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Dear Marketers: Enough with the QR codes

sheldoncomics.com

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Re: Dear Marketers: Enough with the QR codes

#111

Post by Bjartr »

Angostura wrote: post #74
brk wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

when have you ever scanned a QR code and learned about/bought something? Shopping for dishwashers in-store, even after doing lots of online research. The in-store display tags have very minimal info. Best Buy has/had a QRCode on each product that took you to a webpage for that item with a lot more info, reviews, etc. It was one of the main reasons I actually bought a dishwasher AT Best Buy instead of elsewhere.

Wouldn't it have bee just as effective to have http://bestbuy.com/12345 on the label.

For me here's the difference:

URL: Turn on phone, swipe right to unlock, press search button, type url, press enter.

QR: Turn on phone, swipe up to open QR reader, point phone.

Yes, I'm one of those rare people who not only scans QR codes, but does it enough to bother making it one of the three actions he can take from his lockscreen (Camera, QR, Unlock)

Re: Dear Marketers: Enough with the QR codes

#112

Post by Bjartr »

rprospero wrote: post #45
ColinWright wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's the error-pronedness - clicks are far easier. Can you always type a lengthy URL without any mistakes or having to make corrections? Plus, I can't read a poster and a phone without constantly changing whether I'm looking through glasses or not. I type pretty well, but the scan wins every time. Added in edit: I really, really don't understand the downvotes. I'm offering a point of view as to why QR codes are easie…

It took me 28 seconds to type in this sentence on my cell phone. I didn't use auto-correct, so it's a pretty good match for typing a url, if a little long. That time did include going back through to correct for errors. Comparatively, I've never seen a QR code scan in under a minute, either on my own phone or on one from my friends, family, and coworkers. I could see the glasses thing being a pain.

I just timed myself, from phone off on the table, to having my phone's browser loading the page in a QR code I displayed on screen. 7 seconds. Pretty much the same amount of time it would take to open the browser at all.

Just tried again after I finally bothered to set my browser as the default link handler (so I don't have to pick from a list) and set my QR app to automatically open links I scan (so I don't have to tap the link) now it's 5 seconds.

Granted, I've found myself using QR codes frequently enough that I can get from my lock screen directly to scanning a QR code by swiping up instead of right (which unlocks the phone normally). So what I actually did was press power, swipe up, point at QR code, and that's it.

Re: Dear Marketers: Enough with the QR codes

#113

Post by angrytapir »

I scan a QR code at my local coffee shop almost every (week) day. I use an app that acts like an electronic loyalty card - you scan a QR code when you get a coffee, and every 10th coffee is free (and I find I'm actually more likely to do it, unlike with cardboard loyalty cards where it feels like you're inconveniencing someone when they're busy by making them mark it).

Re: Dear Marketers: Enough with the QR codes

#114

Post by joneil »

tterrace wrote: post #23
3pt14159 wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If every Android, Blackberry, and iPhone came with a universal QR code reader it MIGHT be worth it, but none of them do, so you have to provide printed material or a url anyways so there is no real reason to use them now.

Definitely. The first and only time I tried to scan a QR code I took a picture of it on my iPhone, realized a few seconds later that I had to install an app for it, then walked away shocked that anyone actually uses them.

That would be the ideal interface.

1) Open camera from lock screen 2) Take photo 3) If QR code is detected, offer to open it. 4) Later when browsing photos, remember it's a QR code, offer the link again, so that we can come back to it later. 5) If no QR code is detected, treat it as a normal photo.

Re: Dear Marketers: Enough with the QR codes

#115

Post by kolinko »

pyre wrote: post #106
Angostura wrote: post #74

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Wouldn't it have bee just as effective to have http://bestbuy.com/12345 on the label.

The better replacement will just be NFC once it becomes popular.

No, it won't. NFC is (and will be) more expensive than just printing a label. It also gives no benefit to the user compared to scanning a code. User has to take the phone, and get it close to the reader, just as with NFC.

Re: Dear Marketers: Enough with the QR codes

#116

Post by gala8y »

asolove wrote: post #2

I think this boils down to the basic rule: don't disrespect your audience. I keep going to meetings where people suggest using QR codes to advertise a product. And I ask the obvious question: when have you ever scanned a QR code and learned about/bought something? No one can ever answer. But there's a vague sense that somewhere, out there, "those people" are using QR codes. What's funny is no one seems to know who th…

I assume someone uses QR codes, but I don't know who, and I don't see why they are popping up in so many places.

They live in Japan. QRs are very old news there. I couldn't really tell more (I've never been to Japan) but this must be it. Anyone with ground level expertise?

Re: Dear Marketers: Enough with the QR codes

#117

Post by Gigablah »

anigbrowl wrote: post #26
canthonytucci wrote: post #10

Why is is so cool to hate on QR codes lately? I've heard Merlin Mann and Marco Arment rag on them pretty often on their podcasts. I don't get it. No matter how ugly, it's still a better way for me to get to your website/app from a physical item (bottle of wine, print ad, whatever) than having me type out a URL....sure they are stuck a bunch of places that make them ugly or inconvenient to actually read....but so are…

Karma-whoring, pure and simple. You can always get upvotes (facebook likes, pageviews) for being cantankerous.

Yeah, pretty funny how that comic was ragging on QR codes and marketers, yet the whole page was half covered by advertisements.

Re: Dear Marketers: Enough with the QR codes

#118

Post by jaaron »

asolove wrote: post #2

I think this boils down to the basic rule: don't disrespect your audience. I keep going to meetings where people suggest using QR codes to advertise a product. And I ask the obvious question: when have you ever scanned a QR code and learned about/bought something? No one can ever answer. But there's a vague sense that somewhere, out there, "those people" are using QR codes. What's funny is no one seems to know who th…

Westside Rentals uses them on their displays in LA and I've often used the QR code to check out the details of the listing when walking by in Santa Monica.

Re: Dear Marketers: Enough with the QR codes

#119

Post by nikatwork »

gala8y wrote: post #116
asolove wrote: post #2

I think this boils down to the basic rule: don't disrespect your audience. I keep going to meetings where people suggest using QR codes to advertise a product. And I ask the obvious question: when have you ever scanned a QR code and learned about/bought something? No one can ever answer. But there's a vague sense that somewhere, out there, "those people" are using QR codes. What's funny is no one seems to know who th…

I assume someone uses QR codes, but I don't know who, and I don't see why they are popping up in so many places. They live in Japan. QRs are very old news there. I couldn't really tell more (I've never been to Japan) but this must be it. Anyone with ground level expertise?

I can confirm this, they are everywhere and people seem to like them.

Eg, I was handed a flyer for a random nightclub with a QR code on it for cheap entry. You just scanned the QR code then showed your mobile at the door for a discount. This was 5 years ago too (Tokyo, Shinjuku/Shibuya).

Re: Dear Marketers: Enough with the QR codes

#120

Post by corin_ »

natesm wrote: post #41
jetti wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That is a good use for them. Recently I saw one on a company's van which just baffled my mind. I don't know if they wanted somebody to come up while the van was parked and scan the QR code but it was just stupid and goes in line with what the article is saying.

My favorite New York subway ad (besides Zizmor) is something like "Have bedbugs?" and it offers you some "bedbugs apps" if you scan it, which is great because: 1. I've recently been looking for a good way to let a crowded train know that I probably have bedbugs on my clothing. 2. Internet access is really good underground.

I'm afraid I can top you in "worst use of QR on underground travel" (this one in London): https://p.twimg.com/AneZAsiCAAATy1Q.jpg:large
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