1. An apparatus for retrieving and processing information related to a consumer product using a universal product code comprising: a) a portable consumer device, said portable consumer device including: (i) a portable consumer good comprising a non-electronic device that lacks the capacity for data transmission; and (ii) a scanning and storage device incorporated into said portable consumer good, said scanning and storage device comprising: (1) a scanning element converting a printed universal product code symbol into machine readable information representative of said universal product code; and (2) a removable memory medium to which said information is stored; and b) an Internet-ready device couplable to one or more Internet-based information servers, said Internet-ready device including a removable memory medium adapted to accept said removable memory medium from said scanning and storage device.