FAQs: Consumer Reports Mobile Shopper^TM

Where can I download the Consumer Reports Mobile Shopper app?

iPhone users can purchase the app at iTunes.
Android users can purchase the app at the Android Market.

What's the difference between Consumer Reports Mobile and Consumer Reports Mobile Shopper?

Consumer Reports Mobile (m.consumerreports.org) is the mobile version of ConsumerReports.org. It is designed to be viewable on any phone with a mobile browser. Subscribers to ConsumerReports.org also get access to Consumer Reports Mobile at no extra charge, as part of their online subscription (standard messaging & data rates apply).

Consumer Reports Mobile Shopper is an app for the iPhone and Android phones. This is a different product from ConsumerReports.org/Consumer Reports Mobile. The app contains additional features like a UPC barcode scanner, expanded information on products CR doesn't test, sharing via email/Facebook, and links to local and online shopping.

$4.99 for a barcode scanning app? Really? Why shouldn't I just use one of the many free barcode scanner apps out there?

There are two reasons:

First, while our app is capable of scanning UPC barcodes, that's just one of many features the app offers. The real value lies in the content—the thousands of unbiased expert Ratings and buying advice from Consumer Reports. The app also allows you to instantly compare prices from both online vendors and local brick-and-mortar stores. If you're out shopping, the app allows you to get our Ratings on the TV you're looking at, then check to see if the price it's available for less either online or at a local store. When you break it down, it comes out to less than $1 per month—a bargain considering all the money you're likely to save when having such a powerful tool with you at the point of purchase!

Second, we are an expert, independent, nonprofit organization. To maintain our independence and impartiality, we accept no outside advertising and no free samples. We employ several hundred mystery shoppers and technical experts to buy and test the products we evaluate. Our income is derived from the sale of Consumer Reports® magazine, ConsumerReports.org®, and our other publications and information products, services, fees, and noncommercial contributions and grants. Charging for our products enables us to continue our mission: Working for a fair, just, and safe marketplace for all consumers and to empower consumers to protect themselves.

I'm a ConsumerReports.org® subscriber, why do I have to pay extra for this app? I should be able to get it for free.

Our app does NOT have the capability to distinguish if someone who downloads and uses it is already a Consumer Reports subscriber. However, if you want mobile access to our Ratings, etc., you can just go to Consumerreports.org from your phone's mobile browser and take advantage of CR Mobile that IS included in your online subscription.

Am I signing up for a subscription?

When you purchase the app, you're paying for one year's access to our content. So when your one-year period is up, you'll see a notification when you access the app letting you know that your access has expired and that you need to repurchase. We will NOT automatically recharge you! You will need to repurchase manually through iTunes for another year.

What are the iPhone/iPad/iPod requirements for using the app?

Consumer Reports Mobile Shopper requires iOS4 software or above to operate. Although our description has stated that from day one, there was some confusion since the requirements column listed on iTunes said iOS3 or above. As a result, it will NOT work on iPads or iPod Touches if those devices do not have iOS4. The iPad2 and iPod Touch 4 with camera will work fine. If your device has iOS4 but does not have a camera, you will not be able to use our scan feature.

Do I get access to all of Consumer Reports product Ratings?

You have access to our product database of our most popular Tested and Untested products in the following categories: Appliances, Electronics, Home & Garden, Babies & Kids, Car products (does not include new or used car model information). The app does NOT include individual articles from Consumer Reports magazine.

Why can't I find information about a new or used car?

Consumer Reports Mobile Shopper does NOT provide information on new or used car models—only Car-related products like tires and batteries.

What's the difference between Brand Reliability and Performance History?

Brand reliability is based on survey data from Consumer Reports subscribers and displays the repair rates of brands over time. Brand history indicates how well a brand has performed in our tests over time.

What happens if I scan something CR hasn't tested or would never test?

When scanning a UPC, Consumer Reports Mobile Shopper tries to give you results no matter what the item is:

• If it's an Appliance, Electronic, Home & Garden, Babies & Kids or Cars product we've tested, you'll get Consumer Reports Ratings, as well as available Features and Specs, Buying Advice, Brand Reliability, User Reviews, and Shop Online/Shop Locally results.
• If it's a product that we'd typically test but simply haven't, you'll get all of the above if available, but no Ratings.
• If it's a product we'd typically test but your results come back starting with "Product Info," then either we've tested this item but don't have its UPC in our database, or we simply haven't tested the product. In this case, select "Search Consumer Reports" to check for the item in the CR Ratings database. You can also select "Brand Search" to see if there is any brand-specific information in the CR database. We'll also check for Shop Online/Shop Locally results.
• If you've scanned a UPC for a product that we don't test because it's not in one of the categories listed above (e.g. video game, book), you'll get Product Info, and links to Shop Online/Shop Locally results, when available.
• If you've scanned a product that's not in the CR database or those of our Shop Online/Shop Locally partners, you'll get a "Sorry we couldn't find what you're looking for…" result. You can still check for brand information or try a new search. You can also "Search the Web." This option will open a Safari browser session outside of the app, automatically displaying available results via Google search. If you use "Search the Web" and see that the UPC displayed on screen doesn't match what's on the product's box, then the scanner captured it incorrectly. Scan the barcode again.

How do I scan a product's barcode?

• Touch the UPC barcode image on your phone to activate your phone's camera that will be used to scan the product's barcode. The UPC code is the one with 12-digits.
• Make sure the product's entire barcode is within the four white corners until the four corners turn green and you see "Hold still" at the bottom of the screen.
• Keep your hand steady and avoid any glare or shadows. Your phone will automatically scan the barcode and display the results.
• Do not touch the screen while the scanner is reading a barcode.
• If no results are found, then the product you are searching for is likely not in our database. Try entering the product make and model manually into the search field or browse by category (see instructions in Searching section).

How can I see the thousands of products CR has tested?

• Under "Scroll to find Ratings" on the homepage, use the image carousel to scroll left or right to find the category you're looking for (categories include Car Care, Appliances, Electronics, Home & Garden, and Babies & Kids).
• Tap on a category's icon to go to that page.
• Then use the scrollable breadcrumb at the top of the screen to drill down into the different sub-categories or simply touch the sub-category you'd like to explore.
• Continue to drill down until you have selected a particular product.
• Slide the breadcrumb near the top of the page back and forth to enter the previous sub-categories you have viewed.
• Tap the "Back" button at the top left-hand corner of the screen to return to the previous page.

How do I compare models?

• To compare a product with other models like it, tap the "Compare Models" button on that model page, or use the arrows at the top of the screen on the model page to drill down into the Compare Models section.
• When entering the Compare Models section, the global nav bar will disappear. It will re-appear when you hit the "Back" button or use the up/down arrows to toggle to another section of the model.
• The model you were just looking at will be highlighted in light blue; all other models will be listed below it in our Ratings chart.
• Tap the "i" at the bottom right corner of the screen to view the legend with the meanings of our Ratings system.
• To compare models, tap the empty boxes under the column with the "Compare" heading for the models you wish to compare by simply touching it with your finger tip.
• After selecting all the models you wish to compare, tap the "Compare" button.
• Scroll left to right to view the Ratings for each model; the model names will be anchored on the right.
• To view the full Ratings chart again, simply tap the "Show all" button. The models you selected to compare will still be selected. You will need to unselect them if you choose to omit them from another comparison.
• Tapping any of the specific model names in the Ratings chart will bring you to that model's main page.

How do I save a favorite product for future reference!

• Simply tap the Save button located at the top right of that product's main page.
• You will then be prompted to tap "Okay" to confirm.
• Once saved, you can re-access your saved products by tapping the Saved icon in the bottom navigation bar.
• To remove a product from your Saved Products list, swipe the product name from left to right.
• This will prompt a red delete button to display on the right.
• Tap the delete button to remove the product from the Saved Products list.
• Tap anywhere on the screen to hide the delete button if you decide not to delete the item.

How can I let my friends/family know what I'm thinking about buying to get their input?

You can "Share" your favorite products via Facebook and e-mail!

• For the best experience, provide your Facebook and Twitter usernames and passwords in your "Account Information" section (located under "More" in the bottom navigation) ahead of time.
• To use the Share feature, tap the "Share" button found on the top right of the screen on any product's main page.
• This will automatically prompt you to share via Facebook, Twitter or to a specific email address.
• When sharing via email, you can manually input an email address or you can tap the plus button (+) to add a contact from your phone's address book.

Do I need to be online for the app to work?

Yes. In order to ensure that the app is providing the most up to date information, you need to be connected to an online network, either via WiFi or your wireless carrier.

All I'm seeing is a spinning icon where either an image or results should be. What's wrong?

If you're seeing a spinning icon taking an inordinate amount of time to display an image or result, you've probably lost your network connectivity. If you're connected via wifi, check your connection by trying to access any website. If you're on your wireless carrier's network, check your signal strength or number of bars on your phone.

I disabled my current location setting. How can I reset it?

The first time you launch Consumer Reports Mobile Shopper, you will get a pop-up window stating the following: "CR Shopper Would Like to Use Your Current Location." If you click "Don't Allow," you won't be able to use our shop locally feature. To reset your location settings, you'll have to reset your iPhone's location warnings.

To reset your iPhone, follow these steps:

Go to Settings > General > Reset (all the way at the bottom) > Reset Location Warnings

Once you reset location warnings, make sure Consumer Reports Mobile Shopper is not running in the background. To check, double click the main button at the bottom of your iPhone. If it's running in the background, the Mobile Shopper icon will appear in the active app bar at the bottom of the screen. Press and hold that icon until a red/white icon appears on it, then hit it again. This shuts the app down.

The next time you launch Consumer Reports Mobile Shopper, you will once again see the current location pop-up. Tap "Allow" if you want the app to use your current location.