Abstract: The present invention is a computer-based system for retrieving and displaying product information, and for purchasing products, by scanning a customized optical machine-readable representations of data, such as a QR code. The system supports products from multiple vendors and maintains a central database in which a user accumulates points by purchasing products associated with the customized codes. The customized codes contain a known identifier to indicate that they are special codes for processing by the system, as well as a product identifier and a vendor identifier.