Free Nielsen Home Scanner
EDIT: It doesn’t look like they’re accepting any new members now.
We all hear about Nielsen ratings when crappy TV shows get canceled, but it turns out that there’s a free Nielsen Home Scanner program that lets consumers track far more than just their TV habits. If accepted, they’ll send you a free scanner and you’ll then use it to scan the barcodes of your grocery purchases each week. For doing so, you’ll earn points which can be redeemed for prizes.
I’ll be honest here and say I’m quite new to this. I’m still waiting to see if I’m accepted or not, but I figured it’d be worth trying since I already buy groceries every week. It’s like how I approach Swagbucks – if I can get prizes for doing something I already do, then what’s stopping me?!
Does anybody have any experience with this? What’s it like?
I’ve been on their “reserve” list for about 6 months. I’ve been told the average wait is about a year.
I got on right away. I’ve been doing it for more than two years. It’s just like scanning stuff when you go thru the self check out line and the prizes are really cool things, not like the cheap gifts you get with the survey sites.My next gift I’m saving for is a really nice kithenade stand mixer.
I’ve been a panelist for about 3-4 months now. It isn’t bad but can be somewhat burdensome when you have a TON to scan like I do sometimes.
You earn 150 points a week just for scanning everything you purchase, then they have surveys that you can fill out to earn more points. The prize base is nice too, lots of things to choose from
I only had to wait for about 8 weeks and have been scanning for 4 months now. once you get used to scanning everything (which in the beginning can be annoying and time consuming) it is no big deal. but you have to have a lot of points before you can redeem them. I still don’t have enough to get any kind of reward. But I will scan scan scan (btw, you do not get more points if you shop more, you only get your points once a week regardless of how many stores you went to), so far I like it.
I did this a couple of years ago and it was a pain in the butt with very little reward. You have to key in every store in your area, grocery, dept, everything. Then when you come in you have to scan everything that is brought in your house, even a pack of gum,gasoline, everything! then once a week you have to dial in and hope the transmission goes though, which you have to hold the scanner just right against the earpiece. I achieved a notepad, a jar opener and some other trinkets for my faithful work. Think about all those little trips you make, shaving cream from walmart, etc. Too much work for little reward. I did it for almost a year and decided it wasn’t worth it.
Will call me when a spot is available. We will see how long it takes!
It’s a great program. I’ve been doing it for about 6 months now.
I did it for a while (maybe 3-4 months) and sent it back because it got to be kind of a pain and I didn’t have the time or the patience to keep up with it. Probably adds 15 minutes to unpacking groceries. Then you have to upload stuff, download stuff.
I only had to wait about 2 months to get the scanner, and have been scanning items for about 3 months now. It takes a long long time to get enough points to trade for an item, but they do have other contests, etc. throughout the year. The scanning does seem time consuming at first, but now it’s pretty quick.
responding to #5, it has changed a lot since when you did it, its all done by computer transmission now. Takes no time at all. The only hassle is when they make you put in all the prices for everything. Much easier when you just scan and submit the total at the end. Does take a while to get enough points for a prize.
I have been on the waiting list for over 6 months. I hope I get a spot.
I’ve been a member for nearly a year now. I have about 21,000 points, i’m saving for the big ticket item. Publixs is the only place that you don’t have to enter pricing that i’ve come across. most stores like walmart and target have the upc right on the sales receipt so I enter them after i have everything put away and sitting down. The longer you do it, it really takes no time at all. The scanner really isn’t free.
Its telling me someone in my household has signed up already….news to me!
I have been with them about 8 months and just now requested a nice coffee grinder that is selling on amazon for $35.00. (19,000 points)
It is simple to do if your items are in there but takes time if you have to type in the prices. My scanner is broke for the 2nd time but they are nice on the phone and in sending a replacement. PLUS they give you your points for your missed time.
I was accepted within 6 weeks from my original request. I think it depends on your age, class, state and stuff like that. (also guessing household ages, kids etc)
I was a member for about 4 months. I returned it b/c I just wasn’t interested in scanning stuff when I got home (I’m a cashier- LOL). Plus having to put all the prices in was really cumbersome. Then they wanted you to enter in gasoline and vending machine purchases and stamps! A bit much for what you got. Before I quit we got a Nike sack.
#12 is correct. “The scanner really isn’t free.” You will have to return it at their expense if you quit.
I got approved once, but never felt really comfortable with people coming to my house to deliver the scanner personally…. Guess I’m not that trusty with strangers….
I’ve been on the waiting list for a year or so now…glad to see they are more interested in others
Oh well, I’m still interested…just not all that concerned about it.
Oh, I got accepted recently, got my scanner, etc.. But a friend of mine has been doing it longer and she and I are both thinking that it may not be worth it. But we have young kids too.
I checked out the prize catalog and there are only maybe 2 items I’m even interested in and they cost like 200,000 points. I’m really disappointed with the prizes…if you want to know what some of them are email me.
I’ve had great success with the program. I didnt have to wait for the scanner.
It’s easy. You are buying groceries already. Why not get some benefit for what you do.
They mail you the scanner.
I’m approaching the 12,000 point range.
It’s really easy and simple.
I have been doing it for more than a year now, and have over 34,000 points so far. Try it for yourself, rather than listening to people who hate it; you may enjoy it! I actually like it. I have two boys at home who enjoy using the scanner, too. All of the stores where I shop have the prices entered, so I do not have to enter any prices. Occasionally I have to enter a price if I buy something at a vending machine or whatever, but it honestly takes less than a minute to do those types of purchases. I am a big couponer as well, and you do have to enter coupon amounts, but even that gets easier after a few times using the scanner. The scanner was mailed to my home, not hand delivered. I send my reports over the phone, not via the computer, and I have NEVER had one not go through. Many of the prizes are LARGE prizes, and name brands! Not gift certificates, etc., like may survey sites. You can get iPods, tents, luggage, tools, printers, video games and systems, etc. They can’t just give the stuff away, of course it will take time to get enough points for something big. Anyway, it is easy and fun, just maybe not for everyone!
it took me about 3 weeks to be accepted and waited for a month on the scanner it just arrived 2 weeks ago. so far so good. i really liked it since im a stay at home.
I’ve been a member for a couple years. I don’t mind the scanning. Most of the time I don’t need to enter prices for the grocery stores. Then every week I transmit online which only takes a few minutes. It does take awhile to accumulate enough points for anything worthwhile. But they have ongoing sweeps that you enter when you transmit. I haven’t been fortunate enough to win or redeem my points yet. Now that Nielsen merged with this other company, they will offer more surveys to accumulate points.
#17 Becky-They don’t personally deliver the scanner. It comes by mail and you sign for it, just like you would any other package.
I got on right away a couple of months ago and I think it’s a pain in the butt. They want you to scan every single thing that you buy and enter the prices. It takes forever to earn points! I think I might be able to get something if I do it for years, but that’s about it. I wish they paid money. I feel like I am helping them and giving my time for nothing. I know I didn’t need to sign up, but I thought that the prizes were easier to get and that would have made it worth my time.
I have been doing this for about 8 months. I waited to hear about 3 months before I got started. In the beginning it was a bit of an annoyance, but it only adds 5 or 10 minutes for scanning into your day. It does take quite a few points to add up to anything valuable, but hey, nothing to lose. I have gotten a couple of nice reusable bags and a can opener. I don’t think its a bad deal at all.
I’ve been a member for about 6 years. This is not an easy freebie. In fact, I’ve never redeemed by points for an award because the awards are pretty junky. Someone mentioned spending 8 months to get a $35 coffee grinder. So, 32 weeks x 5 minutes a week (at least) means nearly 3 hours of work for a coffee grinder (that might be found on sale for $15). And 5 minutes a week is probably conservative, if you include answering surveys. What would you say is fair compensation for 5-10 minutes of work a week, every week, for 6 years? In Nielsen’s mind, it’s maybe a reward worth $150 or $200…it’s a lot of work with not a lot of reward.
As to posters #5 & #10…um, I’m still doing it the way described by #5. Nothing computerized for me, unfortunately.
I have done this for about 5 years now. I have gotten a couple of really good gifts. A stereo w cd player and a NICE crockpot. Right now I’m saving for a hand held GPS to go geocaching with. It really doesn’t take too long and if you answer all their surveys, the points add up faster.
This question is for anyone who has participated in this program before: Do they ship the scanner free to you? If so, can I safely assumed that I can ship it back to them for free, if I quit the program? Also, once you get enough points for a prize, is there any hidden fees, like tax or shipping they try to get you to pay?Thanks.
I tried it but the scanner kept messing up so I sent it back.
Did this for a few months and basically earned an iron for about 40 hours of my time. A complete waste. And customer service never was able to help me uninstall the software from my laptop.
I’ve been doing it over a year and was accepted right away. I love it 95% of the time. The times I don’t love it are when I walk in the door and need to just hurry to put the groceries away but I also need to be cooking, taking care of my family or entertaining guests. At that point, I usually scan super fast or I just write down the UPCs for later. Like someone else said, the longer you do it the faster you get at it.
I also send it via my home phone, it nearly always takes multiple phone calls to transmit the information, as it transmits with a series of tones like a fax machine. If there’s interference on the phone line, forget it, you have to redial. Also, the amount of time it takes to transmit is based on how many shopping trips you’ve taken and how many items you bought, so you may be on the phone for several minutes transmitting information. Also, the scanner needs to be plugged in all the time, as it loses a charge easily, so it’s an “energy vampire”. I plan to stay in Nielsen until I have enough points to get one good prize, then give it up. It’s more trouble than it’s worth.
I did this before for about 2 years. I finally gave it up because I realized that in all that time all I had gotten out of it was a generic brand CD player and that after going to the store and getting groceries for a family of 4, the last thing I felt like doing was going BACK over it, scanning each thing (sometimes fighting with the scanner to get it at just that right angle to scan) and then typing in however much I paid for it and so on. It’s a better use of your time to clip out, organize, and use coupons, if you ask me. Some of the prizes are awesome but I can’t imagine how long it would take to get them. The time you put into it is not worth it!
I did it for about 4 months and it was aweful. I get groceries about once a month and it added about an hour to my ‘put away time’ as you have to scan every item, enter the price, quantity, any coupons (and that is hard to remember since you have to surrender the coupons at time of purchase and I use LOTS of coupons making it more of a pain). Plus the scanner would continually give my computer the blue screen of death (BSOD) after I returned it I have not had one BSOD. my time is very precious and the rewards are not worth my time-very little points redeemed for effort put into it.
you also have to scan any free samples, gas, clothing, etc. it is not just groceries
I did this too… about ten years ago now. I can’t say what it’s like now but it sounds as though things haven’t changed all that much. It was a gigantic pain in the behind back then too.
I started this about a month ago. It should be a lot easier than it is. It is not geared for folks like us who use every deal available. Many of my coupons fall under the “other” category since I found them on the web or they came by or from a link from email, since they told me that “received at home” means from the newspaper or the mail, not the internet. And, they can only handle coupons for individual products, not whole purchases. So, if I have a coupon for 25% one item at a Borders, I have to enter the total price of the book and calculate the coupon’s value and enter it. If I get 15% of my total purchase at CVS, there is no way to enter it other than that my total amount spent is a lot less than the individual prices.
And, the phone transmission is a pain. I guess their internet transmission only works with wireless even though they asked me about my modem and available ports on my router when I applied.
Also, I was told not to worry about anything without a barcode like fruits and vegetables, or anything not brought into my home, like gas or a candy bar eaten outside.
I’ll keep it up for now.
I applied less than two months ago and just received my scanner yesterday. It’s not that difficult to use. I’m carrying mine with my, as I do my netbook, iPod Touch and cellphone. It’s not big deal to me.
The only problem I foresee is getting my husband and kids to remember to bring me receipts for their purchases. Example, last night I had the hubby run to the gas station to get some medication for one of our daughters, who is sick, and of course he forgot the receipt along with the price for the item.
Thankfully I DO the bulk of the shopping, putting gas in the car, etc, etc so if I don’t enter a purchase here or there I don’t think it’ll hurt me too much.
Re: Winny, comment #28
Q. Do they ship the scanner free to you?
A. Yes, they ship it free to you.
Q. If so, can I safely assumed that I can ship it back to them for free, if I quit the program?
A. Yes, the include a return FedEx shipping label.
Q. Also, once you get enough points for a prize, is there any hidden fees, like tax or shipping they try to get you to pay?
A. No idea. I don’t think so. I just got my scanner yesterday so I’m still learning.
I’ve done this for several years. It takes a while to get used to it, but it’s sort of fun once you learn. I’ve noticed, when they send surveys to my email, several months later I can notice a new product or packaging I reviewed show up on the shelves. Kind of neat to actually see a change you had something to do with. (I know that’s terrible grammar) Some stores are enlightened enough to provide the Nielson people with their prices, so you don’t have to enter the $ amount. I just plug the modem they provided into the phone jack in the hall and punch the button to send it once a week. If you are on vacation, or have a power failure, they give you credit anyway, if you tell them. I charge my scanner up about once a month. They periodically send a gift in the mail to thank you for helping. I’ve gotten a really nice travel mug, a book light and a fleece blanket I keep in my car trunk for emergencies.
I did this a few years ago for about 4 months. After all that time I still didn’t have enough points to get anything from their catalog and it was a real pain in the behind to half to scan everything after just getting done going shopping and trying to put stuff away. Then for some reason the scanner wouldn’t work well with my computer and took forever to complete the transfer of information each week. It got to be too much of a pain and I returned the scanner to them. It just wasn’t worth all the trouble I was going to, to scan stuff for the measly amount of points I was getting,.
I just joined a month ago; only waited about 6 weeks to be accepted, and I’m a single person, no kids (except furry kind), so I think they look for all demographics. Fedex Delivery of the scanner was a bit complicated initially, only because you have to be present to sign for it, and I worked odd hours. First shipment got returned to Nielson, but they agreed to send it to my office. Once you get the hang of it, it’s really easy. I don’t buy gobs of groceries, but eat out A LOT, and those purchases get scanned it too. Prize selection seems nice, and your weekly point accumulation increases the longer you stay involved. I’d say it’s definitely worth a try…where else can you earn free stuff for 5-10 minutes of your time once or twice a week?
I was on this…and got my scanner…I would have no problem with the program I had a problem with teir customer service we could not get the scanner to work correctly my father and I tried everything…and when My father called to get it corrected he waited for 37 minutes and 43 minutes before hanging up…finally he left a voice mail and they took 3 weeks to call and they called me at work not the home phone to get it fix when I told themI was at work and they needed to call the home phone and speak to my father they told me to have him call them between a time he did waited another 27 minutes and gave up…So I mailed it back…then I got a bill for the return shipping of the scanner…I fought with them for 4 weeks before they finally agreed to remove it!
I have been a member for more years then I can remember. However, it takes a long time to get enough points to get a really nice gift, like a TV. However, I did get a “free” vacuum cleaner when mine broke. So I did same some dollars there. I have also received some other “gifts”. I have never won one of their extra prizes, even thought I have been a member for many, many years.
Thanks for telling me about Swagbucks.
im excited about this……..i love geting prizes for simple work! sounds simple, just time consuming…..got an email to day saying tehy will ship scanner, i just signed up 2 weeks ago
I’ve been doing this for about 6 months or so and I love it. It takes just a little bit of time especially with me cause my kids like to help me scan. They even send you little thank you gifts in the mail from time to time.
just got mine and i love it
I’ve been doing this less than a year and already have over 23,000 points. It is time consuming, but can be fun if you want to make it that way. Most stores list the UPC numbers on the receipts with the price right next to it (except Walgreens!) so I can sit down at the end of the day and enter everything from my receipt. It takes longer than scanning the barcode, but I’m usually needing to get groceries put up and cook supper at the same time so I don’t have time to do it. Have to remember to put coupons in too. I got my scanner via FedEx and can order a return shipping box any time I want to stop. Customer Service is always very nice and helpful. They even send replacement batteries when the scanner needs one. You do have to have a landline to transmit, but I’ve never had any problems with that either.
I just received my “free” iPod Touch, but it took a several years to get enough points to get it.
I have been scanning for about 3 or 4 years now. It just is lucky that I shop mostly at the HyVee store and don’t need to put in prices. I just scan, tell how many I purchased and if I had coupons. It is not difficult and I have gotten nice prizes with the points I earn such as a ear thermometer (takes your temp by placing it in your ear.)also a nice metal thermos bottle. It takes awhile to get the points for the nice things but definetly worth it.
I will continue scanning as long as I can.
this sounds like a great job from home. i have not worked for 2 yrs now, and i am doing part time with the censes, but it ends the end of june 2010. i really need to work, and very dedicated to my job.
please consider me for your company. iam a 58 year w/f and really the job to earn gifts, and stay busy
I have been ‘scanning’ over 2 years. It is easy and you quickly learn how to lay-out your groceries to make scanning easier. Shopping at a Henry’s or Whole Foods type market you have to enter what each item costs. I usually stand in front of the fridge and scan the fruit or vege bar code going down the list and typing in the costs – it is so easy.
When I shop and get 30% off at a store like Kohl’s, I first figure what the 30% off will be on all items (and write that number on the slip) so I can subtract that number from the purchase price. My husband sets out larger grocery items with the bar-code facing up so I can walk by and scan those items (pet food, toilet paper and towels, etc.). The prizes you pick do not cost extra and they are nice. I have received dog beds, MP3 player speakers, really nice spoon measures, and similar stuff.
I had been with them for more than a couple of years with no problems until two years ago (long story short…) then was asked to return the unit and lost out on more than 78,000 points accumulated I wanted to use. I got really upset and have not got back with them due to this one issue.
I have been doing this for some time now. Sometimes it is overwelming if you have a lot of things to scan. I have a scanner that you don’t hold to the phone. You plug it into your computer to send results of you buying for the week. It takes a long time to get enough points to claim a prize but worth my time. Loving it.