Reader Review – GroceryIQ
By 
My wife and I had considered buying GroceryIQ since it first came out. We usually just wrote our lists down (and almost always forget it…) or just wing it in the store (inevitably forgetting something). When it dropped to 0.99 the continued popularity in the app store and feature set along with the newest news regarding Coupons.com finally convinced the wifey to purchase.
We used it in earnest for the first time last week on a big shopping trip to Walmart. Until then, the wife used it as a running list of things that she’d periodically email for me to pick up on the way home. It is easy, and more importantly fun, to use.
The aisle prediction is almost dead on, and we started ordering our aisles to match our Walmart. It would be nice to be able to set up different aisle profiles for each of the stores around us. We have a Publix within walking distance, and a Super Walmart a few miles out and we end up going to both equally often.
The email list feature is very nice too. I’d prefer to be able to import/export or just share lists between phones through the app, but this works. It maintains the aisle groupings, and gives an unnecessary checkoff box [ ] (well, I’m too lazy to actually check off items as I go…). I mean, I dont even print it but rather open up my email client to view the list on my phone.
I have an issue with the fact that there is only ONE list at any given time. A separate list for each store or whatever would be nice, considering we shop several times at different stores throughout the week. Not to mention the competitor applications support this. With only one list, my wife cannot really send me a subselection of her running total. I either get her entire list or she has to add/remove stuff from the email before sending it out which is a pain on the iphone. It’s nice that the recurring items are very easily entered from History or Favorites, but we’d like to maintain a recurring ‘staples’ list.
Another great feature would be the ability to share lists directly between phones. Data sharing is one of the single biggest attractions for me when I’m shopping for an app. At the current 0.99 price point, it is a bit much to ask for, but at the normal selling price I would like to see maybe some sort of import/export or such. When I get back from a quick run to the store, we have to remember to reconcile the list on her phone… It would be nice for me to just check it off on mine as I go, and see it reflected on the shared list for both phones!
The news regarding Coupons.com’s plans to incorporate coupon management into the application was very attractive for the wifey. The prospect of managing coupons from my phone is MUCH more attractive than clipping them and carrying them around (something we are both too lazy to do…).
Quick Take
Value: At 0.99, this app is a steal. I would like to see multiple list support, the ability to share lists, and multiple aisle layout options for the full price.
Would I buy again: Yes
Learning Curve: Next to none, the app has thorough guidance that shows up as you use it for the first few times. Not that most people will even need to glance at it, as GroceryIQ is a snap to use
Who is it for: I would recommend GroceryIQ for anyone looking for a simple but powerful shopping list. For now, it is missing several features that make it perfect for a couple to use easily.
What I like: Data entry and list management is extremely fast, and most of the time you only have to type in 3-4 letters due to the excellent autosuggest. The aisle suggestions are customizeable and accurate right out of the start.
What I dont like: We really need support for multiple lists. Shopper does this very nicely, and I regret not having this feature every time we use the app. The ability to share lists directly would be a HUGE feature, and would allow couples/groups to more effectively use the app among themselves.
Final Statement: I recommend this app based on the ease of use and speed of data entry. My wife and I use this regularly. GroceryIQ would be a MUST HAVE app if the following was added in the future: multiple list support, the ability to share lists between phones, and multiple configurable aisle profiles based on store.
