The app uses a custom built barcode scanner and a database of more than 12 million products to help Android owners ascertain immediately if they're getting a good price or if they're getting hosed.
Smoopa users select their location -- as sourced from Foursquare's database of places -- and scan a product barcode. Once the in-store advertised price is specified, Smoopa compares it against prices from Walmart, Buy.com, Tiger Direct, Best Buy and a handful of other outlets, factors in online shipping costs when applicable, and spits out a green or yellow color-coded recommendation. Green is a good buy, yellow is a bad one.
The good or bad buy recommendation is what sets Smoopa apart from a bevy of price comparison competitors such as ShopSavvy or MyShopanion. The green or yellow marker is a hard-to-miss indicator that users can (ideally) have confidence in. The startup uses its own good price formula; the formula factors in price history as sourced from third-party sellers or inputted by other Smoopa others.
Users can optionally track a product and receive alerts should its price dip below a specified threshold. The application also features a history tab so users can keep track of what they have scanned and where. This information is also accessible via Smoopa's website.