I am beginning a series of tips related to using the CheckPoints app and maximizing your point earnings. Not sure how regular this will be, but I will try to add tips when I think of ones to add. Please let me know if you have any sort of questions or thought on CheckPoints and I will do my best to add a tip post related to them.
Tip #1: Wal-Mart - Mega Scanning!
Wal-Mart is not usually a store I like to visit, but it is awesome for scanning purposes. This is because a big portion of the items you can currently scan for points and bonus coins are available to scan at Wal-Mart (click here to see latest list of what you can scan at Wal-Mart). As of today (December 18, 2010) there are 430 points you can get (plus 2 for checking in) just from scanning items at Wal-Mart. The items can all be scanned elsewhere, but you would have to go to several stores to do it instead of just the one.
Scanning everything at Wal-Mart currently gives you enough to redeem for $1 Amazon Gift Card. Of course, you can also save your CheckPoints for bigger rewards and a daily visit to scan stuff at Wal-Mart will get you to your desired prize quicker with less time devoted than if you go to multiple stores to scan the items.
Do not forget that each item you scan gets you a Bonus Coin that you can use for a spin on the slot machine and have a chance to earn more CheckPoints. If you scan every item currently at Wal-Mart, that is 22 coins/chances to win some bonus CheckPoints.
Bonus Tip - Other Big Box Stores
Other Big Box Stores like Target and K-Mart offer about as many points and coins. There is some slight variation from Wal-Mart, as the Tyson products can only be scanned at grocery stores and Wal-Mart and those are worth a lot, but then again Wal-Mart's Belkin scan is a 15 pointer vs. a 50 pointer at other Big Box stores. K-Mart is slightly better than Wal-Mart, but only because you get 100 CheckPoints for checking in. The amount from scanning there is currently 345 CheckPoints (19 coins). Other Big Box Stores have potential for 330 CheckPoints (18 coins) and 2 check in points.
