As consumers, it’s our sworn duty to buy stuff. I’m here to make that task easier for you.
Lasoo
For: iPad, iPhone, Windows Phone, Android
Price: Free
If you enjoy the nostalgic feel of swiping through dead tree catalogues, but don’t enjoy the unnecessary waste, Lasoo provides you with all the big-name catalogues in digital form. See what catalogues are on offer for your nearby stores, use the store finder if you don’t know where to go and enjoy your new bargain. Catalogues are on offer from Target, Big W, Coles, Dick Smith, Myer, Toys R Us, Stratco, ALDI, The Camera House, Officeworks, Sleepy’s, Betta Home Living, Bob Jane T-Marts, Repco, Fantastic Furniture, Australia Post, flybuys, Harvey Norman, Telstra, BCF, Spotlight, Terry White Chemists, Jax Tyres, Best & Less, Dell, Rebel Sport, 2nds World and more.
Woolworths
Oh, the weekly grocery shopping. Is there any shopping task less thrilling? Maybe toenail clipper shopping, I’ll give you that. Most people in Australia shop at either Coles or Woolworths. Unfortunately, the Coles app is a stinking pile of rotten produce (ALDI also offers an app, if you’re one of those types). The Woolworths app is handy because you can scan the barcode of any product in your fridge/cupboard that will need replacing next shop to quickly add it to your shopping list. You can also share the list with household members, so they can add to it, too. The shopping list is also handily ordered by aisle, so you won’t do the demeaning back-and-forth shuffle between the baked bean and frozen pie sections.
What’s it worth?
For: Android
Price: Free (ads), $2.49
This handy app is sort of like a price comparison app for eBay sellers. It allows you to enter a product and find the average selling price for the past few weeks. That makes it particularly handy if you want to know how much you can get for a particular item, although it’s also handy as a standard price comparison app in that you can get an idea of how much you should really pay for that vintage turntable.
RedLaser
For: iOS, Android, Windows Phone
Price: Free
RedLaser actually provides the turn-a-barcode-into-a-product-description technology that powers a number of scanning apps and are, incidentally, owned by eBay. The idea behind the app is that you can be wandering through a store and be tempted by an item. You can almost guarantee it’ll be available online for less, right? Just scan the barcode and RedLaser will do a quick search online for the product, giving you a list of the cheapest retailers. However, the local tab doesn’t work very well in Australia and I couldn’t get ‘reviews’ for anything other than books. GetPrice is better here, but doesn’t have the barcode scanning. Your mileage may vary.
eBay
For: iPhone, iPad, Android, Windows Phone, Blackberry
Price: Free
eBay is the place to go for nerdy adaptery cabley goodness or unanticipated second-hand delights (“OMG there’s a fondue set here for three dollars!”), although it’s also a handy place to buy cheap, imported games and music. As the owners of RedLaser, the app naturally comes with a barcode scanner to make in-store price comparisons easier. However, I found that it was a little less successful in turning barcodes into eBay searches — it just searches for the barcode (which nobody but book sellers enter), rather than turning the number into a title and then searching for that. Still, for all things eBay, this app is the business.
All The Deals
For: iOS, Android, Windows Phone
Price: Free
With more Groupons, Scoopons and Cudos than you can poke a half-price Steamfast three-in-one ultra-mop at, it can be hard to stay on top of this treasure trove (ahem) of bargain-basement brilliance. All The Deals aggregates the latest deals from the major sites together into a single site/app, so you can know with confidence that you’ll never miss out on that next 70% off harbour cruise jet boat beauty therapy teeth whitening romantic night for two. You can select your locale for relevant local deals or browse for Australia-wide deals by category, too.
Getprice
For: iOS
Price: Free
One of the few (perhaps only) Australian-based price comparison apps, Getprice is based on the long-standing www.getprice.com.au web site. It allows you to find the best price on an item that’s calling to you in a retail store, so you can either sway the salesperson into giving you a discount or pop online and buy it there instead. It also contains product reviews and ratings, so you have an idea of whether the product is actually worthy of your lustful glances. It even has a ‘nearby stores’ finder, so if that money’s about to set your pocket on fire, you can get to the nearest place that accepts it.
Field Agent
For: iOS
Price: Free
Field Agent isn’t so much a shopping app as an app that earns you money by visiting shops and undertaking tasks like taking a photo of a display or price, or filling out a survey. Clients log jobs to the system, which are then pushed or emailed out to any nearby ‘agents’ (like you and me), who can, upon viewing the task and price, accept or decline. When you’re done, you’re credited and can ‘cash out’ at any time, with funds delivered through PayPal. The hardest part is trying to find jobs, but we can always hope that as the system gains traction here, jobs will become more common.
Etsy
For: iOS
Price: Free
If you prefer your purchases packed with a little more love, then handmade/vintage marketplace Etsy may be for you. It has miscellanea from mutant taxidermy sculptures to fluffy head scarves; it’s probably the best place to shop for birthday gifts. Not only because you’re supporting small-time sellers, but because they’re all so friendly! Most items come with notes of thanks and some with little bonuses, too. Look at me, I’m gushing. The app is useful for buyers and sellers: it’s a cinch to browse stores, your favourites and treasuries, and sellers can view stats on shop views, orders, favourited items and revenue.
Scan2List
For: iOS
Price: Free
Made specifically for Australian shoppers, Scan2List offers the same barcode scanning and list sharing function as the Woolies app, only it won’t tie you down to a single mega-conglomerate. You can also add lists for items beyond groceries, such as hardware, electronics and action figures. It even supports budget tracking, password-protected lists and list templates for recipes or common shops. The app is ad-supported and you’ll have ‘relevant’ content/offers/coupons from partners offered to you that you can take or leave as you will.
Comments
Have your say