Merchants may be able to sway consumers into buying certain products through a new grouping of shopping apps aimed at saving the consumer money by sharing a picture of the receipt back, The Associated Press reported.
The list, which includes SavingStar, Snap, Checkout 51, Ibotta, gives consumers money back for snapping photos of receipts of particular items, like a Jennie-O frozen turkey or Dole pineapple juice. After users download an app, they can scroll through offers at major retailers like Stop & Shop, Target and WalMart to see which items are eligible. Here’s the logistics of how it works:
“To verify purchases, users take a picture of the receipt with their smartphone camera. Sometimes they also need to scan the product’s barcode with the phone’s camera too. The apps add cash to user’s accounts within a day or two. When the account reaches a certain level, usually $20, users can request a check or move the money into their bank accounts,” the report said.
Checkout 51 can be used in any store, as long as the receipt spells out the name of the product; Ibotta can be used in select retailers, ShopRight, CVS and Whole Foods; SavingStar must have a minimum of $5 to earn rewards and the money is sent to a PayPal or bank account; Snap works at any store and users can get a check when they earn above $20.
