# Iphone app that stores affinity/discount cards, displays barcodes for scanning?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iphone-app-that-stores-affinity-discount-cards-displays-barcodes-for-scanning/557918>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 21, 2010, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iphone-app-that-stores-affinity-discount-cards-displays-barcodes-for-scanning/557918 "2010-10-21T19:10:20Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\
**Post date:** [October 21, 2010, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iphone-app-that-stores-affinity-discount-cards-displays-barcodes-for-scanning/557918/1 "2010-10-21T19:10:20Z")

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An acquaintance of mine showed me an Iphone app that he uses to store all his affinity/discount cards (CVS ExtraCare, Harris Teeter VIC, etc.) and it displays the barcodes so the cashier or the self-checkout machine can just scan the face of the Iphone.

I can’t remember the name of the app. Anyone know of a good one for this purpose?

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**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\
**Post date:** [October 21, 2010, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iphone-app-that-stores-affinity-discount-cards-displays-barcodes-for-scanning/557918/2 "2010-10-21T19:15:01Z")

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I’m surprised that works at all. I thought most barcode scanners needed contrast in terms of reflectance or absorption, not luminance.

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**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\
**Post date:** [October 21, 2010, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iphone-app-that-stores-affinity-discount-cards-displays-barcodes-for-scanning/557918/3 "2010-10-21T20:04:08Z")

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[CardStar](http://www.mycardstar.com/) is one such app, although I’ll bet there are several.

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**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\
**Post date:** [October 21, 2010, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iphone-app-that-stores-affinity-discount-cards-displays-barcodes-for-scanning/557918/4 "2010-10-21T20:12:12Z")

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I use Cardstar, but I’ve had very little luck getting the scanners to read the codes. A shame, 'cause it’s a great idea.