How would you like an app that gives you discounts towards your weekly shop? Well, Shopmium promises just that. But how does it work and is it worth doing? Let’s take a closer look at what Shopmium has to offer.
Shopmium summary
Pros and cons:
✅ You can find some good offers
✅ Works in the major supermarkets
✅ A decent referral scheme
✅ Pays quite quickly
❌ The offers don’t change as often as they should
Shopmium
Shopmium
As a family of five, grocery shopping is one of our biggest expenses every week. It hasn’t helped that shopping costs have increased much quicker over the last few years than my wages!
There are several ways to save money, such as changing to store-named brands and meal planning.
And there are several receipt scanning apps available that help you to save by giving you cashback when you make a purchase. Shopmium is one of the more popular apps, but how does it work and is it worth it?
What is Shopmium?
Shopmium is a free app that offers cashback across a range of products from major UK supermarkets. Simply purchase a listed product, scan the barcode and receipt and receive some money back.
The app will work on an iPhone with iOS 9 or above and Android devices with version 5 or higher. Your phone will also need the autofocus function as that is used for scanning the barcodes.
Is it safe?
Shopmium is owned by a company called Quotient Technology Inc. The company has been operating since 2011 with an office in London. The app has over 4 million users, works with over 2,000 companies and has over 10,000 5-star reviews in the app stores.
How does Shopmium work?
Once you’ve downloaded the app and created an account – don’t forget to use a promo code to make sure you get a free gift, it’s time to start shopping.
Open the app and toggle the tab with regard to whether you’re shopping online or in-store. Then, choose the supermarket or store you plan to shop at. Next, it’s just a case of scrolling through the products and seeing if there’s anything you like.
If you find something that catches your eye, pop into a store (or shop online) and purchase it. If you’re out shopping and you aren’t 100% sure if the product in front of you is the same as the one on the app (sometimes the image is slightly different), you can use the barcode scanner to check eligibility.
When you’re back at home, claiming your cashback is easy:
- Select the piggy bank sign at the bottom of the app
- Press request my cashback
- Take a photo of your receipt (this may require more than one for longer receipts)
- Scan the barcode of the product
And that’s all you have to do.
Your earnings should be in your Shopmium account within a couple of days. Once you reach £10, it can be transferred into your bank account or via PayPal. Money usually takes three days to reach you with PayPal or seven days if you opt for a bank transfer. However, I have received my money within one day for some withdrawals.
How does Shopmium make money?
It’s all very well seeing these receipt scanning apps, but what’s in it for them? Well, they work in promoting products on behalf of manufacturers. So, if you receive cashback from the app, the manufacturer will reimburse Shopmium and give them a fee.
The hope is that you’ll like the product you bought so much, you’ll be a customer for life.
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What discounts can you expect?
All kinds of food and drink are listed. Bread, milk, cheese, cereal, alcohol, it’s all there and it changes every few weeks. Some discounts allow you to try the product for free, whilst others offer the product for around half price.
Many of the products are brand new to the market, so there’s a good chance you have never tried them before. But that’s the whole point of the app – to encourage you to try something different. But you will find some older, more popular products occasionally too.
Shopmium claims to have £50 worth of savings every week.
My particular favourite has been an offer for Absolut vodka. Tesco already had bottles reduced from £16 to £11, and using the Shopmium app gave me an extra 25% off.
That meant I was paying a grand total of £8.25 per bottle. And the best thing is… I could keep using the offer!
I’ve also picked up discounts for Nestle cereals on a regular basis.
Which stores are covered?
Taken from their FAQ’s:
Shopmium is retailer independent, meaning you may purchase qualified products at any retailer the product is sold, unless the terms and conditions suggest otherwise. However, you must buy the product in a store that provides a computerised receipt with the name of the store, clear product details and the date and time of the purchase. Receipts from small delis or markets are sometimes not accepted since they are prone to fraud attempts.
This means that unlike some of the other apps, Shopmium’s special offers aren’t always linked to any specific retailers… or so it claims.
I have found that nearly all the cashback opportunities are only available at certain supermarkets. There is the odd exception, such as a few items at WH Smith, Food Warehouse and Holland & Barrett, but these are quite rare.
The supermarkets you will find on the app are:
- Asda
- Co-op
- Morrisons
- Sainsbury’s
- Tesco
- Waitrose
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Any other features?
The app has a handy map showing local stores and which products are stocked there. This saves you from finding a product that isn’t even sold in that store! And you can refer your friends to receive £3 in referral credits.
There is also a Shopmium Club. When you join Shopmium you start as a beginner. However, as you complete offers and refer friends, you move up to Silver and Gold.
Sliver means:
- Payment in under two working days
- Customer Service support in less than one working day
- Access to Shopmium community life, letting you take surveys, choose referral gifts or rewards
- Exclusive challenges
Gold means:
- Extra exclusive challenges
- Previews of new offers before they go live
- A special gift on your birthday
Once you reach silver, you can never move back down. However, you need to submit at least one cashback claim each month to keep your Gold level.
Finally, you can also add your loyalty cards to the app (such as your Tesco Clubcard or your Nectar card), which means you don’t have to scramble around for them when you’re out shopping as they’re on your phone!
What other people think
When writing my reviews, I always like to check online to find out other people’s opinions. On Trustpilot, the Shopmium app scores a poor 2.3 out of 5. On the positive side, users say the app is very easy to use and pays well. However, some reviewers complain that they haven’t received as much cashback as originally promised.
Where can I find a Shopmium promo code?
Apple users can download here or Android users can download here. When you sign up, if you use my Shopmium promo code AMUAFFUR, you will receive a special offer. At the moment, this is a pack of Pringles, although it changes fairly regularly.
Or visit the Shopmium website to find out more.
My Shopmium app review conclusion
Is it worth it? Kind of. It’s certainly worth downloading, but it can be tough to find items you actually want. And if you end up buying things you don’t want, it’s not really a bargain. But offers change regularly, so you should check back every week.
Other apps like Shopmium
There are some other apps similar to Shopmium that are worth checking out
FAQs
When does Shopmium update offers?
There are no set times for when offers are removed and a new one put on the app. But on average, expect the deals to last for around two weeks. There will be a countdown when an offer is coming to an end.
How do I delete my account?
Simply follow the link here and log in to your account. From there, you can cancel.
Caz (InvisiblyMe)
Friday 20th of April 2018
I must admit this is the one I don't use for some odd reason, perhaps because when I first came across it the app/company seemed so new I didn't want to risk it. Will download now. For me, the classics that many of us have probably had a little while, like Checkoutsmar and ClickSnap, are barely used anymore as the offers just aren't relevant enough on a regular basis like they used to be. Great post! :)
Money Saver Pete
Friday 20th of April 2018
Yep, I still think they’re worth downloading but it does take me a while before I find something I need.
Suzanne Cox
Thursday 19th of April 2018
You can make some great savings with these cash back apps. The only problem that I sometimes find is that they all have the same offers available. That said, if you benefit two or three times, that's got to be good.
Money Saver Pete
Friday 20th of April 2018
I have found that too, although as you say, it's extra money back!