The Nielsen Homescan Consumer Panel is accepting new applicants in many locations. I have never signed up myself, but many of my readers have.
Have you heard of the Nielsen Homescan Consumer Panel?
As a Nielsen panel member, Homescan will provide you with a FREE hand-held scanner. Every time you or members of your household shop, you’ll use the scanner to scan the barcodes on all of your purchases. Then, once a week, you’ll send them your purchase information.
What’s in it for you?
You’ll earn gift points for scanning products. The gift points will be redeemable for name-brand merchandise, including electronics equipment, jewelry, household items, toys, and much more! You’ll also earn entries into sweepstakes!
Interested in becoming a Homescan Panelist?
Just go here and fill out the form! Please be aware that certain Zip codes are excluded (I’m not sure which ones), so you may or may not qualify. It worth a shot to see, though! (Unfortunately, my zip code didn’t need anyone, rats!)
Do I have any readers currently in the program that would like to share their perspectives?
Mine just came – I’m excited to start using it!
Hi–I have been on the Homescan (now NCP) for several years now. I began before I got serious with couponing. I wanted to let your readers know the pros and cons, to ‘count the cost’ so to speak. It is work to scan each and every purchase–including the sales and coupons you use. But I carry the scanner with me and do it as I shop. If I wait until I get home, it can be overwhelming to try to figure out from the receipt which deals when with what product, especially for a large grocery store run or several transactions at CVS. That said, I have learned the prices of things well by using it, and they are faithful to give you all your points. They also offer surveys that you ALWAYS qualify for, and you get points for them as well. I have redeemed my points for a pack-n-play playpen, and a digital camera. Many choices, except gift cards, and they arrive very quickly.
I recommend them.
I tried this last year. As excited as I was to start, I quickly figured out that this just wasn’t for me. I have a 1 and 2 year old now (so 0 and 1 then) and I just had a hard time adding that into my schedule. If all I had to do was scan items it wouldn’t have been so bad. Depending on the store that you shopped at you would also have to enter in the price, weather or not you used coupons, the value of the coupons, the quantity, if the item was regular price or on sale… on and on and on. Thankfully it was VERY easy to return the scanner and computer accessories. Maybe I’ll try it again when I have some more free time.
We’ve been doing it for several years now, and it’s just part of the routine for us. They sent me a $500 gift card that I used to get a sewing machine and several other items off of amazon. It also helps me keep track of the sales and coupons I am using. You don’t have to enter prices for some of the larger grocery stores, including Kroger. Usually, one of us scans while the other one puts things away.