How to Use Store Reminders

What are Store Reminders?

Store Reminders use location-based geofencing to notify you when you're near a hardware store and have items in your inventory that are running low. Instead of making a separate shopping list, Garage Vault automatically detects when you're near a supported store and shows you what you need.

Key Features

• 70+ pre-loaded store locations - Major hardware store chains across the US
• 150-meter geofencing - Precise detection (about 500 feet radius)
• Smart notifications - Only alerts when you have low stock items
• 2-hour cooldown - Prevents spam, one alert per store per 2 hours
• Battery efficient - Updates every 100 meters or 5 minutes
• Background monitoring - Works even when the app is closed (iOS)
• Store selection - Choose which chains to monitor

Enabling Store Reminders

Step 1: Enable Location Permissions

Store reminders require location access to detect when you're near stores:

1. Open Settings in Garage Vault
2. Tap "Location Settings" or "Store Reminders"
3. Enable "Allow Location Access"
4. Choose "While Using the App" or "Always" (recommended for background alerts)
5. On iOS, also enable "Background Location" if you want notifications when the app is closed

Step 2: Enable Store Reminders

1. In Settings → "Store Reminders"
2. Toggle "Enable Store Reminders" to ON
3. Select which store chains you want to monitor (see Supported Stores below)
4. Set your low stock thresholds - items below this amount will trigger alerts

Step 3: Set Low Stock Thresholds

Store reminders only alert you when you have items marked as "low stock":

1. Go to any item in your inventory
2. Tap to edit the item
3. Set a minimum quantity threshold
4. When the item quantity falls below this threshold, it's marked as "low stock"
5. Low stock items will trigger store reminders when you're near a hardware store

Supported Stores

Garage Vault supports over 70 hardware store locations across major chains in the United States:

Plus many more! Store locations cover major metropolitan areas across the United States. New stores are added regularly.

Selecting Which Stores to Monitor

You can choose which store chains trigger alerts:

1. Go to Settings → "Store Reminders"
2. Tap "Select Stores"
3. Toggle individual store chains ON or OFF
4. You can enable all stores, or just your favorite chains

How It Works

Geofencing Technology

Store reminders use geofencing to detect when you're near a hardware store:

• 150-meter radius - The app detects stores within about 500 feet
• Two-tiered detection - Uses a geofence database plus reverse geocoding as a fallback
• Battery efficient - Location updates every 100 meters traveled or every 5 minutes, whichever comes first
• Background monitoring - On iOS, works even when the app is closed

Notification System

When you enter a store's geofence:

1. The app checks your inventory for low stock items
2. If you have low stock items, you receive a push notification
3. The notification shows:
   • Store name (e.g., "Home Depot")
   • Number of items needed (e.g., "You need 5 items")
   • Item names (e.g., "Deck screws, Paint primer, Drill bit")
4. Tap the notification to open Garage Vault and see your shopping list

Cooldown System

To prevent notification spam, Garage Vault uses a 2-hour cooldown:

• After you receive an alert for a store, you won't get another alert for that same store for 2 hours
• This prevents spam if you're shopping in a store parking lot or nearby area
• The cooldown is per-store, so you can still get alerts from different stores

Managing Settings

Accessing Store Reminder Settings

1. Open Garage Vault
2. Tap Settings (gear icon, usually in bottom navigation or profile menu)
3. Scroll to "Store Reminders" section
4. Tap to open Store Reminder settings

Available Settings

Temporarily Disabling Reminders

You can temporarily disable store reminders without changing all your settings:

1. Go to Settings → "Store Reminders"
2. Toggle "Enable Store Reminders" to OFF
3. All your store selections and thresholds remain saved
4. Simply toggle back ON when you want to resume alerts

Best Practices

Setting Low Stock Thresholds

• Set realistic thresholds - For items you use frequently (like screws), set a higher threshold (e.g., 50-100). For items used rarely (like specialty tools), set a lower threshold (e.g., 1-5).
• Consider usage patterns - How quickly do you go through this item? Set your threshold based on how much you typically need on hand.
• Factor in bulk purchases - If you buy in bulk, set thresholds accordingly. For example, if you buy screws in boxes of 100, set your threshold at 20-30.
• Review regularly - Adjust thresholds as your usage patterns change.

Selecting Stores

• Enable stores you actually visit - Only enable store chains where you shop regularly to reduce unnecessary alerts.
• Consider store proximity - If you have a Home Depot very close to your route, enable it. If stores are out of your way, you might want to disable them.
• Test different combinations - Try enabling just your most-frequented chains first, then add more if you find the alerts helpful.

Battery Optimization

Store reminders are designed to be battery efficient:

• Updates are smart - Only checks location when you're moving (every 100 meters or 5 minutes)
• Background monitoring is optional - You can disable background location if you prefer to only get alerts when the app is open
• Disable when not needed - If you're traveling or won't be shopping, temporarily disable store reminders to save battery

Making the Most of Alerts

• Check your inventory before shopping - When you get an alert, open the app to see exactly what you need
• Use the shopping list - Low stock items automatically appear in your shopping list, making it easy to see everything at once
• Update quantities after shopping - When you buy items, update their quantities in the app so they're no longer marked as low stock
• Combine trips - Save the alerts and do one big shopping trip when you have multiple low stock items

Troubleshooting

Need Help?

If you have questions about store reminders:

• Contact support@garagevault.app
• Visit our Support Center for more guides
• Check the app's in-app help section

Happy shopping! 🛒