What is Digg?79 Comments
- logicbus, on 10/12/2007, -1/+17This site will do all the work for you:
http://www.blendedtechnologies.com/justoneclubcard/ - aaronm67, on 10/12/2007, -2/+15When you know you're a geek : you start calling "Pulling Stuff Off Your Keychain And Printing Them Out On One Sheet" a "Keychain Mod."
Next Up: Adding LCDs and overclocking your pocket knife. - cduquette, on 10/12/2007, -5/+17Cool idea, but could be a pain for people scanning the card. The supermarkets don't have the "gun" scanners so in order to scan their card they'd have to cover all the other codes and swipe. Would some places reject this too?
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -5/+15Who cares what it scans as log as it scans. All my club card are curently in my wallet with the bar code facing out so all I have to do is wave it in front of the scanner and I generally use self checkout so it's not an issue.
However, I would rather these cards not exist. They are evil. It's dumb that I have to go through this extra step (no I dont provide real information of course) or be charged extra for something. This isn't a discount, it's a tax on people who dont want the hassle or refuse to give up personal information.
http://www.nocards.org/ - vann, on 10/12/2007, -3/+11It seems people are burying comments which don't actually contribute anything substantial. I mean, if you agree with the article you digg it, right? So really there's no need to post something that just says "Great site," unless maybe you're going to elaborate and say, you know,*why* it's a great site.
Just like the front page, the comment section is now controlled by nebulous social factors. At least this means we probably won't be seeing those "OMG how did this get to the front page with only X diggs in Y hours?!" posts any longer. - theholycow, on 10/12/2007, -2/+10I've been doing this for years with a regular copy machine. I just photocopy a bunch of barcodes onto a single sheet of paper on both sides of a credit card-shaped corner of the page. Each faces a different dierction, rather than all being parallel. I've got codes from keychain-cards and wallet-cards; as mentioned by another user, there's no reason not to.
I've briefly considered trying to hack four magstripes onto a single card, but it's too much work, and the wallet-thickness-savings with just barcode cards is great. Every time I use it, I just say "It saves thickness; I have to sit on this wallet, you know..."
Occasionally, a librarian is afraid to let me take out books with it, and I have to provide my ID. - Rossitron, on 10/12/2007, -0/+8It wont work...
99.9% (if not all) barcode scanners look for the light reflected from the ~670nm diode laser thats being scanned (via spinning polygon) over the barcode. In other words, LEDs/oLEDs will look the same on or off to the detector in the barcode scanner.
"Electronic paper" on the other hand would suit this application.
Good idea!
*calls patent lawyer*
j/k :) - thewise1, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8I went to Red Robin not too long ago and went in the bar with my wife because it was a shorter wait. I was immediately carded, which is annoying, but ok. So I hand her my driver's license and she looks at it, starts to hand it back, then looks again.
her: "Your ID is expired, sir"
me: ...
her: "you'll have to leave the bar"
me: "... I certainly haven't gotten any younger since it expired; I'm 25"
her: "we can only accept non-expired IDs"
me: "you're kidding, right?"
her: "no sir, you'll need to leave please"
so I left, and wrote a complaint to red robin just because the whole thing irritated me so much.
You'd think this wouldn't be that common, but it actually turns out Frys wouldn't take my credit card with the expired driver's license. Furthermore, the grocery store wouldn't let me buy some beer with the temp ID that I got soon afterward; they needed the expired license AND the temp license or they wouldn't sell to me.
The moral of the story?
Most people lack the basic capacity for logical thought. I can only imagine handing the cashier at safeway one of these cards instead of the usual red card; explaining what I'm doing to someone who just had their entire day come crashing down around them because someone broke the routine might be more inconvenient than carrying around their irritating little card.
Awesome trick. I digg it. But having to explain it to someone? I dunno. - Flankk, on 10/12/2007, -2/+9I could definitely see places rejecting this. The only reason you'd get a question and a funny look is because they'd be suspicious of fraud.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -3/+9Good tutorial but I didnt like the lack of pictures... it is key to have pictures along side tutorials.. :)
- greganalytic, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6Hey guys,
I'm the creator of http://www.blendedtechnologies.com/justoneclubcard/. I put it on Digg a few months ago and only got 3 diggs :-( I'm not sure why this guy's system is better, but I suppose my UI might be a bit confusing or perhaps the Digg crowd just prefers a DIY type project.
There is an advanced link on my site where you can enter the barcodes for any other stores you might have provided you can figure out the barcode type. That basically means trying each barcode type until the barcode on the screen looks like the one on your card. - Ryetronics, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6That site would be nice if it allowed me to input barcodes for the cards I actually use. It only offers 14 stores worth of cards. Who the hell shops at Food Lion anymore??
- Flankk, on 10/12/2007, -2/+7Consolidated magnetic cards sound like a bad idea. Wait until all your credit card bills arrive exactly the same.
- vann, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5Uh, well, *shoppers* have the cards because they get the occasional discount, but *stores* issue them because it allows them to track consumer data. In effect, they're paying you a small pittance for the ability to track your purchases.
Frankly I don't care if CVS knows I like to buy Lipton Iced Tea twice a week, or whatever. Although these cards probably explain why lemon tea costs $1.49/bottle and all the other flavors cost $1.29/bottle. - lordsandwich, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4As with online registrations, you can also fake your information on most signup forms.
- liquidanvil, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4How about the idea that I have been waiting for someone to implement: I call it the "Skeleton Key" - somehow making one key work on all of the locks that you have to open. (for me: 2 apartment keys, mailbox key, office key, etc.) There are just too many keys to carry around. I want to carry one key and one card. Travel light, man.
- teh_toaster, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4Most of my discount cards are the stupid little punch cards for a free sub or for $5 of gas, so this doesn't help me much. But I do like the barcode generator a lot more than the other one I've been using to create labels for computer parts.
- theone3, on 10/12/2007, -7/+10Wow. That's ingenious, but it probably wouldn't with most barcode scanners. It might also be too big. However, an epaper one might be just the ticket.
- craigeth, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5you: scan that one there
them: umm.. wtf is this?
you: instead of carrying a whole bunch of discount cards around i just carry one with all the barcodes on it. im a geek. just scan the ***** card or ill break you
them: *scans* - spacebar14, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4Yeah -- I think my grocer would be a little suspicious if I came in with a zillion barcodes neatly taped to a card...
Duh!
edit: Yeah, plus the fact that alot of grocers just have a giant scanner built into the counter. That'd make it hard to get the code you want! - rubberbrush, on 10/12/2007, -6/+9Seems like a great place for a small OLED..a small device (credit card sized?) could store a mess of these. And coupon codes.
- Mexrocker, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3its seems like a good idea, but I'm sure some places may be skeptical and still ask for the original that was provided when you first got it, I'm still gonna try this and see what I get
- lavi, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Time waster. I just dont carry the cards and give them my phone number instead. Works at most, if not all, stores.
- tavisjohn, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4Where I live it is a STATE LAW that you have to have a VALID ID or Driver's license in order to prove who you are. YOU may think it is dumb, however how to the clerks know if you are really the person on the card, or if that person tossed it out and you snagged it from the trash.
When I worked as a cashier we were told to ONLY sell cigs and booze to people with VALID ID's. I had this 80 year old woman come it, wanted a carton of smokes, and wanted to charge it. Both required a valid ID. When I checked her ID it had expired 30 years ago. I told her that I could not sell the cigs to her because she did not have a valid ID. She offered to pay cash, I had to inform her that her ID had expired, and that I could not sell the cigs to her without a VALID ID. She was upset and left, and was pulled over by the cops for not having a valid driver's license. (The cops were next in line behind her and over heard the whole thing) The cops came by the next day and told me I did the right thing. If an ID is expired, it is no longer good and can not be used. - Ai3d, on 10/12/2007, -3/+5At first I thought I would have a neon-glowing keychain tonight.
- DoctorLag, on 10/12/2007, -5/+7Nice, I'm going to try this with my regular sized cards too. That reminds me, does anyone know anything about that one magnetic card that was supposed to consolidate all of your magnetic cards?
- themoose, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2good idea but can you imagine trying to explain it to the cashier? And what about those cards you have to swipe?
- binarypower, on 10/12/2007, -0/+180 years old smoking a carton of cigarettes? I wouldn't have sold her them on general principle!
- nicepants, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Having a discount card isn't stealing from anyone. The store shouldn't give a rats ass even if they're scanning the barcode off of your forehead. It's not like you can get an extra discount by simply using a different barcode.
- kacymartin, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1yup. before i turned 21 thats how me and my friends got our fakes. we just borrowed the expired ID's from our older friends. Thats why places dont accept an expired ID (not to mention its against the law to accept an expired ID in Ohio)
- dstart, on 10/12/2007, -7/+8I've done this in college with their barcoding system. I must have received some weird looks too..
- Kryptonitfusion, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Argh..too late now nobody will read this comment. but basically u don't have to carry those discount cards. many of the stores will accept ur telephone number as well. talk about being light on ur key chains huh....
- silverdragon, on 10/12/2007, -16/+17Great little tutorial!
- squenix1221, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2I usually don't carry these cards around...most places will accept your telephone number if you dont have your card.
- xtremesniper, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2It is a pretty cool idea, but I don't have that many discount cards to begin with, so I'll pass.. Besides, I think some stores would be a little uptight about it, thinking you possibly hacked the card or something to steal money from them.
- sparty1969, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1This whole bar code site made me think. What's stopping someone from making their own bar code, sticking a less expensive bar code on a more expensive product? Yes, this would be illegal but you know people have to be doing it?
- designerjoe, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2I really like this idea but I'm not sure stores would accept the discount card.
- kacymartin, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2rtphokie
a lot of times you dont have to supply any info at all. The Kroger Plus card allows you to use it right when you get the card before you send in the application. Just toss the application and use the card (thats what i do). - xodex, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3Why not carry your pocketpc/palm when your ready to check out go to your discount card folder select, display image of barcode needed scan that and wam your out :)
- mattb5, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I could have sworn I saw something like this a few months ago, but you put them on something pencil-shaped, i.e. 6 or 8 sides. I've searched Digg and Googled the hell out of it. Does anyone else remember this?
- TKDWILSON, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3So you pull out that and the unknowing clerk says what is that and will not let you use it. Plus, now you have one big card. I don't see the value.
Eric Wilson - thewise1, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2"YOU may think it is dumb, however how to the clerks know if you are really the person on the card, or if that person tossed it out and you snagged it from the trash."
Oh, I dunno, maybe the picture on the card, or the fact that I didn't cease being Andrew Brown 3 days after my ID expired? - binarypower, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Great, now my wallet will be big..... no tradeoff :-p
- dig-dug, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Cool idea but the "barcode server" site doesn't work.
- TheSolomon, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2Yeah, exactly. Plus the whole advantage of the cards being attached to your keychain is the fact you won't forget them. Under most circumstances, you probably have your keys on you, and thus have your shopper cards. One of my shopper cards is not attached to my keychain, so frequently I forget to take it with me, like when I go to the store straight from class or work, when I don't get a chance to stop by the house first.
People are *not* shopping *most* of the time, that's why you have to attach the cards to something we carry with us all the time. Plus that thing is huge and impractical. Hell, I don't even carry a wallet because of the bulk.
A better idea would be to just come up with a sliding plastic case that is oversized enough to fit the longest of your keychain cards and thick enough to fit all of the cards inside. That way they are all squeezed together and don't become such a mess, plus the case would help them from becoming worn and frayed. If you want to use your card, just flip open the little case attached to your keys and the cards come out, still attached to your keyring and ready to use. Pick the card you want, scan it, then grab all the cards and put them back in the plastic case and snap it shut. It wouldn't be any bigger than a normal keychain-type deal, and would have the advantage of always being attached to your keys. :-) - NoelTribune, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I did this with my blockbuster card. I've got an awesome custom card with flaming skulls on it. You can get blank card laminating pockets from an office store that you can slip any paper in to make a card. It's the same thing they use to make regular membership cards.
- M2Ys4U, on 10/12/2007, -3/+3Why is the buried?!
- jimmy0x52, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Recently a guy busted here for doing that at Home Depot, Wal-mart, and target. eBay'd about 500k in merchandise before being caught.
- jimmy0x52, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1Wow - just noticed my article got digged.
Thanks for the comments everyone. I haven't yet had a problem with the card - no one questions it.
My new one actually has numbers 1 2 3 and 4 by them so when I had them the card I just say 'Scan number 2' , etc.
There should be no reason why anyone thinks you're 'scamming' them - these systems don't give any user a different discount than any other user.
YMMV - ciscosurfing, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0There's a word for all of this: oversimplification. Let's not get carried away people.
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