack or Best Buy. It seems like you always have to head online or to a potentially sketchy auction to get one.
I was a member of a consumer survey thing for a while and after each grocery trip you had to dial in with a scanner and enter each item you'd bought. It was annoying.
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1-31-2007 @ 11:56AM
peggy said...
this might work with mubby's pda. he does all the shopping and planning, and he would like this, if it works well....
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