GroceryBee questions

About GroceryBee

What is GroceryBee?

GroceryBee is a small Wi-Fi barcode scanner that builds your household's shopping list. You mount it wherever things run out, scan things as you use them, and they go right on the shopping list in the GroceryBee app — without a subscription.

Who makes GroceryBee?

GroceryBee is made by PantryBee, LLC, a small company in Farmington, New Mexico. PantryBee is the brand; GroceryBee is the product.

Why use a scanner instead of just typing into an app?

Because nobody opens an app to log one empty bottle. GroceryBee turns it into a one-second scan on the way to the trash, so the list actually gets built — and anyone in the house can do it without a phone.

Do I need a phone to use GroceryBee?

Not to scan. Anyone can tap GroceryBee and scan an item with no phone, account or unlocking. You use the GroceryBee app on your phone to set it up and to read the list when you shop.

What can GroceryBee scan?

GroceryBee scans product barcodes — the UPC barcodes printed on packaged household products, from food to cleaning supplies.

What happens if I scan something GroceryBee doesn't recognize?

If the code isn't a valid product barcode, GroceryBee gives an error buzz and nothing is added. If the barcode is valid but the product can't be identified, it still goes on your shopping list as an unknown item, shown with its barcode number, so nothing is lost.

Can I add things that don't have a barcode, like fresh produce?

Yes. Anything without a barcode can be added to the shopping list by hand in the GroceryBee app.

How big is GroceryBee?

GroceryBee is an 84 mm hexagon.

Setup and placement

Where should I put GroceryBee?

Mount GroceryBee wherever you notice things running out — the fridge door, the wall by the washer, the garage. Pick a spot people pass by rather than one they sit next to. GroceryBee is designed to be mounted, not carried around.

How does GroceryBee mount?

Two ways. GroceryBee has a magnet on the back, so it sticks to a fridge or any steel surface. It also has a slot on the back that hangs on a nail or screw, for walls and other surfaces a magnet won't hold to.

How do I set up GroceryBee?

Install the GroceryBee app on iOS or Android and follow the steps. The app scans the QR code on your GroceryBee's label, connects to GroceryBee directly, and sends it your Wi-Fi details. If the Wi-Fi password is wrong, the app tells you.

What Wi-Fi does GroceryBee need?

GroceryBee connects to a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network. Most home routers provide one alongside 5 GHz.

Does GroceryBee need Bluetooth?

No. GroceryBee sets up over Wi-Fi and does not use Bluetooth.

Using GroceryBee

How do I scan something?

Tap GroceryBee, hold the barcode up to the light, and wait for the beep. The item is added to your shopping list.

What powers GroceryBee?

Two AA batteries, included. There is no cord and nothing to charge.

How long do the batteries last?

Battery life depends on how often GroceryBee is used. A typical household can see six months or more on a pair of AA batteries.

What happens if the Wi-Fi is down when I scan?

Your scan isn't lost. GroceryBee saves it and sends it along with the next scan that goes through successfully.

Does GroceryBee get software updates?

Yes. GroceryBee updates itself automatically over Wi-Fi. Updates are signed, so GroceryBee only installs software that PantryBee has released.

The app and your household

Which phones does the GroceryBee app work on?

iOS and Android.

Can my whole household share one list?

Yes. Everyone in your household can see and use the same shopping list, and anyone can scan with GroceryBee. There is no per-person charge.

Can I have more than one GroceryBee?

Yes. Multiple GroceryBee devices can add to the same household list — one on the fridge and one by the washer, for example. There is no limit on how many GroceryBee devices a household can have.

Can I use GroceryBee in a business, shop or stockroom?

No. GroceryBee is for personal and household use. Commercial use requires separate terms, which do not currently exist.

Price and subscription

How much does GroceryBee cost?

$149.99 for one GroceryBee, or $284.99 for a 2-pack ($142.50 each). Shipping within the US is free.

Is there a subscription?

No. Everything GroceryBee does today — scanning, the shopping list, and access for everyone in your household — is included in the purchase price, with no monthly or per-user fee.

Will you add paid features later?

We may offer optional paid features in the future. Anything GroceryBee does for free today stays free.

Ordering, shipping and returns

Where do you ship?

GroceryBee ships free anywhere in the United States, including Alaska, Hawaii and US territories. We do not currently ship outside the US.

When is my card charged, and when will my order ship?

Your card is charged when you place your order. If GroceryBee is in stock, it ships within 3 business days. If it's backordered, it can take up to four weeks to ship, and you can cancel any time before it ships for a full refund — if we can't ship within four weeks, we'll refund you. The website shows whether each pack is in stock before you order.

What is the return policy?

You can return GroceryBee within 30 days of delivery. See the Terms of Sale for details.

Is there a warranty?

GroceryBee has a 1-year limited warranty. See the Terms of Sale for what it covers.

Privacy

Does GroceryBee have a camera?

GroceryBee reads barcodes with a small image sensor, like every barcode scanner. The scanner module decodes the barcode inside its own hardware and passes on only the barcode's text. It has no way to send an image anywhere, and PantryBee never receives a picture.

Can GroceryBee scan without me knowing?

No. GroceryBee only scans after you tap it, and its light is on whenever it is scanning. When the light is off, the sensor is off. There is no silent mode.

Does GroceryBee have a microphone?

No. GroceryBee has no microphone and cannot hear anything.

Does GroceryBee know where I live?

GroceryBee has no GPS. PantryBee never receives your Wi-Fi network name or your router's address, and your Wi-Fi password never leaves the device.

What data does PantryBee receive when I scan?

The barcode, so it can be added to your household's list. To look up a product's name, PantryBee sends the barcode to product-lookup services; those lookups carry no account, household or device identifier.

Do you sell my data or show ads?

No. PantryBee does not sell your data and there are no ads in the GroceryBee app. The pantrybee.buzz website uses Meta's advertising tools and Google Ads to measure PantryBee's own ads, and Google Analytics to understand how the site is used. None of these is used in the GroceryBee app or on the device. You can see how, and opt out of all of them, on the Your Privacy Choices page.

Can I delete my account?

Yes. You can delete your account from inside the GroceryBee app, which deletes your data from PantryBee's servers.

Read the full Privacy Policy →

Owning GroceryBee

Can I sell or give away my GroceryBee?

Yes. Hold the settings button for ten seconds and GroceryBee forgets your Wi-Fi and your account. The next owner sets it up like new, with no transfer or approval from PantryBee.

Can I run my own software on GroceryBee?

Yes. GroceryBee's bootloader is unlocked. It's your hardware.

What happens if PantryBee shuts down?

PantryBee has committed to giving 90 days' notice and publishing the protocol GroceryBee uses, and GroceryBee's server address can already be changed. Your GroceryBee can keep working with a server someone else runs.

Compliance and support

Is GroceryBee FCC compliant?

GroceryBee complies with part 15 of the FCC Rules. Full compliance information is on the FCC Compliance page.

How do I contact PantryBee?

Email contact@pantrybee.buzz.