Scanning Adventure 12/19/10: Wal-Mart and K-Mart

Finally decided to attempt scanning stuff at Wal-Mart today.  Thought it would be good since there seems to be a good amount of items available to scan.  Yeah, well it did not turn out too well partially because it is crazy in Wal-Mart.  Mostly, though, because most of the time it did not recognize me as close enough to scan stuff at Wal-Mart, which seems to happen at pretty much all big box stores for me.  I did at least scan Clorox wipes and the Nerf gun items.

I was annoyed that I could not get the video game items due to them all being behind the cases.  Definitely need to go to Target for those scans, as least the one closest to me has boxes on display you can pick up to look at the back and read about the game (and scan barcode for us CheckPoints addicts!!!).  Also, could not even find most of the food items to scan, as my Wal-Mart carries like no food.  I guess you need to go to a Super Center.  Not a big deal for me, though, as I always scan the stuff at the grocery store near my house anyways.

K-Mart was not quite as much of a zoo, but worse reception than Wal-Mart.  I was totally determined to get the Cuponk scan, though, since this is the only store to do it at.  Finally got it by going near front of store, but sometimes it feels really dorky to do this and then carry an item back to where it goes.  However, with everyone Christmas shopping right now, it somehow does not seem so bad to be browsing and not sure what to buy.  Not to mention I actually did that in the end with the one thing I was going to buy because it was not worth standing in the long checkout line for my one measly item that cost $1 and only $1.39 when not on sale.  At least getting the 100 CheckPoints and scanning a Belkin product for 50 CheckPoints made the whole sorta wasted non-purchase shopping trip not seem so bad.

Tip #1: Wal-Mart - Mega Scanning! and Bonus Tip

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.

Items to Scan at K-Mart Stores as of 12/15/10

Below are the items you can currently scan for points and bonus coins at  K-Mart stores on the Checkpoints app as of December 15, 2010.  Remember you also get 100 CheckPoints just for checking in at K-Mart (Tip: must be at least 24 hours since last K-Mart check in to get the 100 again).

Bold Items are New Items to Scan for Points

• Seventh Generation Cleaning Product - 50 CheckPoints (Note: Mostly only Target seems to carry this out of the Big Box type stores.)
• Belkin Product - 50 CheckPoints
• Degree Men Adventure Deodorant - 50 CheckPoints (Note: It is sometimes hard to find the adventure style, but other Degree Men deodorants scan fine)
• Clorox Disinfecting Wipes - 15 CheckPoints
• Cuponk Monsterosity - 15 CheckPoints
• Nerf N-Strike Recon CS-6 Dart Blaster - 15 CheckPoints
• Nikon Coolpix Camera - 15 CheckPoints (Note: This can be tough because they usually have these products locked away and you have to ask to see box, which they might not let you do if you are not buying.)
• Nintendo DSi - 15 CheckPoints (Note: Similar issue as above with the Nikon Coolpix, but sometimes you can get lucky and find the box's barcode facing out in the locked display case.)
• People Magazine - 15 CheckPoints
• Wired Magazine - 15 CheckPoints
• Call of Duty: Black Ops for PS3, PC, or Xbox 360 - 10 CheckPoints
• Cottonelle Product - 10 CheckPoints
• Disney's A Christmas Carol - 10 CheckPoints
• Grown Ups - 10 CheckPoints
• Hershey's Kisses Product - 10 CheckPoints
• Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit for Wii, PS3, PC or Xbox 360
• Toy Story 3 - 10 CheckPoints
• Under Armour Product - 10 CheckPoints
• Ziploc Product - 10 CheckPoints

Available CheckPoints Rewards as of 12/14/10

The only change in this update is that some gift cards have higher dollar amounts as what they are available as.  This means you need to save up more CheckPoints to get them, but except for the iTunes card they all still come out to 300 CheckPoints per doller.  This includes the Farmville $10 Gift Cards now only available as $100 Gift Cards.   The new value of the gift cards are in bold on the list.

Below are the currently available rewards you can redeem your CheckPoints for.  Note that I am listing them by category and some prizes appear in multiple categories.

Shopping

• $1 Amazon.com Gift Card - 300 CheckPoints
• $2 CVS/pharmacy Gift Card - 600 CheckPoints
• $25 Bath & Body Works eGift Card - 7,500 CheckPoints
• $25 FanDango Gift Certificate - 7,500 CheckPoints
• $25 Gamestop eGift Card - 7,500 CheckPoints
• $25 Neiman Marcus Gift Card - 7,500 CheckPoints
• $50 Sephora eGift Card - 15,000 CheckPoints
• $50 Victoria's Secret eGift Card - 15,000 CheckPoints
• $100 Facebook Credits Gift Card - 30,600 CheckPoints
• $200 Louis Vuitton Gift Certificate - 60,000 CheckPoints
• Hermes Birkin Handbag - 418,500 CheckPoints

Gadgets

• $1 Amazon.com Gift Card - 300 CheckPoints
• $2 CVS/pharmacy Gift Card - 600 CheckPoints
• Apple TV - 30,000 CheckPoints
• Nintendo Wii - 60,000 CheckPoints
• iPod Touch 8GB - 69,000 CheckPoints
• QuietComfort 15 Acoustic Noise Cancelling headphones - 90,000 CheckPoints
• Wii and Wii Fit Plus Bundle - 90,000 CheckPoints
• Toshiba Netbook - 96,000 CheckPoints 

 Travel

• 250 miles from the Delta SkyMiles program - 1,875 CheckPoints
• 250 Alaska Airlines Miles - 2,025 CheckPoints

Charity

• Aid Haiti Earthquake Victims - 300 CheckPoints
• Breast Cancer Research - 300 CheckPoints
• Build Entrepreneurs - 300 CheckPoints
• Cleanup the Gulf Coast Oil Spill - 300 CheckPoints
• Fight Global Warming - 300 CheckPoints
• Help Animals in Need - 300 CheckPoints
• Prostate Cancer Research - 300 CheckPoints
• Push Education Innovation - 300 CheckPoints
• Renew Our Democracy - 300 CheckPoints

Gift Cards

• $1 Amazon Gift Card - 300 CheckPoints
• $2 CVS/pharmacy Gift Card - 600 CheckPoints
• $25 Bath & Body Works eGift Card - 7,500 CheckPoints
• $25 Gamestop eGift Card - 7,500 CheckPoints
• $25 iTunes Gift Card - 8,100 CheckPoints
• $50 FanDango Gift Certificate - 15,000 CheckPoints
• $50 Sephora eGift Card - 15,000 CheckPoints
• $50 SpaFinder Gift Card - 15,000 CheckPoints
• $50 Victoria's Secret eGift Card - 15,000 CheckPoints
• $100 Facebook Credits Gift Card - 30,600 CheckPoints
• $100 Farmville Game Card - 30,600 CheckPoints
• $500 Louis Vuitton Gift Certificate - 150,000 CheckPoints
• $500 Neiman Marcus Gift Card - 150,000 CheckPoints

Low Points

• $1 Amazon.com Gift Card - 300 CheckPoints
• Aid Haiti Earthquake Victims - 300 CheckPoints
• Breast Cancer Research - 300 CheckPoints
• Cleanup the Gulf Coast Oil Spill - 300 CheckPoints
• Fight Global Warming - 300 CheckPoints
• Help Animals in Need - 300 CheckPoints
• Prostate Cancer Research - 300 CheckPoints
• Renew Our Democracy - 300 CheckPoints
• $2 CVS/pharmacy Gift Card - 600 CheckPoints

Eco

• Cleanup the Gulf Coast Oil Spill - 300 CheckPoints
• Fight Global Warming - 300 CheckPoints
• Help Animals in Need - 300 CheckPoints

Bling

• Apple TV - 30,000 CheckPoints
• $200 Louis Vuitton Gift Certificate - 60,000 CheckPoints
• Nintendo Wii - 60,000 CheckPoints
• iPod Touch 8GB - 69,000 CheckPoints
• QuietComfort 15 Acoustic Noise Cancelling headphones - 90,000 CheckPoints
• Wii and Wii Fit Plus Bundle - 90,000 CheckPoints
• Toshiba Netbook - 96,000 CheckPoints
• Hermes Birkin Handbag - 418,500 CheckPoints

eDelivery

• $1 Amazon.com Gift Card - 300 CheckPoints
• $2 CVS/pharmacy Gift Card - 600 CheckPoints
• $25 Bath & Body Works eGift Card - 7,500 CheckPoint
• $50 FanDango Gift Certificate - 15,000 CheckPoints 
• $50 Sephora eGift Card - 15,000 CheckPoints
• $50 SpaFinder Gift Certificate - 15,000 CheckPoints
• $100 Farmville Game Card - 30,600 CheckPoints
•  $500 Neiman Marcus Gift Card - 150,000 CheckPoints

Beauty

• $25 Bath & Body Works eGift Card - 7,500 CheckPoints
• $25 Neiman Marcus Gift Card - 7,500 CheckPoints
• $50 Sephora eGift Card - 15,000 CheckPoints
• $50 SpaFinder Gift Certificate - 15,000 CheckPoints
• $50 Victoria's Secret eGift Card - 15,000 CheckPoints
• $200 Louis Vuitton Gift Certificate - 60,000 CheckPoints

Featured

• $1 Amazon.com Gift Card - 300 CheckPoints
• $2 CVS/pharmacy Gift Card - 600 CheckPoints
• 250 miles from the Delta SkyMiles program - 1,875 CheckPoints
• 250 Alaska Airlines Miles - 2,025 CheckPoints
• $25 iTunes Gift Card - 8,100 CheckPoints

Available CheckPoints Rewards as of 12/11/10

Below are the currently available rewards you can redeem your CheckPoints for.  Note that I am listing them by category and some prizes appear in multiple categories.

Shopping

• $1 Amazon.com Gift Card - 300 CheckPoints
• $2 CVS/pharmacy Gift Card - 600 CheckPoints
• $25 Bath & Body Works eGift Card - 7,500 CheckPoints
• $25 FanDango Gift Certificate - 7,500 CheckPoints
• $25 Gamestop eGift Card - 7,500 CheckPoints
• $25 Neiman Marcus Gift Card - 7,500 CheckPoints
• $50 Sephora eGift Card - 15,000 CheckPoints
• $50 Victoria's Secret eGift Card - 15,000 CheckPoints
• $100 Facebook Credits Gift Card - 30,600 CheckPoints
• $200 Louis Vuitton Gift Certificate - 60,000 CheckPoints
• Hermes Birkin Handbag - 418,500 CheckPoints

Gadgets

• $1 Amazon.com Gift Card - 300 CheckPoints
• $2 CVS/pharmacy Gift Card - 600 CheckPoints
• Apple TV - 30,000 CheckPoints
• Nintendo Wii - 60,000 CheckPoints
• iPod Touch 8GB - 69,000 CheckPoints
• QuietComfort 15 Acoustic Noise Cancelling headphones - 90,000 CheckPoints
• Wii and Wii Fit Plus Bundle - 90,000 CheckPoints
• Toshiba Netbook - 96,000 CheckPoints 

 Travel

• 250 miles from the Delta SkyMiles program - 1,875 CheckPoints
• 250 Alaska Airlines Miles - 2,025 CheckPoints

Charity

• Aid Haiti Earthquake Victims - 300 CheckPoints
• Breast Cancer Research - 300 CheckPoints
• Build Entrepreneurs - 300 CheckPoints
• Cleanup the Gulf Coast Oil Spill - 300 CheckPoints
• Fight Global Warming - 300 CheckPoints
• Help Animals in Need - 300 CheckPoints
• Prostate Cancer Research - 300 CheckPoints
• Push Education Innovation - 300 CheckPoints
• Renew Our Democracy - 300 CheckPoints

Gift Cards

• $1 Amazon Gift Card - 300 CheckPoints
• $2 CVS/pharmacy Gift Card - 600 CheckPoints
• $10 Farmville Game Card - 3,000 CheckPoints
• $25 Bath & Body Works eGift Card - 7,500 CheckPoints
• $25 FanDango Gift Certificate - 7,500 CheckPoints
• $25 Gamestop eGift Card - 7,500 CheckPoints
• $25 Neiman Marcus Gift Card - 7,500 CheckPoints
• $25 iTunes Gift Card - 8,100 CheckPoints
• $50 Sephora eGift Card - 15,000 CheckPoints
• $50 SpaFinder Gift Card - 15,000 CheckPoints
• $50 Victoria's Secret eGift Card - 15,000 CheckPoints
• $100 Facebook Credits Gift Card - 30,600 CheckPoints
• $200 Louis Vuitton Gift Certificate

Low Points

• $1 Amazon.com Gift Card - 300 CheckPoints
• Aid Haiti Earthquake Victims - 300 CheckPoints
• Breast Cancer Research - 300 CheckPoints
• Cleanup the Gulf Coast Oil Spill - 300 CheckPoints
• Fight Global Warming - 300 CheckPoints
• Help Animals in Need - 300 CheckPoints
• Prostate Cancer Research - 300 CheckPoints
• Renew Our Democracy - 300 CheckPoints
• $2 CVS/pharmacy Gift Card - 600 CheckPoints

Eco

• Cleanup the Gulf Coast Oil Spill - 300 CheckPoints
• Fight Global Warming - 300 CheckPoints
• Help Animals in Need - 300 CheckPoints

Bling

• Apple TV - 30,000 CheckPoints
• $200 Louis Vuitton Gift Certificate - 60,000 CheckPoints
• Nintendo Wii - 60,000 CheckPoints
• iPod Touch 8GB - 69,000 CheckPoints
• QuietComfort 15 Acoustic Noise Cancelling headphones - 90,000 CheckPoints
• Wii and Wii Fit Plus Bundle - 90,000 CheckPoints
• Toshiba Netbook - 96,000 CheckPoints
• Hermes Birkin Handbag - 418,500 CheckPoints

eDelivery

• $1 Amazon.com Gift Card - 300 CheckPoints
• $2 CVS/pharmacy Gift Card - 600 CheckPoints
• $10 Farmville Game Card - 3,000 CheckPoints
• $25 Bath & Body Works eGift Card - 7,500 CheckPoints
• $25 FanDango Gift Certificate - 7,500 CheckPoints
• $25 Neiman Marcus Gift Card - 7,500 CheckPoints
• $50 Sephora eGift Card - 15,000 CheckPoints
• $50 SpaFinder Gift Certificate - 15,000 CheckPoints

Beauty
 

• $25 Bath & Body Works eGift Card - 7,500 CheckPoints
• $25 Neiman Marcus Gift Card - 7,500 CheckPoints
• $50 Sephora eGift Card - 15,000 CheckPoints
• $50 SpaFinder Gift Certificate - 15,000 CheckPoints
• $50 Victoria's Secret eGift Card - 15,000 CheckPoints
• $200 Louis Vuitton Gift Certificate - 60,000 CheckPoints

Featured

• $1 Amazon.com Gift Card - 300 CheckPoints
• $2 CVS/pharmacy Gift Card - 600 CheckPoints
• 250 miles from the Delta SkyMiles program - 1,875 CheckPoints
• 250 Alaska Airlines Miles - 2,025 CheckPoints
• $25 iTunes Gift Card - 8,100 CheckPoints

Items to Scan at Best Buy Stores as of 12/10/10

Today I noticed the Best Buy items to scan is a little different than other electronic stores.  The really odd thing is mine says there is a total of 235 points available from scanning, but actually there is less points than other electronic stores (110 at Best Buy vs. 125 at other electronic stores) because the Belkin product is not 50 at Best Buy, but rather it has to be a Belkin router and is only 15 CheckPoints.  That changed at Wal Mart today, too, so would not be surprised if that change comes to all the electronic stores soon.  Hurry out and get your 50 CheckPoints from Belkin scanning today if you do not want to miss out on at least one more day of it being a big point scan.

Below are the items you can currently scan for points and bonus coins at Bet Buy stores on the Checkpoints app as of December 10, 2010.

Bold Items are New Items to Scan for Points

• Belkin Router - 15 CheckPoints
• Energizer Product - 15 CheckPoints
• Nikon Coolpix Camera - 15 CheckPoints (Note: This can be tough because they usually have these products locked away and you have to ask to see box, which they might not let you do if you are not buying.)
• Nintendo DSi - 15 CheckPoints (Note: Similar issue as above with the Nikon Coolpix, but sometimes you can get lucky at places like Target with the box's barcode facing out in the locked display case.)
• Call of Duty: Black Ops for PS3, PC, or Xbox 360 - 10 CheckPoints
• Disney's A Christmas Carol - 10 CheckPoints
• Grown Ups - 10 CheckPoints
• Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit for Wii, PS3, PC, or Xbox 360 - 10 CheckPoints
• Toy Story 3 - 10 CheckPoints

Items to Scan at Walmart Stores as of 12/10/10

Below are the items you can currently scan for points and bonus coins at  Wal Mart stores on the Checkpoints app as of December 9, 2010.

Bold Items are New Items to Scan for Points

• Seventh Generation Cleaning Product - 50 CheckPoints
• Degree Men Adventure Deodorant - 50 CheckPoints (Note: It is sometimes hard to find the adventure style, but other Degree Men deodorants scan fine)
• Tyson Any'tizers Dippin Twists Snacks - 50 CheckPoints
• Tyson Ready Frozen & Refrigerated Chicken Breast Strips - 50 CheckPoints
• Belkin Router - 15 CheckPoints
• Doritos - 15 CheckPoints 
• People Magazine - 15 CheckPoints
• Nikon Coolpix Camera - 15 CheckPoints (Note: This can be tough because they usually have these products locked away and you have to ask to see box, which they might not let you do if you are not buying.)
• Nintendo DSi - 15 CheckPoints (Note: Similar issue as above with the Nikon Coolpix, but sometimes you can get lucky and find the box's barcode facing out in the locked display case.)
• Rold Gold Product - 15 CheckPoints
• Tostitos Product - 15 CheckPoints
• Clorox Disinfecting Wipes - 15 CheckPoints
• Nerf N-Strike Recon CS-6 Dart Blaster - 15 CheckPoints
• Wired Magazine - 15 CheckPoints
• Cottonelle Product - 10 CheckPoints 
• Under Armour Product - 10 CheckPoints 
• Ziploc Product - 10 CheckPoints
• Call of Duty: Black Ops for PS3, PC, or Xbox 360 - 10 CheckPoints
  
• Disney's A Christmas Carol - 10 CheckPoints
• Grown Ups - 10 CheckPoints
• Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit for Wii, PS3, PC or Xbox 360
  
• Toy Story 3 - 10 CheckPoints

Items Removed from to Scan at Walmart with this Update

• Fisher-Price Imaginext Bigfoot the Monster - 15 CheckPoints
• Hasbro Board Game - 15 CheckPoints (Note: The Hasbro card game versions of their board games also scan fine)
• Mr. Clean Magic Eraser - 15 CheckPoints