About Makro Companion
I’ve been using the Makro Companion on my Google Pixel 7 for a little over a month now. As a parent, I’m always looking for ways to streamline our big, monthly stock-up trips. Makro is our go-to for that, so when I saw this app featured, I thought it would be perfect for planning and keeping track of what we need. Honestly, I just wanted something simple and trustworthy to save me time wrangling the kids in the store. My experience, unfortunately, was the opposite. It ended up creating more problems than it solved, which is a real shame because the idea behind it is so good for busy families.
Features & Highlights
The main things that caught my eye were the shopping list and the stock checker. Being able to build a list at home with the kids and then know for sure if something is in stock before we make the drive sounded like a dream. They also have a section for deals and some basic recipes. The deals were okay, but nothing I couldn’t find in the weekly flyer. The recipe bit felt pointless for bulk shopping—it suggested things like “pasta night” but didn’t help me scale up for my family of five or find the big value packs. The real draw was supposed to be knowing what’s available. That feature, the one I needed most, is where everything fell apart.
User Experience
This app is frustrating to use. The stock information is not reliable at all. Last Saturday morning, I needed a specific brand of juice boxes and a large pack of paper towels for the coming week. The app clearly showed both items were in stock at my local Makro. We got everyone in the car, drove across town, and found empty shelves for both items. A very nice employee named David told me their inventory system updates slowly and the app is often wrong. I was stuck explaining to my disappointed kids why we couldn’t get their juice. Even using the app in the store is clunky. The “Scan & Go” feature, which lets you scan items as you shop, kept freezing on my phone. I had to restart it twice, and then it missed a few items, so I had to go through a regular checkout anyway. It made the whole trip more stressful.
Pricing
The app is free, which is good. There aren’t any sneaky subscriptions or fees to worry about. For a family budget, that’s important. But “free” doesn’t mean it has no cost. The cost is your time and your patience. A wasted trip because of bad information costs me gas and a precious Saturday morning. For something that’s supposed to make life easier, that’s a pretty high price to pay for zero euros.
Updates & Support
After the juice box incident, I tried to contact support through the app. I wanted to report the inaccurate stock issue so maybe they could fix it. I got an auto-reply email a day later that didn’t really address my problem. I wrote back with more details about the specific store and items. That was three weeks ago, and I’ve heard nothing since. It feels like they don’t really care if the app works properly for users. I checked the Play Store, and they do update the app every so often, but the notes just say “various bug fixes.” It doesn’t inspire confidence that the big problems are being worked on.
Security & Privacy
I had to create an account with my email to use the list feature. The app asks for location to find your nearest store, which makes sense. I didn’t see any obvious red flags, and it’s from the official Makro company, so I felt okay about that part. The privacy policy is long and legal, like they all are. I just hope they’re responsible with my email address. For a shopping app, it seems standard, but the overall unreliability of the app makes me wonder about their attention to detail in other areas, too.
What features does Makro Companion offer for planning a shopping trip?
Makro Companion includes a shopping list builder, a stock checker to see if items are available, a deals section, and some basic recipes. The shopping list and stock checker are designed to help you plan before you go, but the recipes aren't well-suited for bulk shopping or large families.
How reliable is the stock checker in Makro Companion?
Unfortunately, the stock checker is not very reliable, as one user found out when it showed juice boxes and paper towels in stock, but the shelves were empty. A store employee explained that the inventory system updates slowly, so the app often displays outdated information. It's best to call the store directly to confirm stock for critical items.
Why does the Scan & Go feature in Makro Companion feel clunky to use?
Users report that the Scan & Go feature is clunky because it can be slow to register barcodes, and the app may lag or freeze during use. This makes the in-store experience frustrating, especially when you're trying to move quickly with kids or a full cart. It often adds extra time instead of saving it.
How can I fix the stock checker showing wrong information in Makro Companion?
There isn't a user-side fix for the stock checker issue, as it depends on Makro's slow inventory system updates. You can try refreshing the app or checking a different store location, but the most reliable workaround is to call the store before your trip. The app's data is often hours or even days behind real stock levels.
How does Makro Companion compare to the Flipp app for finding deals?
While Makro Companion has a deals section, it only shows offers from Makro, and users find it no better than the weekly flyer. Flipp aggregates deals from multiple stores, including Makro, and lets you compare prices across retailers. For finding the best value on bulk items, Flipp is generally more useful and comprehensive.
