NYTimes.com has a story on how Retailers are unaware of Mobile Barcode Scanning Apps which provide instant price comparison and allow users to save money.

These apps allow consumers to compare the prices of merchandise on a store's shelf to competing stores in the area just by taking pictures with their smartphone's camera. The prices are instantly retrieved and displayed on the mobile phone so consumers can know before they buy if they're getting a good deal.

Although consumers may be catching on to this barcode-scanning trend, some stores are still in the dark. For example, a Target store in Michigan recently requested a shopper to stop scanning merchandise, saying it went against store policy. The customer reported the event to the application's makers, Big in Japan, whose app Shop Savvy is a popular download for Android handsets.

I have written about similar app for iPhone in the past. It is a great way to save money in these difficult times. If you are a retailer what would you do, encourage consumers using such application or deny them a chance to save money?