Getting a bar code...

ZumGirl

Hi guys, new to boards but getting loads from it thanks .

Does anyone know how to go about getting a bar code for a retail product. I´m working on a project with a charity close to my heart that will require (I think?) a bar code, if I am going to be able to get the larger retailers interested in stocking it and supporting the charity. I have gone through the google route but nothing jumps out ot me as a clear easy process.

All help and advice appreciated.

blue4ever

here ye go: http://www.gs1.org/ - people who control barcodes.

ZumGirl

blue4ever wrote: »

here ye go: http://www.gs1.org/ - people who control barcodes.

thanks for that blue4ever - I found them but thought there may be an easier process like somewhere you could get a few barcodes without having to go through the €500 registration process and the cost per bar-code

Does anyone know of how retailers are likely to react to selling a charity related product that does not have a bar code?

omerin

not sure exactly what you mean but here is a link to a barcode generating program -


free trial $45 to buy

this includes most of the different types of barcode. i use it at work (code 39) and its straight forward

Niall_G

There are a number of barcode "resellers" that will sell individual codes. I have never used them so can't vouch for their legitimacy but if you google you will find them. I have used EAN Ireland (mentioned above) and they do exactly what they say - it is, as you point out, very expensive if you will just require one code though.

It is easy to print barcodes and even to get a valid one (they use check digits) but you need to be sure you are the unique owner of that code (which is what somebody like EAN guarantee - I am not so sure about the resellers). If there is a problem with the barcode (eg unreadable, not valid, not unique) certain multiples will not pay for your stock. This policy might be more flexible for charitable items but I wouldn't bet on it.

You mention "larger" retailers - a bar code would be a necessity there.

ZumGirl

omerin wrote: »

not sure exactly what you mean but here is a link to a barcode generating program -


free trial $45 to buy

this includes most of the different types of barcode. i use it at work (code 39) and its straight forward

Thanks omerin - printing will be the next issue, but designer assures me he has that sorted.

ZumGirl

Niall_G wrote: »

There are a number of barcode "resellers" that will sell individual codes. I have never used them so can't vouch for their legitimacy but if you google you will find them. I have used EAN Ireland (mentioned above) and they do exactly what they say - it is, as you point out, very expensive if you will just require one code though.

It is easy to print barcodes and even to get a valid one (they use check digits) but you need to be sure you are the unique owner of that code (which is what somebody like EAN guarantee - I am not so sure about the resellers). If there is a problem with the barcode (eg unreadable, not valid, not unique) certain multiples will not pay for your stock. This policy might be more flexible for charitable items but I wouldn't bet on it.

You mention "larger" retailers - a bar code would be a necessity there.

Thanks Niall_g for advice and warning re retailers and what may happen if they can´t use code.

Has anyone used any of these re-sellers that they can vouch for? Sounds like the best option for me when I need only one code.
Thanks.

Big Mig

Hya Zumgirl,

Just wondering if you have actually spoken to someone in GS1 - they may actually do some sort of a deal if they are dealing with a charity?

Just a thought.....?

ZumGirl

Big Mig wrote: »

Hya Zumgirl,

Just wondering if you have actually spoken to someone in GS1 - they may actually do some sort of a deal if they are dealing with a charity?

Just a thought.....?

Thanks Big Mig - good suggestion will give them a buzz and see how I get on.

probe

http://www.gs1.ie


There is a barcode number issuing agency in Ireland too!

probe

omerin wrote: »

not sure exactly what you mean but here is a link to a barcode generating program -


free trial $45 to buy

this includes most of the different types of barcode. i use it at work (code 39) and its straight forward

If you are creating a barcode yourself for use on printed packaging, you need to make sure it works, and is of high resolution. You don't want to spend money getting packaging printed to find out that the barcode won't read at the checkout. Your retail customers won't like it!

Smudgy printing (caused by the printer of the packaging), lack of contrast (deviating from a black barcode on a white background) and inadequate resolution (caused by low DPI of the printer generating the artwork) or technical/typo mistakes in the EAN can all cause problems.

ZumGirl

Thanks for all the advice and suggestions but I think I have a solution. I`m under a biot of time pressure and also in the Canaries on holidays so not able to do much in terms of chasing looking for support for a charitable cause.

After some searching based on suggestions above I picked the "least dodgy" looking reseller and took a chance. I´m now in the posession of an EAN13 barcode that I`m assured is all mine and cost me $89

All I need now is for it to work.

Locamon

ZumGirl wrote: »

Thanks for all the advice and suggestions but I think I have a solution. I`m under a biot of time pressure and also in the Canaries on holidays so not able to do much in terms of chasing looking for support for a charitable cause.

After some searching based on suggestions above I picked the "least dodgy" looking reseller and took a chance. I´m now in the posession of an EAN13 barcode that I`m assured is all mine and cost me $89

All I need now is for it to work.

Okay I appear to have come to this discussion too late. The question I have here is you mention a designer and a printer. If this product is a book you will need to get a registered ISBN from which you will then generate a barcode. If you don't do this retailers will not be interested.
If the product is not a book then you could have got a label company to print you a random barcode to sell this product -they do it quite a lot. Have done this in the past with no problems. Cost of the labels only. Your printer should have been able to source this.
Best of luck with the charity work.