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UPC

What Is UPC?

A universal product code is a globally accepted barcode, usually drawn in form of lines, branded on a product’s packaging for ease of identification.

How To Obtain UPC Barcodes?

  • Visit the GS1 website and apply for UPC codes.
  • You will pay a membership fee, which is determined by the number of codes you want.
  • GS1 will assign you a prefix. This is an exclusive number that showcases you as the manufacturer.
  • You will then generate all your items’ ID numbers and initiate a request from the GS1 website to have them sent your way.

UPC Barcodes For Amazon

Amazon has put in place a strict policy that requires sellers to get their codes directly from GS1 and not resellers. They are keen on validating their authenticity by conducting a UPC lookup against the GS1 UPC database.

If Amazon identifies a product with an invalid barcode, it will temporarily or permanently revoke the seller’s Amazon trading abilities. It will also do away with any reviews on the product that users left behind.

How To Create A Barcode

First, you must register your business with GS1. Also, you need to have your prefix and serial numbers ready. It is then that you will log on to an online barcode generator such as this.

There, you will also be required to pick the appropriate barcode type for you. You also need to fill in vital information such as the barcode data, its measurement, your email, and the UPC (optional). It is then that you can download the code to your email.

How To Place A Barcode On A Product

Ideally, barcodes are placed at the back of a product’s packaging, on the bottom-right side. However, you also need to consider the packaging’s curvature before placing the barcode on a product. If the surface is flat, consider the ‘picket fence’ barcode orientation and ‘ladder’ orientation for curved surfaces.

Remember that all codes should be imprinted on a smooth surface to ensure the barcode scanner reads it well.

Frequently Asked Questions About UPC

What is a barcode?

A barcode is a set of 8 to 12 universally acceptable bar codes that label a product for easy identification.

What is the difference between SKU and UPC?

SKUs are for the sole purpose of keeping track of inventory while UPCs are for universally identifying products and manufacturers. Another notable difference between the two is that the latter comprises numerical values only while the former consists of numbers and letters.

How to read a barcode?

A barcode scanner will help you read product codes in seconds.

When was the barcode invented?

It was invented in 1951 by Norman Joseph Woodland and Bernard Silver.

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