Update 11/11/2014 to reflect new 2006 models of the Opticon and Scanfob scanners that are now available. The 2005 models are still recommended, but are just no longer the newest models available.
Editor’s note:
This post is not meant to be impartial. We want to provide the best Profit Bandit experience to everyone and don’t want to recommend something that will take away from that experience. There are no affiliate links in this article and we are not affiliated with the manufacturer of any bluetooth scanner.
Why Bluetooth Scanners?
In most cases, your smartphone’s built-in camera can scan barcodes with Profit Bandit quickly and easily. But a bluetooth scanner can allow you to scan faster and more accurately. No more focusing your camera on a barcode, just swipe the red beam from your bluetooth scanner.
Bluetooth scanners are particularly useful for when you’re scanning at a library sale or any other situation when you’re competing for merchandise. Simply set an alert in Profit Bandit to vibrate your phone when you scan an item with a specific sales rank or profit. Then use your bluetooth scanner and scan until you feel your phone vibrate. You’ll be able to scan without constantly looking at your phone’s screen and will be able to scan faster than your competition.
Here are our 3 options for bluetooth scanners to use with Profit Bandit:
#1 – SerialIO Scanfob 2005 2006 & Opticon 2005 2006
Top Choice
This is our top recommendation for Amazon sellers looking to add a bluetooth scanner to their scouting toolkit.
It connects easily with Profit Bandit and stays connected, scans quickly and is durable and dependable. It might seem a bit pricey at nearly $300, but it’s worth every penny.
As near as we can tell, the Scanfob 2005 2006 and the OPN 2005 2006 are the same scanner with different branding. However, if you are scanning on an Android phone or tablet, we recommend that you buy directly from SerialIO.
This is because SerialIO includes a free license for SerialMagic Gears with the Scanfob. When connecting your Android phone, bluetooth scanner and Profit Bandit, SerialMagic Gears is required. By buying from SerialIO, you’ll save yourself the $50 cost of the license.
If you’re using an iPhone however, you won’t need SerialMagic Gears to connect your iPhone and scanner to Profit Bandit.
We also recommend this scanner because it has good battery life (many hours on a single charge) and recharges via a USB port on your computer. If your car has a USB port you may be able to charge it there as well. Despite its small size (it’s smaller than a business card) it feels well-made and ours has survived being dropped on the floor several times.
Final Thoughts:
- The OPN
20052006 and the Scanfob20052006 are the same scanner, just with different branding. - If using an Android phone, buy the SerialIO Scanfob
20052006. It comes with the license to SerialMagic Gears that you’ll need. - If using an iPhone, the Opticon OPN
20052006 is the same scanner, just without the SerialMagic Gears license that you don’t need. - Do not buy the OPN2001. This is a USB scanner and will not work with Profit Bandit.
- For iPhone users, this scanner has a small button that activates the on-screen keyboard when the scanner is connected. Other scanners we tested do not have this feature.
Note: We are no longer recommending the ROV Bluetooth Scanner because of reports that the scanner is no longer supported by Microvision.
#2 – Unitech MS910
Not Recommended
However, we do not recommend this scanner. It is about the same size as the OPN2002/Scanfob 2002, but it is much lighter and feels much flimsier. We are not sure how it will hold up over months or years of scouting.
Additionally, the scanner only has a single button. To make the on-screen keyboard appear on your iPhone, you’ll need to scan a barcode (included with the scanner). This is a huge hassle and is an inelegant solution.
Finally, the connection between the scanner and phone (both iPhone and Android devices) was tenuous at best. We were able to connect the scanner, but the connection dropped quite often and was very inconsistent.
Final Thoughts
- Low cost and low quality.
- Inefficient to use, especially with an iPhone.
- Frequently dropped connections.
- Not recommended.
Conclusions
If you feel like you need a bluetooth scanner to improve your Amazon scouting we recommend that you invest in an OPN2002 or Scanfob 2002 scanner. These are the most reliable, most user-friendly and in our opinion, best scanners on the market.
If you can’t afford the $300 price tag for these scanners, consider whether you really need a scanner for your business. You may be better served by investing that money into inventory or other aspects of your business.
If you have any more questions about bluetooth scanners or anything else, email support@profitbanditapp.com.