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when have you ever scanned a QR code and learned about/bought something? Shopping for dishwashers in-store, even after doing lots of online research. The in-

by brk 14y ago

when have you ever scanned a QR code and learned about/bought something? Shopping for dishwashers in-store, even after doing lots of online research. The in-store display tags have very minimal info. Best Buy has/had a QRCode on each product that took you to a webpage for that item with a lot more info, reviews, etc. It was one of the main reasons I actually bought a dishwasher AT Best Buy instead of elsewhere.

jetti 14y ago
That is a good use for them. Recently I saw one on a company's van which just baffled my mind. I don't know if they wanted somebody to come up while the van was parked and scan the QR code but it was just stupid and goes in line with what the article is saying.
- natesm 14y ago
  My favorite New York subway ad (besides Zizmor) is something like "Have bedbugs?" and it offers you some "bedbugs apps" if you scan it, which is great because: 1. I've recently been looking for a good way to let a crowded train know that I probably have bedbugs on my clothing. 2. Internet access is really good underground.
  - corin_ 14y ago
    I'm afraid I can top you in "worst use of QR on underground travel" (this one in London): https://p.twimg.com/AneZAsiCAAATy1Q.jpg:large https://p.twimg.com/AneZAsiCAAATy1Q.jpg:large
    - dspillett 14y ago
      They never learn... Some time ago (early/mid 90s I think) there was a particular problem with pickpockets in the Kings Cross area so an awareness campaign was started with similar posters. The problem got worse. Why? Often people walking past the posters would, consciously or otherwise, check the pockets their wallet or other valuables were in - this helped improve an observant pick-pocket's hit rate.
    - jetti 14y ago
      I know what I'm going to do in Chicago! I'll buy an ad like that near one of the CTA platforms and stand around it and as people come by and try to scan it, I'll pick their wallets.
  - matznerd 14y ago
    yeah, I work with text messaging, i.e. "text XXXX to #####" and while I love seeing it places, when I see it on the train I say wtf? But I guess people can draft the message and send it when they go above ground? I wonder if that is the same for QR codes on the train....
Angostura 14y ago
Wouldn't it have bee just as effective to have http://bestbuy.com/12345 http://bestbuy.com/12345 on the label.
- jeffgreco 14y ago
  They should do both. If you've got QR capabilities, it's quicker to scan a bunch of codes rather than enter each URL.
- learc83 14y ago
  If you have a reader app on your phone scanning the QR code is a bit faster than typing in a url, especially if your doing repeatedly for multiple products. I still think they are overused, but they can offer a little extra connivence, as long as they aren't taking up too much space.
- brk 14y ago
  Not really because then I have to type a bunch of characters instead of just clicking a button. QR Codes are nice macros, in the right places. They don't necessarily belong on every uncovered surface, but in many cases they can transfer a relatively large amount of data quickly and easily. I think we're still figuring out QR Codes and the proper applications of them. I remember usenet discussions in 1996 asking "Why did Ford put a URL in their commercial? Why do I need/want that? What do I do with it?"...
  - will_work4tears 14y ago
    I guess I'm old and inept, but I've never gotten a QR code to scan properly with a "click of a button."
    - commandar 14y ago
      Odd. I've never had any trouble scanning them, even on my old G1. The camera on that thing had trouble with normal UPCs at times.
  - sopooneo 14y ago
Produce 14y ago
But that's not an example of using QR codes for advertising. It's an actual, useful application of them, yes, but it is so precisely because they're not being used for marketing.
DHowett 14y ago
I've seen a lot of replies to this of the form "how about they use [URLs/NFC/etc.]", but how are those options at all better than printing out all the product specs? Surely having the specifications printed out and mounted in an emplacement next to the product is better than having to scan/touch/type some sort of digital tag. If it is about paper use, how about they stop using flip books full of paper numbers set next to each other to display prices before worrying about replacing some measly product spec sheets with QR codes. (EDIT: reviews are definitely a fair use of this sort of thing, and I had forgotten that they were a thing while replying.)
dspillett 14y ago
That is exactly how they should be used: to give more detail once the user decides they want/need that detail. They are used all over the place in Japan (where IIRC the QR code's popularity started) for non-sales related information like bus timetables as well as for access to detailed product information in shops. In both these use cases the QR code directing to a web page with up-to-date information is a benefit to the user rather than an advertising gimmick. QR codes are done wrong in a great many adverts. I've seen adverts with QR codes where is isn't entirely obvious what is even being advertised: sorry, I'm not wasting my time waiting for your information to come down what could be a slow mobile connection unless there is a good chance I'm going to care. You advert should make me want more detail, not expect me to make an effort to get basic detail. The two times I bothered scan a QR code on an advert were failures from the advertisers PoV. One went to a page that was simply not useable on a small mobile device (remember: there are plenty of phones out there with QVGA screens and that site was unusable at half VGA) and would have taken an age to download if the user was stuck on a GPRS link due to lack of 3G+ reception. I closed the browser and thought nothing more of it. The other time I was taken to a registration page where I was asked for some of my details in order to get the data - if I scan a QR code I expect to go direct to relevant information, not to be asked for my personal details (I could have oput in fake details easily, but I should not have to go to even that effort). If you must have a registration form on the page, put it below the detail the user is expecting to find.
bsphil 14y ago
I do barcode scanning on the Amazon app far more than I scan QRs. Handy to be able to check reviews and competing prices while I'm at the store.

by brk 14y ago

jetti 14y ago

That is a good use for them. Recently I saw one on a company's van which just baffled my mind. I don't know if they wanted somebody to come up while the van was parked and scan the QR code but it was just stupid and goes in line with what the article is saying.

natesm 14y ago
My favorite New York subway ad (besides Zizmor) is something like "Have bedbugs?" and it offers you some "bedbugs apps" if you scan it, which is great because: 1. I've recently been looking for a good way to let a crowded train know that I probably have bedbugs on my clothing. 2. Internet access is really good underground.
- corin_ 14y ago
  I'm afraid I can top you in "worst use of QR on underground travel" (this one in London): https://p.twimg.com/AneZAsiCAAATy1Q.jpg:large https://p.twimg.com/AneZAsiCAAATy1Q.jpg:large
  - dspillett 14y ago
    They never learn... Some time ago (early/mid 90s I think) there was a particular problem with pickpockets in the Kings Cross area so an awareness campaign was started with similar posters. The problem got worse. Why? Often people walking past the posters would, consciously or otherwise, check the pockets their wallet or other valuables were in - this helped improve an observant pick-pocket's hit rate.
  - jetti 14y ago
    I know what I'm going to do in Chicago! I'll buy an ad like that near one of the CTA platforms and stand around it and as people come by and try to scan it, I'll pick their wallets.
- matznerd 14y ago
  yeah, I work with text messaging, i.e. "text XXXX to #####" and while I love seeing it places, when I see it on the train I say wtf? But I guess people can draft the message and send it when they go above ground? I wonder if that is the same for QR codes on the train....

Angostura 14y ago

Wouldn't it have bee just as effective to have http://bestbuy.com/12345 http://bestbuy.com/12345 on the label.

jeffgreco 14y ago
They should do both. If you've got QR capabilities, it's quicker to scan a bunch of codes rather than enter each URL.
learc83 14y ago
If you have a reader app on your phone scanning the QR code is a bit faster than typing in a url, especially if your doing repeatedly for multiple products. I still think they are overused, but they can offer a little extra connivence, as long as they aren't taking up too much space.
brk 14y ago
Not really because then I have to type a bunch of characters instead of just clicking a button. QR Codes are nice macros, in the right places. They don't necessarily belong on every uncovered surface, but in many cases they can transfer a relatively large amount of data quickly and easily. I think we're still figuring out QR Codes and the proper applications of them. I remember usenet discussions in 1996 asking "Why did Ford put a URL in their commercial? Why do I need/want that? What do I do with it?"...
- will_work4tears 14y ago
  I guess I'm old and inept, but I've never gotten a QR code to scan properly with a "click of a button."
  - commandar 14y ago
    Odd. I've never had any trouble scanning them, even on my old G1. The camera on that thing had trouble with normal UPCs at times.
- sopooneo 14y ago

Produce 14y ago

But that's not an example of using QR codes for advertising. It's an actual, useful application of them, yes, but it is so precisely because they're not being used for marketing.

DHowett 14y ago

I've seen a lot of replies to this of the form "how about they use [URLs/NFC/etc.]", but how are those options at all better than printing out all the product specs? Surely having the specifications printed out and mounted in an emplacement next to the product is better than having to scan/touch/type some sort of digital tag. If it is about paper use, how about they stop using flip books full of paper numbers set next to each other to display prices before worrying about replacing some measly product spec sheets with QR codes. (EDIT: reviews are definitely a fair use of this sort of thing, and I had forgotten that they were a thing while replying.)

dspillett 14y ago

That is exactly how they should be used: to give more detail once the user decides they want/need that detail. They are used all over the place in Japan (where IIRC the QR code's popularity started) for non-sales related information like bus timetables as well as for access to detailed product information in shops. In both these use cases the QR code directing to a web page with up-to-date information is a benefit to the user rather than an advertising gimmick. QR codes are done wrong in a great many adverts. I've seen adverts with QR codes where is isn't entirely obvious what is even being advertised: sorry, I'm not wasting my time waiting for your information to come down what could be a slow mobile connection unless there is a good chance I'm going to care. You advert should make me want more detail, not expect me to make an effort to get basic detail. The two times I bothered scan a QR code on an advert were failures from the advertisers PoV. One went to a page that was simply not useable on a small mobile device (remember: there are plenty of phones out there with QVGA screens and that site was unusable at half VGA) and would have taken an age to download if the user was stuck on a GPRS link due to lack of 3G+ reception. I closed the browser and thought nothing more of it. The other time I was taken to a registration page where I was asked for some of my details in order to get the data - if I scan a QR code I expect to go direct to relevant information, not to be asked for my personal details (I could have oput in fake details easily, but I should not have to go to even that effort). If you must have a registration form on the page, put it below the detail the user is expecting to find.

bsphil 14y ago

I do barcode scanning on the Amazon app far more than I scan QRs. Handy to be able to check reviews and competing prices while I'm at the store.