Overview
CardStar is a card manager program that takes all of your membership cards and puts the info and barcode right into your phone. The idea is that you can lighten your wallet now that you won’t have to carry around a ton of cards. I can’t stress the word “idea” enough. Because that’s really all it is. An idea.
Features
- Pick A Card, Any Card…
The app features the membership info of over 100 US companies. All of your favorites are here, like Blockbuster and Ralph’s and CVS. Of course, you can always add a card that’s not on their list- but the barcode won’t be there, which would defeat the purpose of the app. I can’t stress the word “would” enough.
Breakdown
The Good:
Okay, when I heard about this app, I got really excited. I hate carrying club cards in my wallet. They take up a lot of space and through the course of the years, they get all messed up anyway. My Ralph’s card scans every one out of 10 times. So that’s cool. This app seemed like the coolest thing ever! I really can’t stress the word “seemed” enough.
I thought, this is going to be great. I dug out the cards from my wallet and went through one by one entering them into the app. The interface was really good. No trouble at all setting up the accounts with the cards I had. (Though, there’s no 24 Hour Fitness or Hollywood Video in the app, but whatever, it had all the others). I was skeptical at first, wondering how the barcodes would look. But I was amazed that the barcodes the app generated totally matched my cards. It’s crazy!
I started to get really excited. My wallet was going to be so light! I really can’t stress the word “was” enough. There was only one card I wasn’t able to upload… my Smart & Final card, because the back was almost totally worn off and I couldn’t read the last damn number. Oh well, because it wouldn’t have made a difference at all. Why? Read on…
The Bad:
I set out to test the barcodes. I went to Ralph’s, grabbed some Cheez-Its and Sour Punch Straws, (the cornerstone of any health conscious individual), and went to check out. “Please scan your Ralph’s club card.” Okie-dokie. I opened the app, found my virtual Ralph’s card and verified the barcode was on the screen. I wove it over the scanner. Silence. I tried holding it still. Nothing. I rotated it- maybe the barcode was just off a bit- nope. Maybe the scanner is broke, I thought. So I pulled out my old, crummy club card and before I thought I even had it over the scanner- BEEP! Strike one.
Later that evening, I went to BevMo because this dude needs his Kahlúa. (Seriously, ask around- I mix a mighty tasty caucasion). I hand the clerk my iPhone and ask him to scan it. He looks at me like I’m crazy. I tell him “like a fox!” He doesn’t understand what that means because he didn’t actually call me crazy. Oops. Being a good sport, he attempts to scan the barcode on my screen. No dice. I hand him the real card as he hands me back my phone. Strike two.
Guess what? CardStar… you’re OUT!!!! In this game, it only takes two embarrassing strikes! The barcode won’t scan, which is the primary purpose of the app. And why doesn’t it scan? Probably because of the reflective glass screen of the phone or because of the luminosity of the screen. The fact is, it does NOT work. And there are a lot of phony reviews on iTunes that claim that it does. I call bullshit!
Verdict
This app is worthless unless you want to give the cashier your membership number every time you go out, (since it’s stored right there in your phone). Sure, that totally defeats the convenience of the card scanning, but at least your wallet is less cluttered, right? Right?! No.
If this app worked, I’d be writing a glowing review. But it doesn’t- and until it does- it’s not worth a cent. You hear me, CardStar?! Work!!!! Because I want to get rid of these goddamn cards in my wallet!!! Work!!!!!!!!!
Our Rating
CardStar
- Developer: CardStar, Inc.
- Category: Lifestyle
- Released: 01-05-09
(currently 2.1)
(currently free)
It could be that the size of the barcodes it generates are not the exact size so that the barcode line thickness and white space is “off” and not registering with the scanner. I have seen scanners read barcodes imprinted on shiny glass, through plastic bags and on and on. So, my guess is the image size is off. Too bad, sounds like a great idea.
I’m contacting you from CardStar to inform you that our new release v1.1 (2/18) includes our proprietary SyncScan technology, which enables hand held laser and ccd scanners to now read CardStar barcodes.
After updating my CardStar app a few days ago, I tried scanning at 5 different retailers (Best Buy, Safeway, CVS, Giant, Blockbuster), and they all worked. I was searching online to see if other people had had the same experience and came across your post. But yes, it seems like they fixed the earlier problems they had with scanning.
I also tried using this “wonderful” app… I tried it at my local duane reade and also at babies r us..
know what happened? nothing- no dice
app deleted!
This is a typical USELESS app – all hype… Folks it doesn’t work!!! Tried cards at BestBuy, Blockbuster and Safeway – not one worked. Totally useless. Of course, at 99 cents, it is too much of a PIA to ask for your money back.
I’ve had it for a while but never got it to scan at 24 hours Fitness. I added it under Merchants because it was not on the list. No luck, but I didn’t pay for the app becuase it’s FREE today.
Don’t trust the numbers that are on the card. There may be other numbers in the barcode that are for checking. For each code you can’t match up, read the barcode manually to check for hidden numbers or use another bar code scanner app to read the numbers. I found that a few of my card did this. Now everything looks right! Next: see if they scan.
I tried this card at a couple of places … CVS and Stop and Shop. Worked like a charm at CVS to lots of ooohs and ahhhhs by the clerks. At Stop and Shop, I usually use the self scanning guns as I shop, so when I tried to scan my card using CardStar, it wouldn’t work … either when getting the self scanning gun or checking out at the counter. However, I do have the option of entering my shopping card manually, so I’d rather do that anyway than carry around that annoying card! Can’t wait to give it a go at the library. This review is for the most current version 1.
worked perfectly at the new york public library.
did not work at duane reade. it feels like a lot of people are having issues at Duane reade.
am looking forward to seeing what happens with new york sports club as well as d’agastino.
I only used it at BestBuy and it worked great! However, you have to be careful to input the correct number, not the member ID number.
Thanks for the advice Aaron…I was having trouble at Best Buy because I had entered the member ID. This app has worked everywhere for me without a problem (except for my own mistake with Best Buy). I have used it at CVS, PetsMart, and Kroger. I was also able to get it for free.
Works for me & I love it! If it doesn’t work in the counter-top scanner, you may just have to use the hand-held scanner. Oh, and it’s free now.
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I’m still having problems. It just doesn’t scan with most scanners. I’m thinking that I need a less reflective screen, so maybe a bit of matte clear plastic would help. At Blockbuster it works perfectly at CVS it works after five minutes of moving it around and at most grocery stores it doesn’t scan at all.
Mine worked perfectly at CVS, Gold’s gym ( an add on) and Harris Tetter.
I was happy.
Has never worked for me at Giant Eagle grocery. I have the latest update. My coworker says it didn’t work w/ his YMCA membership card.
Just used Card Star for the first time last week. Worked for me at Ingles grocery store and CVS. Lots of oohs and ahhs from the cashiers. Worked on first try too.
It’s probably free now because it just doesn’t work. I have a scanner at home; have not been able to get it to read. Grocery store, same results. So it’s useful for storing your numbers which the clerk can input manually, but not for scanning. Don’t embarrass yourself by trying. I wonder if the program was modified so as not to have as birght a background whether it might work. Perhaps if it was gray instead of white. Obviously the folks that put this out did not test it very extensively.
Very excited about ditching the cards…my first attempt failed with the latest free version app at Staples. Also, a friend had the same failed attempt at Kroger. Too bad, I couldn’t wait to lighten the load of the all those “savings”
Really great concept, but it doesn’t work. I tried Staples, Best Buy, and Smith’s Food & Drug. I’m glad it was free.
C’mon people. This works perfectly and ALWAYS has.
If you aren’t getting it to work you aren’t reading the directions.
Further, the developer has helped me to add local cards (and helped quickly and professionally with detail.
I use this every day at Ingles, Bilo, Staples, Library, CVS, and Petsmart.
It does TAKE finesse – but once you have it 5-6 inches and slightly perpendicular – no waving – it works perfectly.
I too tried this app and it didnt work. However after reading how so many people have been able to get it to work, I was determined to get it to work. I have been able to get success with 100% of the hand held scanners. I have yet to use a flat scanner. My secret……reduce your screen brightness to just a little less than 50%. Hope this helps anyone having problems….GREAT APP
True that
I been using it suceesfully for eight months at Giant Eagle, but yesterday the casher refused it. Said it was corporate policy. Still waiting for an answer from their corporate office.