Amazon releases Price Check app just in time for holiday shopping
Amazon has released Price Check, a free app that allows you to do some comparison shopping. You start by saying the name of your target product, scanning its barcode, typing its name, or snapping a photo. You'll get several results; tap one to see who's offering it with prices and shipping costs listed. Of course, Amazon hopes it has the lowest price, but it doesn't always win.
I tried the app in a local store and found the barcode scanning and voice recognition worked well. I took a picture of some DVDs, and the app figured out what the movie was and offered meaningful price comparisons to other retailers.
I used to use the Amazon Mobile app in bookstores while I browsed, and I often just ordered from Amazon while I was in a brick and mortar book store. I felt bad, but sometimes the price differential was too significant to resist. You can share your pricing info via email, text message, Facebook, or Twitter. The Price Check app is listed for the iPhone only, but it will run on the iPad and the iPod touch. Amazon also has an iPad app called Windowshop, but it doesn't do price comparisons and is just an easy way to shop at Amazon.
Price Check is so good that I can't conceive of shopping without it. If you want to give it a go, be careful -- there are a bunch of apps with Price Check as part of the name. Price Check requires iOS 3.1 or later.
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Amazon has released Price Check, a free app that allows you to do some comparison shopping. You start by saying the name of your target...
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So Nigel, what do we do? Search for the highest price?
Mom and pops, a phony euphemism, went out of business because they weren't paying attention. It's called creative destruction. Specialty stores, e.g., book stores, stationery stores, etc., hosed people for years. Good riddance. Welcome information and capitalism. Poor business practices always end in failure no matter who the customer is.
Alan
Amazon app is amazing, yet dangerously addicting. I was Christmas shopping today and decided to check with Amazon. Simple and fast scanning, results and with 1-Click settings on and Prime membership.. Felt good man :D
November 22 2010 at 4:04 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyMel,
You're an evil SOB.
So, your in a bookstore, perhaps a mom & pop owned business who have things you want, you then undercut them buy using them as a reference library and buy from Amazon.
Nice.
How long before they go under do you think? Pretty swell way to save a few bucks and drive small business out of business.
Owning a small business is often fun, but always a struggle, thanks for advocating consumer assisted suicide.
Well, I don't think I'm evil at all. I just don't like wasting my money. I have some wonderful small bookstores I buy from. They are locally owned, and give me very special service. I'm glad to support them.
In the example I gave, I was in a Barnes and Noble, hardly a mom and pop. In fact, B&N put quite a few small bookstores out of business.
I love to browse, but if I can save 20-30% or more buying online I'll do so. Nobody keeps B&N from matching Amazon pricing.
Thanks for writing.
Mel
TUAW
Okay, so can someone please tell me what's the real difference between this and Amazon Mobile's ability to search or do barcode scanning? It's not actually comparing the price with other retailers and Amazon. It's just pulling up all of the retailers that you can buy through from Amazon.com. So it's not actually comparing anything against Best Buy or other people not in the Amazon.com network. I would love something that would actually compare against everyone. Red Laser used to do this but Amazon won't let them use their data anymore.
November 22 2010 at 1:57 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyApp is called "Price Check by Amazon" -- NOT "Price Checker" as indicated in the original post...
November 22 2010 at 1:13 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyYou are SOOOO right. Fixed and thanks
Mel
TUAW
I use RedLaser for this sort of thing now; will this be a complete replacement?
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TUAW (or The Unofficial Apple Weblog) is a website devoted to tips, reviews, news, analysis and opinion on everything Apple.
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