Customer Reviews (500)

nanie & pops • 2025-03-22T15:25:09-07:00

Returning user, but just a note on that login partnership

KG327 • 2025-02-26T21:50:33-07:00

Great concept and very fitting for the times. However, some of the campaigns are made from random people and not fact checked at all, which calls into question ALL of the campaigns. Additionally, some of the campaigns have not been updated in 10 years. This is a paid app, so it should be fact checked and up to date in the least.

Riorouge • 2025-02-24T14:48:15-07:00

I mistakenly followed a campaign that I absolutely do not support. There is literally no option to delete a campaign. Unreal!

Summary of Key Insights

The Buycott app aims to empower consumers to align their spending with their values by providing information on product origins and corporate affiliations. While many users appreciate the core concept and find it informative, the app suffers from significant technical issues, outdated information, and perceived political bias, hindering its overall effectiveness and user satisfaction. The app's strengths lie in its user-friendly interface (for those who can use it), the potential for informed purchasing decisions, and the ability to "vote with your wallet." However, these strengths are overshadowed by persistent bugs, inaccurate data, and a lack of updates, leading to frustration and ultimately, a poor user experience for many.

Overall Rating: The app has a mixed reception, reflected in its score distribution: 5-star (57%), 4-star (11%), 3-star (7%), 2-star (6%), and 1-star (19%). This indicates a polarized user base, with a substantial number of highly satisfied users alongside a significant portion experiencing serious problems.

Data & Methodology Overview

  • Data Sample Size: 500 reviews
  • Time Frame: The reviews span a considerable period, with many reviews dating back several years. This is important because the age of reviews highlights problems persisting for a long time.
  • Analysis Methods: The analysis involved a qualitative review of the provided text, extracting common themes, sentiment, and feature requests. No automated sentiment analysis tools were used. Keyword extraction was performed manually to identify frequent issues.

Key User Pain Points

  • App Crashing/Freezing: This is the most frequently reported issue, rendering the app unusable for many users. Users experience crashes upon opening the app, scanning barcodes, or navigating between sections.
  • Barcode Scanner Issues: Many users report that the barcode scanner is unreliable, failing to focus, recognize barcodes, or returning "product not found" errors even for common items.
  • Outdated/Inaccurate Information: A significant number of users complain about outdated or inaccurate product information, questioning the app's reliability and usefulness. This includes incorrect corporate affiliations, missing products, and outdated campaign details.
  • Login/Account Issues: Some users experience problems creating accounts, logging in, or resetting passwords, preventing them from fully utilizing the app's features.
  • Inability to Remove Campaigns: Users are frustrated by the lack of an option to remove themselves from campaigns they no longer support.
  • Lack of Updates/Maintenance: Many reviewers note the infrequency of updates, suggesting the app is no longer actively maintained.
  • Perceived Political Bias: A recurring theme is the perception of a strong left-leaning bias in the available campaigns, alienating users with different political viewpoints.
  • Small/Unreadable Font: Some users, particularly older individuals, find the font size too small and difficult to read.
  • Poor Navigation/Usability: Users find the app difficult to navigate, particularly when trying to add companies to boycott lists or manage campaigns.
  • Lack of Customer Support: Users report difficulty contacting customer support and receiving responses to their inquiries.

Frequently Requested Features

  • Ability to Add/Suggest Companies: Users want the ability to suggest companies or products to add to the database and contribute to campaign information.
  • More Balanced/Comprehensive Campaigns: Users desire a wider range of campaigns representing diverse viewpoints, including conservative or moderate perspectives.
  • Improved Search Functionality: Users want to be able to search for products or companies by name instead of relying solely on the barcode scanner.
  • Offline Functionality: Some users suggest offline access to product information for use in areas with limited internet connectivity.
  • Ability to Create Custom Boycott Lists: Users want to create their own personalized boycott lists beyond the existing campaigns.
  • Clearer Information on Campaign Moderators: Users want more transparency regarding who moderates each campaign and how decisions are made.
  • Improved Font Size/Accessibility: Users request options to increase font size and improve readability.
  • Option to Boycott Specific Companies: Users want to boycott specific companies rather than just campaigns.

Strengths and Positive Aspects

  • Core Concept: The fundamental idea of empowering consumers to make informed purchasing decisions based on their values is widely praised.
  • User-Friendly Interface (for some): Some users find the app easy to use and navigate, particularly the barcode scanner.
  • Informative: Many users find the app informative and appreciate learning about the corporate affiliations of products they buy.
  • Family Tree Feature: The ability to view the "family tree" of companies and see their parent organizations is highly valued.
  • Potential for Impact: Users appreciate the ability to "vote with their wallet" and support causes they care about.
  • Easy to Share (sometimes): Some users like the ability to share their purchase decisions on social media.

Prioritized Action Recommendations

High Priority:

  1. Address Crashing/Freezing Issues: This is the most critical issue and needs immediate attention. Investigate and fix the root causes of the crashes to ensure the app is stable and usable.
  2. Improve Barcode Scanner Reliability: Optimize the barcode scanner for faster and more accurate scanning. Address focusing issues and ensure compatibility with different devices.
  3. Update and Verify Product Information: Implement a system for regularly updating and verifying product information. Encourage user contributions and establish a process for reviewing and validating data.
  4. Fix Login/Account Issues: Resolve any issues related to account creation, login, and password resets.
  5. Enable Campaign Removal: Allow users to easily remove themselves from campaigns they no longer support.

Medium Priority:

  1. Enhance Search Functionality: Add the ability to search for products and companies by name.
  2. Address Perceived Political Bias: Strive for a more balanced representation of campaigns and viewpoints. Consider allowing users to create their own campaigns with appropriate moderation.
  3. Improve Navigation/Usability: Streamline the app's navigation and make it easier to manage campaigns and boycott lists.
  4. Increase Font Size/Improve Accessibility: Provide options to adjust font size and improve overall accessibility for users with visual impairments.
  5. Improve Customer Support: Provide clear contact information and respond promptly to user inquiries.

Low Priority:

  1. Implement Offline Functionality: Consider adding offline access to product information.
  2. Provide Clearer Information on Campaign Moderators: Increase transparency regarding campaign moderators and decision-making processes.
  3. Improve Social Sharing Functionality: Fix any issues related to unwanted social media postings.

Opportunities for Startup Ideas

  • Verified Data Service: A service that provides verified and regularly updated data on product origins, corporate affiliations, and ethical practices, which could be integrated into existing apps or used to create new ones.
  • Personalized Boycott/Buycott Platform: A platform that allows users to create and share their own personalized boycott/buycott lists based on specific values and criteria.
  • Ethical Product Discovery Engine: A search engine specifically designed to help consumers find ethical and sustainable products based on their individual preferences.
  • Open-Source Buycott Data Repository: A community-driven, open-source database of product information and corporate affiliations, allowing for greater transparency and collaboration.

Trends and Observations

  • Recurring Technical Issues: The persistence of technical issues like crashing and scanner problems over a long period suggests a lack of consistent maintenance and quality assurance.
  • Growing Demand for Transparency: The increasing number of users seeking information on product origins and corporate practices reflects a growing consumer demand for transparency and ethical consumption.
  • Polarization of Views: The app's content can be seen as leaning too far in one direction, leading to polarization of opinions.
  • Update Urgency: The 3 year gap since the last update is a major concern for users who depend on accurate information.

Conclusion

The Buycott app has a solid foundation and addresses a growing consumer need for ethical purchasing information. However, its potential is severely limited by persistent technical issues, outdated information, and perceived bias. To improve user satisfaction and ensure the app's long-term viability, the developers must prioritize addressing the critical technical issues, updating the database, and striving for a more balanced representation of viewpoints. Addressing these issues will not only improve the user experience but also enhance the app's credibility and effectiveness as a tool for conscious consumerism. A focused effort on quality and maintenance is essential to capitalize on the app's inherent value proposition.

Overall Recommendation: Prioritize fixing the high-priority issues related to stability and data accuracy. Consider a complete overhaul of the app's architecture and data management system. Engage with the user community to gather feedback and ensure the app meets their evolving needs.

Original App Link

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/buycott-barcode-scanner-qr-bar-code-scanner/id585933440?uo=2