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Ask HN: paperless receipts

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Re: Ask HN: paperless receipts

#21

Post by timrobinson »

nantes wrote: post #11
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…

Perhaps this is an intance where a central service could aggregate e-receipts for customers. I could see this being linked to loyalty programs from major grocers, gas stations, etc. You could then manage your preferences with the central service who could email you receipts or just store them for you indefinitely.

I'd find this useful if I'm travelling on business. Right now I have to keep a week of receipts safe somewhere and bring them back - coffee, restaurants, taxis etc. Then I go back and type the details into the corporate expense system, and put the paper receipts into an envelope.

I'd be happier if somebody looked after the receipts for me (in the cloud?) and saved me the effort of typing them in when I got back.

Re: Ask HN: paperless receipts

#22

Post by timrobinson »

timthorn wrote: post #20
timrobinson wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do Nectar currently provide this information to customers? If they did then you could put together a quick hack that scraped their web site for the data.

The information available goes down to transaction level. I get the store name and location, date and amount spent for every purchase. What is missing is a description of the line items, which would be required for expense reports. It's all very well me saying I spent £20 at Sainsbury's, but my company would want to know what on...

Right: I'd imagine that in order to persuade companies (i.e. corporate expenses departments) to accept these receipts, they'd have to be convinced that they were the same as the paper originals.

Re: Ask HN: paperless receipts

#23

Post by timthorn »

timrobinson wrote: post #22
timthorn wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The information available goes down to transaction level. I get the store name and location, date and amount spent for every purchase. What is missing is a description of the line items, which would be required for expense reports. It's all very well me saying I spent £20 at Sainsbury's, but my company would want to know what on...

Right: I'd imagine that in order to persuade companies (i.e. corporate expenses departments) to accept these receipts, they'd have to be convinced that they were the same as the paper originals.

Indeed - and more importantly, HMRC (the tax office) would need to accept their integrity. But, Nectar is a sufficiently large organisation as to be able to offer such assurances and for corporates to accept their word - backed up by contractuals, I'm sure!

Re: Ask HN: paperless receipts

#25

Post by CoachRufus87 »

I think that a problem this large would (perhaps) be best solved by the credit card companies themselves (unless folks don't mind giving out their email address to every cashier). They already know who I am, what I'm buying, and when, so it'd make sense if they were to handle the digital receipt as well.

But I highly doubt they'd implement this b/c its not their core business.

Re: Ask HN: paperless receipts

#27

Post by thenonhacker »

CoachRufus87 wrote: post #25

I think that a problem this large would (perhaps) be best solved by the credit card companies themselves (unless folks don't mind giving out their email address to every cashier). They already know who I am, what I'm buying, and when, so it'd make sense if they were to handle the digital receipt as well. But I highly doubt they'd implement this b/c its not their core business.

CHOICE: At the least is to offer an option to store receipts along with the Credit or Debit card transaction.

PRIVACY: Offer an option to just store the total amount and don't include the specific items purchased.

MICROFORMATS: It would require a standard format (presumably XML) for the receipt data for any store.

Re: Ask HN: paperless receipts

#30

Post by scottf007 »

yReceipts offers this service for any retailers already. We are live in the UK and Australia, soon to be live in the US and other European countries. You can send receipts via email from any POS, the customer receives an email with an attached PDF. We have a website where you can login and see your receipts etc.

New features currently being developed include exporting directly to accounting programs. www.yreceipts.com

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