Checking Our List #35: MoBeam numi key Review & Giveaway (2 Winners!)

The busier life gets, the less organized I become and...my purse is no exception. Like most people, I have several loyalty cards cluttering up my purse, as well as my key chain. You know...those cards you can use each time you visit the store to receive discounts?! They are a great thing to have, but as I accumulate more and more, I find that they are more of a hassle than anything else. With two little ones to look after when we're at the grocery store, the last thing I have time for is to be digging through my pile of cards trying to find the right one. That's why I was happy when introduced to the MoBeam numi key!

With the ability to store, manage and redeem all of your loyalty and membership cards on one convenient, small device that hangs on your key chain, the numi key helps to eliminate the clutter and hassle of plastic cards.

Looking for a way to get more organized, I thought this might be the answer I've been looking for when it comes to my cluttered purse and keychain. That's why I was thrilled when I learned we were going to have the opportunity to review one!

When the numi key arrived, I was immediately impressed with the size. At just 2” x 1.5” x 0.5", it's large enough to easily handle, however small enough to conveniently slip in your purse or hang on your key chain without it getting in the way. I prefer it on my key chain, as this is the easiest place to access it when I'm checking out at the store.

Once I got done looking it over, I was excited to get started. In just a few simple steps, I had my numi key set up and ready to use.

1. Using the mini-USB port (like those found on many mobile phones, PDA's and portable music players), I connected it right to my computer. At first I had it hooked up to my MAC which is my primary computer, but realized it is not yet compatible with anything except a Microsoft® Windows® PC running Internet Explorer® 6.0 or higher, with Active X support enabled. This did not pose a problem, as we also have a PC, but I was happy to read that Macintosh will be supported in the future.

2. Once connected, I visited www.myloyaltycards.com, registered, and added my loyalty cards to my numi key by typing in each barcode and company name. It was very simple and only took minutes to do. It can hold up to 50 cards (loyalty cards, gift cards, and coupons), so this is something that will work for almost anyone who carries cards like this around.

Once the loyalty cards were stored on the device, it showed a number by the words 'loyalty cards'.
The user-friendly navigation pad right on the front allows me to easily browse the different loyalty cards I have stored on there. It's so much faster than digging through my purse or looking through my key chain trying to find the right one.

After getting it all set up, there was only one question left to answer...How easy is it to use? The answer is VERY easy!

When I'm ready to checkout, I simply turn the numi key on with the green switch on the right side of the device. I then use the navigation keys to find the loyalty card I'm looking for. With the loyalty card visible on the screen, I press the red center button while pointing the red LED directly at the laser scanner (about 4-6 inches away) and my loyalty card is 'beamed' to the checkout scanner. It's that simple!

It's compatible with handheld laser scanners that project a sharp red line, as well as flatbed scanners which you'll find in almost every supermarket. The only kind of scanner it doesn't work with is the handheld laser scanners that project a blurry red "blob" or line (you can learn more about the scanner compatibility on the numi key website). We have one store we use our loyalty card at that has a scanner like this. Although we're not able to use the numi key to 'beam' our loyalty card number to the scanner...it has still come in very handy. Once I'm on the loyalty card I want to redeem, I simply push the down arrow on the navigation pad and it shows my card number. Having the number right with me still makes it so I don't have to carry around the card which is great.

Since we're only using it when needed, I have noticed that the battery lasts quite a while. Once I see the battery is getting low (there is a symbol at the top of the screen when turned on) , I simply plug it into my computer with the USB cable and it charges back up.

Overall we've been very happy with the MoBeam numi key! It's incredibly easy to use and so much more convenient than having all the plastic cards cluttering up my purse, my husband's wallet and our key chain. Although it does not support coupons and gift cards yet, it will soon and I'm looking forward to that. It will help eliminate even more clutter! Offering such an easy way to store, manage and redeem loyalty cards (and soon gift cards and coupons), I see this as being a great stocking stuffer or Christmas gift for almost anyone on your list this year!

Buy It: You can purchase the MoBeam numi key for $19.95 at Amazon.com.

Win It: TWO lucky readers are going to win a MoBeam numi key of their own!

Mandatory Entry - Visit the numi key website and leave a comment letting me know something you learned.

Extra Entries: (Only valid after the mandatory entry has been completed. Leave 1 comment for each extra entry)

1. 1 extra entry- Enter the Numi Key Giveaway at Thanks, Mail Carrier

2. 1 extra entry- If you leave a comment answer this question: How many loyalty cards do you currently have in your wallet?

3. 3 extra entries- Grab our Checking Our List Holiday Gift Guide Button and leave a comment with the URL where it can be found.

4. 3 extra entries- Blog about this giveaway (linking to this post and numi key) and leave THREE comments with the URL to that post.

5. 1 extra entry- Follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway (You can tweet once a day for one extra entry every day)! You can copy and paste:

#WIN a numi key to store loyalty cards, gift cards, etc on one convenient device! 2 win! #momsbalancingact http://bit.ly/icU7ZS Ends 12/30

6. 3 extra entries- Post my blog button or blog URL to your blog and leave a comment with the URL to your blog. (If it already is, leave me a comment letting me know)

7. 2 extra entries- subscribe to A Mom's Balancing Act via e-mail (found along the side column) and leave TWO comments letting me know.

8. 2 extra entries- 'Like' A Mom's Balancing Act on Facebook

9. 2 extra entries- Follow my blog publicly on Google Friend Connect

10. Enter any of my other Holiday Gift Guide giveaways running now. Leave me a comment on which one(s)....ONE entry for EACH giveaway you enter!!

Leave one comment for each entry you complete. Be sure to leave your email address with your comments or make sure it's visible in your profile so that I have a way to contact you if you win.

This giveaway will end December 30th and is open to US and Canada!

**The product for this giveaway was provided by free by MoBeam. All opinions are my own and were not influenced in any way.**