Ask HN: paperless receipts

#1

Post by zemanel » Fri, Mar 11, 2011, 3:16 PM UTC

After paying up on a coffee shop yesterday, i was wondering how much paper is wasted on receipts all around the world.

I don't know if are there any solutions out there (i live in Portugal), but what i've thought of was that a service could be implemented that would setup a device at the venues that would generate a bar/qr code for the bill, which could be scanned by the customer using a mobile app.

the mobile app could even integrate with an on-line personal finance management app.

what do you think?

Re: Ask HN: paperless receipts

#2

Post by dreamux » Fri, Mar 11, 2011, 3:22 PM UTC

The Apple stores (in Canada, at least) have the ability to email receipts to the email address associated with your credit card instead of printing one. By the time I walk out the door my phone buzzes with a copy of my receipt coming into my inbox. I absolutely love this - it also helps that I don't have to save my receipts for warranties since I can instead just run a search for them.

I hope more stores catch onto this model.

Re: Ask HN: paperless receipts

#3

Post by timrobinson » Fri, Mar 11, 2011, 3:25 PM UTC

I like the idea of electronic receipts. If you weren't bothered about wasting paper you could print the code on the paper receipt; otherwise, you'd need a dedicated device to transmit the QR code.

I wonder how big the QR code needs to be in order to encode all the information on the receipt; those thermal receipt printers aren't that great. How about an app that uses the phone camera to scan the entire receipt, then reads the text? That way you don't need any dedicated equipment at all.

I've always liked how the Apple store sends me a receipt to my email address. However, I'm not sure I'd like to give my email address to every coffee shop just so they could mail me a PDF.

Re: Ask HN: paperless receipts

#4

Post by zemanel » Fri, Mar 11, 2011, 3:26 PM UTC

dreamux wrote: post #2

The Apple stores (in Canada, at least) have the ability to email receipts to the email address associated with your credit card instead of printing one. By the time I walk out the door my phone buzzes with a copy of my receipt coming into my inbox. I absolutely love this - it also helps that I don't have to save my receipts for warranties since I can instead just run a search for them. I hope more stores catch onto t…

that would be great.

Apple can do that because you can register an account online with Apple and they get your info (e-mail) by looking up your credit card?

A general solution would have to work with small businesses that don't have online services, which i assume being the majority out there.

Re: Ask HN: paperless receipts

#5

Post by zemanel » Fri, Mar 11, 2011, 3:27 PM UTC

timrobinson wrote: post #3

I like the idea of electronic receipts. If you weren't bothered about wasting paper you could print the code on the paper receipt; otherwise, you'd need a dedicated device to transmit the QR code. I wonder how big the QR code needs to be in order to encode all the information on the receipt; those thermal receipt printers aren't that great. How about an app that uses the phone camera to scan the entire receipt, then…

Scanning the receipt from paper wouldn't eliminate the receipt, which is the "problem"

Re: Ask HN: paperless receipts

#6

Post by timrobinson » Fri, Mar 11, 2011, 3:30 PM UTC

zemanel wrote: post #5

timrobinson wrote: post #3

I like the idea of electronic receipts. If you weren't bothered about wasting paper you could print the code on the paper receipt; otherwise, you'd need a dedicated device to transmit the QR code. I wonder how big the QR code needs to be in order to encode all the information on the receipt; those thermal receipt printers aren't that great. How about an app that uses the phone camera to scan the entire receipt, then…

Scanning the receipt from paper wouldn't eliminate the receipt, which is the "problem"

There's two problems: wasting paper and having to manually enter the receipt into an expenses system. You don't have to solve both problems at once.

Re: Ask HN: paperless receipts

#7

Post by saw-lau » Fri, Mar 11, 2011, 3:31 PM UTC

dreamux wrote: post #2

The Apple stores (in Canada, at least) have the ability to email receipts to the email address associated with your credit card instead of printing one. By the time I walk out the door my phone buzzes with a copy of my receipt coming into my inbox. I absolutely love this - it also helps that I don't have to save my receipts for warranties since I can instead just run a search for them. I hope more stores catch onto t…

Works in Apple Stores in the UK, as well, so I imagine it's worldwide.

Re: Ask HN: paperless receipts

#8

Post by dreamux » Fri, Mar 11, 2011, 3:33 PM UTC

zemanel wrote: post #4

dreamux wrote: post #2

The Apple stores (in Canada, at least) have the ability to email receipts to the email address associated with your credit card instead of printing one. By the time I walk out the door my phone buzzes with a copy of my receipt coming into my inbox. I absolutely love this - it also helps that I don't have to save my receipts for warranties since I can instead just run a search for them. I hope more stores catch onto t…

that would be great. Apple can do that because you can register an account online with Apple and they get your info (e-mail) by looking up your credit card? A general solution would have to work with small businesses that don't have online services, which i assume being the majority out there.

Actually, I'm not sure if they cross-reference credit card numbers with itunes accounts or if its done through the credit card company; but I think this should be a service that credit card companies offer merchants... perhaps to help justify their massive merchant fees.

Re: Ask HN: paperless receipts

#9

Post by hugorodrigues » Fri, Mar 11, 2011, 3:33 PM UTC

Delicious idea. hard implementation, mostly because (in)compatibility with existing hardware/software already in stores.

One way to minimize the compatibility issue with existing software, is create a (hardware) printer (generic), that print on screen, and generate the barcode so the user may scan.

i love the part of "integrate with an on-line personal finance". there are also some legal issues.

bring it on!

Re: Ask HN: paperless receipts

#10

Post by zemanel » Fri, Mar 11, 2011, 3:35 PM UTC

timrobinson wrote: post #6

zemanel wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Scanning the receipt from paper wouldn't eliminate the receipt, which is the "problem"

There's two problems: wasting paper and having to manually enter the receipt into an expenses system. You don't have to solve both problems at once.

yes, but i was wondering about the 1st one, which would have a large impact on the rain forests :)

As for #2, i'd say there are so many different formats of receipts that it could prove unfeasible, although just extracting the receipt values could be done, i guess.