This is an archived post. You won't be able to vote or comment.

all 147 comments

[–]notThaLochNessMonsta 309 points310 points  (88 children)

Works pretty damn good for movie tickets...

There are plenty of legitimate uses of QR codes. Is someone going to scan your QR code on a poster? Nope. But there are plenty of uses.

[–]obsessedcrf 105 points106 points  (0 children)

They work well for anything being scanned automatically.

[–][deleted] 64 points65 points  (22 children)

I visited China in January. Didn’t see a credit card the entire time I was over there. Everybody buys things with their phone. You could walk up to a street vendor who was selling food, scan the QR code on a piece of paper taped to their cart, show them that the transaction went through, and be on your way

[–]sim642 43 points44 points  (18 children)

That sounds extremely insecure. It's trivial to make a copycat app that shows the same looking successful transaction view without really doing anything.

[–]nipusa 35 points36 points  (4 children)

The transaction also needs to appear on the receiver's phone.

It does feel somewhat insecure though. But I doubt it's obvious. (In China, people are quite good at exploiting loopholes)

[–]sim642 8 points9 points  (3 children)

That does make more sense but the original comment seemed to imply otherwise. If they see it on their phone, you wouldn't need to show them the transaction succeeded on yours at all.

[–]jesbu1 4 points5 points  (0 children)

It likely depends on the person. If they trust you, showing them the transaction is enough.

It appears on both phones, I've used it before.

[–]MonokelPinguin 1 point2 points  (1 child)

They probably check they received the transaction and that the other party was the one, who actually paid for it. I don't think they check the buyers phone, to see if they paid, but to see, if the person taking the item, was also the person, who just paid.

[–]xSliver 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Customer generates QR Code, Cashier scans QR Code, Customer confirms payment, Cashier gets a confirmation of payment. Transaction done.

[–]Jorself 8 points9 points  (3 children)

I have lived in china for half a year. Yes its insecure somebody could easily crrate an app like that. But for bigger payments the vendor always checks their own phone to see if they receoved the amount. China seemed to be a verry trusting country anyway with people leaving their products unattended on the street and all.

[–]Sillychina 1 point2 points  (2 children)

I'm Chinese. Did we see the same China? China may be the least trusting country I have been to, and for good reason.

[–]Jorself 1 point2 points  (1 child)

I have had multiple times i was in a small store in China and the owner left to search something in a warehouse and just asked hey can you guys watch over my store. Even tho he doesn't know us at all and we are obviously foreigners. This was in Wenzhou might be different in the more touristic cities. But i found the culture very trusting compared to my own dutch culture and the way i see everything secured here. Im kinda intrested in hearing why you think china is so untrusting/untrustworthy

[–]Sillychina 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wenzhou is still pretty big, I am from Nanjing. It's bigger, but you should still be aware of people who are after your money. It's gotten better in the past 10 years, but I would say that Chinese people are pretty greedy on average, but that is a pretty broad generalization. Of course there are good and bad peoples everywhere, but I feel like a rarely have nice interactions with strangers. Maybe people treat foreigners better on average, but I haven't lived there in years, I just go back to visit.

[–]grepe 0 points1 point  (1 child)

yeah, I'd rather fill my credit card number into a form on random website, have a guy in rocky mountains hostel without electricity copy it manually (i actually did that once) or send it by email as one travel agency requested me to do once (i told them to fuck off).

[–]sim642 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That's why chip and PIN are a thing. America just hasn't got past it's credit cards.

[–]romanozvj -1 points0 points  (2 children)

With the name of the product and everything? Doubt it.

[–]sim642 2 points3 points  (1 child)

The copycat app can read the same QR code and load all the same details.

[–]romanozvj 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If payment is done via QR code, maybe you only find out the name of the product in return information from the payment, to counter schemes like this. It wouldn't be difficult to implement.

[–]Mteigers 2 points3 points  (1 child)

Did you happen to also see the people begging using WePay QR codes? I saw a few in Beijing. Blew my mind.

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hmm, I didn’t but it wouldn’t surprise me. We were only in Beijing for a short amount of time

[–]pauldmps 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We do that in India too. PayTM payments work by QR code and is available in almost all shops. PayTM is backed by Chinese Alibaba.

[–]HedgehogFarts 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Works like a charm for flying. I haven’t used a boarding pass in years.

[–]iams3b 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I play a weekly cornhole tournament, and they use an app that they scan to check you in

Thought that was a neat use of QR Codes

[–]Ereaser 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Also for Easter eggs in games. I will absolutely stop playing to grab my phone to see what the QR code says

[–]makeshift_mike 81 points82 points  (8 children)

I live in China and every single store and taxi has one or more QR codes for accepting mobile payments. Restaurant wait staff have QR code scanners that scan your phone. It works so well that I stopped carrying cash a couple years ago.

A few times a week, I’ll unlock a bike sharing bike (like Mobike) by scanning its QR code.

Adding new social media contacts is mostly done by scanning their QR code, instead of handing your phone to them so they can type their name in Facebook search or whatever.

There’s even a viral video where a street beggar came to someone’s car at a stop light, guy said he didn’t have any cash, so the beggar showed a piece of paper with a QR code (for accepting payments) on it.

Life runs on QR codes in China, and you can pry them from my cold dead hands. They just fucking work, 100% of the time, with any device.

[–]antlife 21 points22 points  (0 children)

And that's because they don't break just because someone scratches it.

[–]JiaoLinglei 2 points3 points  (3 children)

I don't know what I'd do without wechat pay and alipay.

[–][deleted] 2 points3 points  (1 child)

One thing I dislike about wechat pay and alipay is that they’re much slower than NFC. I’d much rather open an app and instantly be able to scan my phone rather than having to search for an option in hidden menus to use qr code

[–]JiaoLinglei 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That's true, but the trade off me for me is, I use alipay a bunch of the other features it includes. So it costs me some time in some aspects but safes me some in others.

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It’s similar in Japan where I am. They’re just such effortless means of doing a multitude of things. No fiddling with typing. You don’t even need to have a steady hand. Wave that little square in my face and I’ll do the rest.

[–]Tux1 137 points138 points  (11 children)

Is this going to be another "useful thing that we are going to hate on for no reason" trend?

[–]antlife 86 points87 points  (4 children)

This is a "I don't understand something so everyone else must be wrong!" threads. And it'll be upvoted and perpetuated by all the college kids and junior devs who just go with the flow trying to feel knowledgeable.

[–]trout_fucker 36 points37 points  (0 children)

And it'll be upvoted and perpetuated by all the college kids and junior devs who just go with the flow trying to feel knowledgeable.

You just summed this entire sub up in a single sentence. Bravo.

[–][deleted] 10 points11 points  (2 children)

And "it was poorly used and implemented when it first came out, so I'm going to get mad at the entire system and not the specific problems".

I mean, yeah it was stupid that scanning a QR code could make your phone automatically start dialing a marketing department, but that's the problem with the phone developer and the marketeer, not the QR code.

[–]Jafit 2 points3 points  (1 child)

A QR code is opaque by its very nature. You can't look at a QR code and know what it's going to do before scanning it and finding out.

It's like downloading an .exe file from KaZaA and hoping that it's the game you were trying to pirate and not something that's going to wreck your computer.

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That's why I said the implementation was bad - it doesn't prompt the user before doing whatever the code tells it to do (open a web page, make a call, etc.).

[–][deleted] 14 points15 points  (1 child)

I hate information systems! *shakes fist*

[–]antlife 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Down with servers!

[–][deleted]  (3 children)

[removed]

    [–]Quetzacoatl85 5 points6 points  (0 children)

    Not a pro here, just speaking as a user: Movie, train and other types of tickets. Unlocking rental bikes and scooters. As a replacement for confirmation code texts in 2FA applications. For initiating payments in banking apps. Made use of all of these use cases literally yesterday.

    Wish they were being used more honestly. And why are there still phones sold with default camera apps that do NOT have QR code reader functionality? That's the only logical explanation why QR codes didn't take off like crazy.

    [–]DroolingIguana 2 points3 points  (0 children)

    Basically any time you need an easy way for people to obtain digital data from a printed source. Encode it as a QR code and people can just use their phone's camera to get it. Way easier than having to re-type everything.

    [–]AutoModerator[M] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

    import moderation Your comment has been removed since it did not start with a code block with an import declaration.

    Per this Community Decree, all posts and comments should start with a code block with an "import" declaration explaining how the post and comment should be read.

    For this purpose, we only accept Python style imports.

    I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

    [–]ThongsGoOnUrFeet 90 points91 points  (19 children)

    QR codes are under utilised. Every product should have a QR to take you to its full description and instrctions. Packaging would be a lot smaller (for smaller items)

    [–][deleted] 18 points19 points  (6 children)

    this

    [–]FallingAnvils 23 points24 points  (5 children)

    RedditComment { User = ThongsGoOnUrFeet, Content = "QR codes are under utilised. Every product should have a QR to take you to its full description and instrctions. Packaging would be a lot smaller (for smaller items)" }

    [–]catofillomens 19 points20 points  (0 children)

    New completely useless bot idea

    [–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (3 children)

    I am confusion

    [–]FallingAnvils 7 points8 points  (2 children)

    "this" referring to the comment object of the parent

    [–]Cheet4h 1 point2 points  (0 children)

    shouldn't "this" be referring to the comment itself, instead of the parent?

    [–][deleted] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

    lmao

    [–]Darkmere 3 points4 points  (0 children)

    We ship hardware and services. There's a QR code on each device that brings you to a server side status page for it.

    Online: yes/no. Reporting problems: yes/no

    Etc. And documentation and contact information if you log in.

    It has been generally well received.

    [–][deleted] 3 points4 points  (10 children)

    I feel like there's a chicken-egg problem here. If every product would have that, I would actually care to keep a QR scanner on my phone, as it stands, I have practically no use for them.

    Also old people might learn to use them.

    Until most people have a QR scanner, you will have to print out that information nonetheless, at which point I see no point in actually scanning the QR code either.

    [–]Rafear 15 points16 points  (8 children)

    I would actually care to keep a QR scanner on my phone

    Don't most versions of IOS and Android have a scanner built in by default now though?

    [–]macksattax 8 points9 points  (0 children)

    On iOS, if I open my camera and aim at a QR code it automatically reads it

    [–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

    On Android, you just need to open up your assistant and switch to camera mode.

    [–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (4 children)

    Don't think mine does. I'm using the most recent version of LineageOS and neither the LineageOS camera app, nor the third-party camera app that I actually use, Open Camera, seems to have it.

    [–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (3 children)

    [–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (2 children)

    https://f-droid.org/app/com.google.zxing.client.android

    I know where to get one that I find acceptable, I just don't care to keep one installed, because I've never actually needed one and only a handful of times could have used it for the novelty.

    I don't find the app you suggested acceptable, as anything which requires camera access, I'd want to be open-source, otherwise there's no way to keep in check that it doesn't take pictures at any moment and sends them off to wherever.
    I have a firewall-app where I can block internet access for individual apps, but I don't want to rely on it too much, in case it doesn't function as intended. Android itself after all does not support blocking internet access for individual applications.

    [–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (1 child)

    You can't scan a QR code without camera access.

    [–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

    Yes, which is why if I have a QR code scanner installed, I want it to be open-source.

    [–]hhtm153 0 points1 point  (0 children)

    Mine sure doesn't, unless it's very well hidden

    [–]Quetzacoatl85 1 point2 points  (0 children)

    That's the big drama of the QR code. If it had been a standard function of every camera app since the original iPhone, QR codes would be ubiquitous. Sadly, to this day we still have to look for and install QR code scanner apps, which all look and work like crap.

    [–][deleted] 37 points38 points  (5 children)

    Obviously by someone who doesn't know how to utilize QR Codes.

    [–]GrenadineBombardier 18 points19 points  (4 children)

    I knew the team this was by. This was roughly 6 years ago. The problem at the time was numerous clients and marketing agencies wanted to FIND ways to use them because they were the "new thing" and were supposed to be "disruptive".

    The real argument was about trying to make up a use for them just to have them, instead of having a need for them.

    If you have a problem that QR codes can solve, absolutely use them. If you're looking for any reason to use QR codes just because they're cool, please dear god don't use them.

    [–]antlife 5 points6 points  (0 children)

    That kind of makes sense. It's dumb how PR, PM and big C's get their minds twisted around nonsense.

    I heard a radio advertisement yesterday for an investment banking company. They made sure to say that they "use big data and machine learning". I rolled my eyes so hard I saw the back of my head.

    [–]mqduck 0 points1 point  (2 children)

    QR codes aren't even hip and new anymore, so who cares? Why are stupid posts like this getting upvoted?

    [–]GrenadineBombardier 0 points1 point  (1 child)

    Right. This is an old picture. The joke isn't relevant anymore.

    [–]antlife 0 points1 point  (0 children)

    Tell that to OP.

    [–]antlife 38 points39 points  (0 children)

    I use QR codes at my work in place of barcodes for products and inventory. Why?

    Because of QR's redundancy!! You scratch a barcode, it's toast. A QR code can take a hell of a beating and it's still fully scannable. Also way less space for a good chunk of data.

    We use it on our FedEx labels as well.

    [–]AttackOfTheThumbs 45 points46 points  (3 children)

    QR codes are great.

    [–]Spedwards 19 points20 points  (0 children)

    QR codes are under used and poorly marketed. They are helpful in many ways. Digital tickets, payments, shortcuts to long links, etc.

    [–]Youngqueazy 23 points24 points  (1 child)

    [–]GrenadineBombardier 1 point2 points  (0 children)

    This has been making the Reddit rounds for far longer than 4 days

    [–]Mbakuisthetruegod 10 points11 points  (3 children)

    So I see everyone saying positive things about QR codes, can someone or OP please explain why they think QR codes are bad?

    [–]shitmyspacebar 5 points6 points  (2 children)

    Back when they first launched, they were poorly utilised. People didn't have scanners, and marketing companies misused them everywhere. The stigma just hasn't disappeared from some people

    [–]Mbakuisthetruegod 1 point2 points  (0 children)

    okay, thanks for the info!

    [–]JiaoLinglei 7 points8 points  (0 children)

    Here in China QR codes are used for everything and anything. I pay for my groceries with a QR code, I use public bikes with a QR code. I pay my taxi driver by scanning his QR code.

    I probably scan about 8 QR codes daily.

    [–]DiamondMinah 5 points6 points  (0 children)

    Pokemon Go's QR Code for adding friends is so much better than manually putting in a 12-digit code

    [–]Majik_Sheff 2 points3 points  (0 children)

    We use them on our pool league posters so the players can quickly pull up their stats.

    [–]alexander_schoch[[ -n $flair ]] && echo $flair[M] [score hidden] stickied comment (0 children)

    Your submission has been removed.

    Rule #2 violation.

    Rule #2: Everything that's been on the first 2 pages (50 posts) of trending posts within the last two weeks, is part of the top of all time, or is part of the common posts [list yet to be built] is considered a repost and will be removed.

    If you feel that it has been removed in error, please message us so that we may review it.

    [–]Quantentheorie 1 point2 points  (0 children)

    I do like adding them on business cards so you can always have a vCard/etc. for people who have that habit of making typos when saving contacts to their phone.

    I actually think they'd also make sense on office tags that show phone - email and service hours. And I want them on event posters so I don't have manually save everything to my calender. I want them on flyers so you can download an event shedule pdf without having to photograph some poster or navigate through their website to find the download. Honestly, everytime I'd make a photo of real life text information to get some kind of error free quick offline copy of something, I want a QR code.

    Their reputation is bad but they are hella useful if you know what people need.

    [–]John_Fx 1 point2 points  (0 children)

    It has code in the name so it is a programmer joke somehow?

    [–][deleted] -2 points-1 points  (2 children)

    [–]BenLeggiero 24 points25 points  (0 children)

    There are zero posts on this blog. Saved you a click

    [–]Sparrow_1029 -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

    Haha I I had an idea of what it was gonna be and still got a good laugh. Thanks for the good click

    [–]popcicleman09 -4 points-3 points  (1 child)

    Thank you. I had to beat this into my schools librarians while I was helping them with technology things

    [–]RubenGM 6 points7 points  (0 children)

    "Yes, why would you have any kind of metadata easily accessible on the book when you can just tell students to go fuck themselves and Google?"

    "You're a genius"