Nielson Home Scanner has currently opened up opportunities for people to participate in their consumer panel. Homescan measures consumer attitudes and behavior. The panel collects opinions to help manufacturers and retailers make decisions on what products to develop or improve on. So what’s in it for you?
Well first off, you get a really cool hand held scanner and when you shop you simply scan the UPC code on the items (at home) and once a week transmit it to the company. Every time you scan and transmit you will be earning points for gifts such as electronics, jewelry, toys and more.
I actually think this would be a fun family project having your kids help you scan your groceries would be a great way to get them involved.
I have not done this yet so I can’t speak from experience but I’d be interested to know if anyone has and how they liked it.
FYI: This is the same Nielson that does the TV ratings. I always wondered how they got those ratings. 
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Hi Cindy, thanks for letting us know! I was placed on the waiting list, and they will let me know when a scanner becomes avail. Thank you!
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Cindy Reply:
January 14th, 2010 at 10:55 pm
@Susan Z., your welcome. I hope you get one! It should be fun to do. I’m going to sign up myself as soon as I get Pathmark & Stop & Shop up…
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Thanks for the info.. I am on the wait list and very excited to try this
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I just signed up. I was placed on a the waiting list. Excited to see how all this works.
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Oooh I signed up also. Looks very interesting. I’m on waiting list also. Would be great if when one of us gets it we let the others know how it goes.
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I have been on the panel going on 9 years. Lots of fun and great gifts by the way. I have only redeemed mine a couple times over the years so I have built up like 65,000 points. Not sure what I’m saving up for yet but they have flat screen tvs and lots more. I got a Nikon digital camera from them about 3 years ago…didn’t even pay shipping. Sometimes I get tired of scanning each store trip and sometimes I forget to send my transmission in each week lol but I love it!
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I just signed up. I can’t wait!!!
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Hi Everyone,
Been lurking around on your blog for a while. I signed up on the 14th and was also put on the waiting list. Last week I received an email stating that a space had opened for me. The email had a link in it that directed me to the survey again. So now I’m just waiting to hear from them.
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Hi,
I have been on the homescan panel for a few years now. They are very nice and consistent. I scan all my purchases, the kids do help, and it helps me really get a feel for prices of things. Great part is that prices are pre-programmed for most grocery stores, so don’t have to type in the price. They also send e-mail surveys (for which you ALWAYS qualify). I have redeemed points 3 times–a pack and play, and this past Christmas, a digital camera.
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Am I the only one who had problems with this? I was on the panel a few years ago. I had major problems with the machine they gave me, and it constantly didn’t upload properly. I had to hand-enter every price in the machine every time I shopped, not just scan the stuff in. It took a lot of time, and then I wouldn’t get credit. When I *finally* got permission to send it back for a new one, they cancelled me without notice. I hope I was an isolated incident, but I would be wary to try again.
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