What is the purpose of a UPC code?

The purpose of UPCs is to make it easy to identify product features, such as the brand name, item, size, and color, when an item is scanned at checkout. In fact, that's why they were created in the first place – to speed up the checkout process at grocery stores.

What does a UPC code tell you?

'UPC' stands for Universal Product Code, a unique 12-digit number assigned to retail merchandise that identifies both the product and the vendor that sells the product.

Why do you need UPC code?

Whether you're selling on Amazon or on your own website, you need a UPC code for each of your products. The UPC (Unique Product Code) allows your company, distributors, and customers to scan the code and instantly receive necessary product information.

What is the difference between a barcode and a UPC code?

The UPC on a product typically appears adjacent to its bar code, the machine-readable representation of the UPC. A barcode (also bar code) is an optical machine-readable representation of the UPC 12-digit number that can be reproduced onto merchandise and retail products.

Is a UPC code required by law?

Marking a product with a UPC barcode is not a legal requirement. It is a trading partner requirement, which means the company who is requiring a UPC barcode symbol on items being sold is responsible for ensuring UPC compliance.

UPC Codes Explained - Where to Buy

Does every product need a UPC?

As a general rule, every variation of your product will need its own UPC. If your product comes in different colors or patterns, each different color or pattern will need a UPC. If your product comes in different sizes, each size will need a UPC. The same is true for different configurations and packaging.

Can I use someone else's UPC code?

No, you may not. Go back and read Barcodes 101. If you buy UPCs from a reseller, the codes will identify someone else as the brand owner. Should you ever decide to sell your products to major retailers, they will only accept GS1 issued UPCs with your company prefix.

Can two products have same UPC?

UPCs are 12 digits, numeric only. UPCs must be purchased to ensure that the same two sets of numbers are not issued to more than one company. Many UPC providers sell them online and, for the most part, do so with integrity. But be cautious.

Can 2 products have the same barcode?

Is it possible to have the same barcode data for two completely different products made by two different manufacturers? Formally no, as the whole point of UPC/EAN/GS1 barcodes is to uniquely identify product SKUs.

Why do I need a UPC code for Amazon?

Barcodes are important for all Amazon sellers because they're used to keep track of inventory as products move in and out of an FBA warehouse.

Do I need a barcode on my product?

Technically, there is no requirement that products must have barcodes unless you're selling at the wholesale level or you sell to large retailers.

Do I need UPC codes to sell online?

If you are selling online, UPC/EAN codes make your job easier. Almost every online retailer needs these to manage their products and execute online selling. But UPC/EAN codes are not a compulsory requirement. Marketplaces like Flipkart, Amazon and Snapdeal request sellers to enter these numbers when listing products.

Can a UPC code tell you where something was purchased?

ANSWER: No, a barcode does not tell you where an item was manufactured. The number tells you what the item is, who owns the item and which GS1 office licensed the number.

What is the purpose of a QR code on a product label?

What is the purpose of a QR code on a product label? QR codes, in general, are used to connect the customers to online information and they are mostly used in businesses especially it is seen attached in products and manufacturing labels.

What information is stored on a barcode?

Barcode contains information about a product like; price & weight of the product, date of manufacturing and expiry, name of the manufacturer etc. Barcode is allocated by an international institution set up for this purpose. Every product has a unique barcode all over the world.

Can I make my own UPC barcode?

A common mistake companies make is creating their own UPC numbers. A company can not “make up” its own UPC number. To have a UPC code that will scan at Point of Sale, the UPC number must contain a GS1 assigned Company Prefix, also known as a manufacturer prefix.

What is the difference between UPC and SKU?

Since a SKU is unique to the company, the same product would have different SKUs if sold by different companies, but they would have the same UPC. Another difference is that SKUs are typically eight alpha-numeric digits, while UPCs are 12 digits, numeric only.

Are UPC codes universal?

As stated above, UPC are “Universal Product Codes” are acceptable around the globe. EAN stands for European Article Number and was the identifier commonly used internationally. Before 2005, manufacturers were challenged because the US used UPC and 13-digit EAN barcodes were used internationally.

How do you assign UPC codes to products?

What is the difference between SKU and item number?

SKU numbers are distinct from product model numbers, which are assigned by manufacturers. However, some companies include model number information in their SKUs for identification purposes. SKUs are frequently used by warehouses, marketplaces, fulfillment centers, catalogs and e-commerce sites.

Can I create my own barcodes for products?

Creating your own custom codes is pretty simple and cheap. All you need is a computer, some software or font packs, a scanner, and a label printer. Once you have your setup, the costs are about the same whether you choose to create 100 barcodes or 1000. It just becomes more of a time investment on your part.

Is it legal to create your own barcode?

To get your own barcodes registered under the name of your business, you need to obtain a GS1 license prefix. You fill an application that typically takes no more than 48 hours to be processed. The advantages of having a GS1 prefix are: You can sell your products through every retailer.

Who owns UPC codes?

For the past 46 years, GS1 US (formerly the Uniform Code Council) has been the identification standards organization that administers UPCs allocations. Up until now, GS1 made licensing a brand-specific Company Prefix mandatory for companies who wanted to identify their products with UPC.