Samsung account--pros/cons?

[Adam Frix]

Generally I don't like to sign up for accounts just to get some gee-whiz stuff like what Samsung offers on the phone. I'm not marrying the phone; I just want to use it.

I let Google handle all the gee-whiz stuff. After all, I might not have a Samsung phone in a month or two. Or I might have several phones I'm switching back and forth among, not all of them Samsung. But they'll all be Android, so Google is it (for better or for worse).

What am I missing by not having a Samsung account? Sure, Samsung Pay. Ummmm...I carry my credit cards around. Not relevant.

What else? There seem to be a bunch of account-required goodies on the S9+ that I could bother with, but are they truly worth the bother?

 

[SpookDroid]

I'd say Samsung Pay (a big deal for me... totally and completely HOOKED, not even using NFC payments comes close to how easy it is... if I could carry my driver's license there, I wouldn't carry a wallet around anymore, but that's me) and the 'Find My Phone' suite (Google's suite removed the ability to unlock the phone should you forget the password or something) are pretty much the only things worth it. And the ability to share complete files through a link (upload file to Samsung's cloud, system generates a shareable link, share it, done... link expires after 24 or 48 hours automagically).

Samsung Notes if you use that, but otherwise, not a lot. Samsung's app store does offer some discounts and freebies every now and then, but again, something you probably can live without.

 

[djrakowski]

I'd say Samsung Pay (a big deal for me... totally and completely HOOKED, not even using NFC payments comes close to how easy it is... if I could carry my driver's license there, I wouldn't carry a wallet around anymore, but that's me)

This, a million times this! I just had this same conversation with a salesperson at Best Buy. Samsung Pay crushes the competition.

I also use my Samsung account for backups (apps & app data, messages, call logs) but I probably don't need that, as I also back up to my Google account and to my SD card using My Backup Pro.

 

[Adam Frix]

I asked the nice people at Costco: is there an app for my phone that I can show at the door to get in, or do I absolutely have to show the physical membership card (which also happens to be my main credit card)?

Answer: you must show the physical card.

So in 2018, I'm forced to carry their membership card just so I can walk into a Costco.

 

[djrakowski]

I asked the nice people at Costco: is there an app for my phone that I can show at the door to get in, or do I absolutely have to show the physical membership card (which also happens to be my main credit card)?

Answer: you must show the physical card.

So in 2018, I'm forced to carry their membership card just so I can walk into a Costco.

Bah. That stinks. My home state accepts electronic evidence of auto insurance coverage, and I'm able to check in at the gym using the key tag I scanned into Samsung Pay. Everyone should be moving in this direction.

 

[ajbrad71]

I asked the nice people at Costco: is there an app for my phone that I can show at the door to get in, or do I absolutely have to show the physical membership card (which also happens to be my main credit card)?

Answer: you must show the physical card.

So in 2018, I'm forced to carry their membership card just so I can walk into a Costco.

I'm in Virginia and they let me show the card from the phone to get in and barcode at register.

 

[Adam Frix]

I'm in Virginia and they let me show the card from the phone to get in and barcode at register.

What "card from the phone"?

The problem is, my photo isn't on it.

 

[ajbrad71]

What "card from the phone"?

The problem is, my photo isn't on it.

Costco card, mine does have a picture. At the register they scan the barcode.

 

[Adam Frix]

Costco card, mine does have a picture. At the register they scan the barcode.

I mean, my VISA card that I added to the phone is just the VISA card.

How are you getting the actual Costco membership card on your phone, such that you can flash that to their satisfaction? Not just the membership number, but your card with picture?

 

[ajbrad71]

I added it in Membership cards in Samsung pay. Tap the bottom and a bigger bar code pops up and the scan it.

 

[ajbrad71]

I will add been using the same Costco for a while so they usually don't ask me to show my card. #bunchofdamnkids