Are QR Codes a solution looking for a problem?

Ok. Before everyone jumps all over me, I'll first start out by saying I like QR Codes and think they're pretty cool. I also understand what you can do with them (link to websites, videos, FB fan pages, etc.).

But after you get past the "Wow, that's really neat" factor, what problem does a QR Code solve or what true benefit does a QR code provide for a small business owner like a plumber, dentist, hair dresser, pizza shop, etc. that will make them say "Wow, I gotta start using those!!!"

The reason I ask is because, even though I understand how they work, I'm still looking for that "Hey, I can use a QR Code for that." from my customers.

For instance.

I'm standing in Best Buy looking at a home theater system the other day and next to the price they have a QR code. So out of curiosity I scan it and it takes me to the Best Buy website page for that product...which tells me the description and the price. So how useful is that? I'm standing in front of the thing and I can read the description and see the price right there.

Then today I'm in one of those Halloween stores and there's an animated figure which has a QR code in front of it. Again, I scan it in just out of curiosity and it takes me to a cute Youtube video that shows the product. Ummmm. I can see the product right in front of me. Why would I want to watch a video of it? And this particular video was more of a skit that they created using the animated figure as a role character. I never finished watching it because it was so dumb.

Finally (for this post but not in my life) I'm in a restaurant and they have a QR Code on a table tent that, when scanned, gives me an opportunity to join their text message club. Why not just tell me to text "whatever" to the number to join. Why make me scan a QR code?

And it goes on and on. I scan these things in (just out of curiosity) and I'm always disappointed in the result or scratch my head thinking "what the?".

Now the only benefit I could think of (and even this isn't that great) is that I could go back and revisit the website, video, or whatever happened after scanning the QR code, at a later date. But that's not very easy. I have an Android and I use the QR Droid app and I have to go to the history of scanned QR codes and try to figure out which one coincided with the website or video I wanted to see again. Maybe it's easier on the iPhone, but more trouble than it's worth on my Android.

At least with a UPC symbol on products, they have a real purpose. They can get scanned in at a register instead of keying in a price. This speeds up checkout lines and allows self serve checkout, and indeed solves a problem.

So this goes back to my original question (which I hope someone can answer cause I really want to sell these things). What problems do QR Codes solve or what true benefits do QR codes provide that will excite a small business owner into saying "Wow, I gotta start using those!!!".

Mike