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What is a GTIN? A UPC? An EAN?

Excerpted from Wikipedia:
"Global Trade Item Number (GTIN) is an identifier for trade items developed by GS1 (comprising the former EAN International and Uniform Code Council)[citation needed]. Such identifiers are used to look up product information in a database (often by inputting the number through a bar code scanner pointed at an actual product) which may belong to a retailer, manufacturer, collector, researcher, or other entity. The uniqueness and universality of the identifier is useful in establishing which product in one database corresponds to which product in another database, especially across organizational boundaries.

GTIN is an "umbrella" term used to describe the entire family of GS1 data structures for trade items (products and services) identification. GTINs may be 8, 12, 13 or 14 digits long, and can be constructed using any of four numbering structures, depending upon the exact application. GTIN-8s will be encoded in an EAN-8 bar code. GTIN-12s may be shown in UPC-A, ITF-14, or GS1-128 bar codes. GTIN-13s may be encoded in EAN-13, ITF-14 or GS1-128 bar codes, and GTIN-14s may be encoded in ITF-14 or GS1-128 bar codes. The choice of bar code will depend on the application; for example, items to be sold at a retail should be marked with EAN-8, EAN-13, UPC-A or UPC-E bar codes."

UPC stands for for Universal Product Code and references a unique 11-digit GTIN assigned to an individual product. The UPC was invented in 1973 by George Laurer under contract by IBM as a solution for the grocery store industry to track and control inventory and distribution. An actual number in barcode format ends up with 12 digits because the 12th digit is called the “check digit” and is calculated based on the 11 assigned numbers as a redundancy check in case of data entry error. The check digit validates the reliability of the UPC by adding together the 11 numbers and reducing them to a single value. A GTIN-12 and a UPC-12 are the same thing and it will take many, many years for the world marketplace to accept the use of the new term "GTIN-12" in place of "UPC". The UPC will probably never go away, only the name will eventually be commonly known as "GTIN-12". Just as musicians still refer to their recordings as "records" instead of "CDs" even though vinyl records aren't used anymore, there will likely be a huge percentage of the world population that will always refer to a GTIN-12 as a UPC.

An EAN stands for European Article Number and is simply a 13-digit barcode version of a GTIN, also known as a GTIN-13. The extra digit that allows for country identification. The country flag merely indicates from which country the range of numbers was assigned. It does not indicate the location or ownership or origin of the product using the number. According to George Laurer, many countries are using the same symbol with their identifying country flag, but chose to call the symbol by other names. An example is JAN (Japanese Article Number), the Japanese version. The UPC symbol has truly become worldwide and all barcoding software is programmed to read UPC barcodes, however not all companies have updated their software in North America, and therefore not all North American retailers are able to read 13-digit EAN codes. Retailers were requested to implement the upgrade in 2005, however there are still some who have not done it.

Who needs and uses GTINs/UPCs and Bar codes?
When you go to sell your product at a retail outlet, that retailer will have you fill out a product information form which tells them the details of your product. Every retail outlet keeps track of their inventory—no matter how small. Unless your retailer is the vegetable stand at the farmer’s market, they probably have an inventory system that is based on bar codes in order to keep track of the products they sell, what price, and where they get the product.

 

 

 

 

A product information form is where you will put your company info, product details, and enter the 12-digit UPC (GTIN 12) that is assigned to each of your products. If you are selling t-shirts, a blue large t-shirt needs to have a separate UPC from a pink large t-shirt. If you are selling jam, strawberry 16 oz. needs to have a separate UPC from 4 oz. strawberry. Based on the information you fill out on your form, and the corresponding bar code you put on your product(s), when the retailer scans your product bar code at the register it will call up the information in their system that was provided on your form and therefore gives you credit for the sale. So to simplify things, a bar code is just the numeric/graphical code that keeps track of your product. It’s an inventory tracking tool.

What is the difference between a UPC, EAN, GTIN and a Barcode?

A UPC (GTIN-12)/EAN is the number assigned to a product sold in a retail store as explained above. A bar code is simply a graphical translation of a UPC (GTIN-12)/EAN number into bars and spaces of varying widths. A bar code is designed to be scanned by an optical reader that interprets the bar and space widths and translates that into the number represented by the bars because reading straight lines is easier than numerical digits.

You can have a UPC (GTIN-12)/EAN but not have a bar code. You cannot have a bar code that is not based on a UPC (GTIN-12)/EAN. You need a bar code in order to have your UPC (GTIN-12)/EAN be scannable by bar code readers in retail stores. You do not need a scannable bar code for online sales—your UPC (GTIN-12)/EAN is sufficient.

The bar code generated by a GTIN-13 (EAN) is exactly the same as its GTIN-12 (UPC) counterpart. The only difference is in the numbers along the bottom of the bars and spaces. There is NO difference in the actual bar code of a UPC and an EAN and bar code scanners do not know the difference between a GTIN-13/EAN and a GTIN-12/UPC. If you have a UPC you do not need an EAN. If you live outside the US you may use an EAN or a UPC. Ask your retailer if they want a 12-digit or 13-digit bar code. We can provide you with both.

 This is a sample UPC (GTIN 12).

  And this is a sample EAN (GTIN 13) of the same number.

You can see that the bars are exactly the same.

Do I need more than one UPC?
You need a UPC and associated bar code for every product variety you are selling. Your UPC (GTIN-12) by itself does not store the information, but when you fill out your product info forms for your products and associate them with your number, you are, in effect, telling retailers the info about your product.

 

 

 

 

Let’s use Jam as an example. Let’s say you create jam in 3 flavors and two sizes: Guava, Strawberry and Strawberry-Guava. You also offer it in two sizes: 8 oz and 16 oz. Therefore you need a UPC for each variety and each size, thus you need 6 separate UPC (GTIN-12)s for your Jam products.

Does every product need a UPC and bar code?
If you are going to sell your product in retail stores that use an inventory system and a bar code price scanning system, then yes, your products need bar codes. If you are selling your product at the local swap meet and there are no price scanners around, then no, you don’t need a UPC bar code. If you are selling your own products in your own store and don't have scanning equipment, then you don't need bar codes, but you still will want to have unique numbers to identify your products. You don't have to have UPC (GTIN-12) numbers for internal use.
Do UPC Barcodes work outside the United States?
Yes, the barcode will work anywhere that either UPC or EAN barcodes are scanned throughout the world. This includes North America (Canada & US), Central America, South America, Europe, the South Pacific including New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia, Asia, India and the Middle East—anywhere in the world that scans bar codes on products. However, not all EAN codes can be read by all retailers in North America.
Is a UPC or EAN the same as an ISBN?
Not entirely. The International Standard Book Number (ISBN) is a 13-digit GTIN that uniquely identifies books and book-like products published internationally because of the prefix used (978-979). UPCs are for retail products other than books and magazines. You can obtain an ISBN number at ISBN.org. However they will attempt to charge you an additional $25 for your actual bar code at the time of your purchase through their partner company Bowker Barcodes. You do not need to pay that exhorbitant price. We can create your bar code based on your ISBN number for only $2.99 and it will be provided in more formats and better quality than Bowker Barcodes.

If you are publishing a magazine, you may need a Bipad number, not an ISBN (it depends on your distributor—a Bipad is just a UPC but under a certain prefix and it is antiquated but some still use it). If necessary, obtain your Bipad number from bipad.com and then pay us to create your actual bar code for only $2.99. They refer you to a company called Pips that will lead you on a wild goose chase of technical garb that actually doesn’t say or mean anything in an attempt to confuse you into thinking they are more legitimate than other companies.

What kind of data is stored in my barcode?
Technically none. The lines and spaces are simply a glyph that translates your number into lines that can be read by an optical reader. The data about your product, such as price and product size and name, is up to you to provide your retailers when you fill out your product information form. If you are not consistent with your information that you provide, it is possible that Retailer A will show your product as one thing, and Retailer B will show it as another. Therefore it’s important that you make sure you are consistent with your product information that you are associating with your GTINs/UPCs. In 2006 the GS1 launched a new bar code that actually will store data called the GS1 Databar. It is only up the manufacturer/product packager if you choose to use it or not. It will not change how your product is scanned in the retail marketplace.
Can I make my own barcodes?
Yes. You can make your own barcode graphics files from the numbers you buy, but you may not make up your own numbers. There are software programs you can buy if you have a lot of barcodes to make. It will be more cost-effective for you to do it that way, providing you know how to use the software. There are also websites claiming to offer free barcode generating, however the quality of the graphic file provided is often not sufficient to meet GS1 optical reader specs.

If you use our low-priced barcode service you will be getting a guaranteed barcode in multiple professional file formats that will definitely work on your product labeling when printed within GS1 specs (no less than 80% size, no more than 200%, and dark lines on light background, printed at 600 dpi or more). Another thing to watch out for is barcode fonts. While you can obtain the Code 39A font to translate numbers into barcode lines and spaces, you need to make sure you understand the output requirements in terms of size and resolution so you barcodes are scannable. You also need to make sure you have calculated your check digit correctly.

Also beware of costly barcode services such as Bowker Barcodes, as referred on the ISBN.org website. They charge $25 for the exact same service that we charge $2.99 at our sister site My Barcode Graphics and we actually give you more file formats and better quality. If you need a lot of barcodes (more than 20) we offer bulk pricing.

What if my UPC is the same as someone else’s?
Whether you purchase your UPC (GTIN-12) from the GS1 or us, your number will never be duplicated. We are assigned a group of numbers within our manufacturer’s prefixes that we rightfully own and any numbers within that group will never be duplicated by us. When we assign you numbers we provide you with a Certificate of Ownership, Authenticity and Uniqueness, stating that your number(s) are unique and will never be assigned or used for another product. If you ever come across another product with the same UPC as the one issued to you by EZ UPC, contact us immediately.
Does my UPC have an expiration date?
No. Just like our manufacturer’s prefixes that were assigned by the Uniform Code Council (now the GS1), your UPC will not expire, as it is a subset of one of our prefixes and those prefixes were assigned to us as a company asset in perpetuity (forever). Your purchase agreement and certificate of authenticity confirm this also.
Am I required to have UPCs for my products?
Technically no, however in today’s world most all retailers use UPC bar codes as an inventory/pricing control. It really is up to your retailer. If you are selling your products yourself at the swap meet or farmer’s market, then you don’t need UPCs.
What is a GTIN? A UPC? An EAN?

Excerpted from Wikipedia:
"Global Trade Item Number (GTIN) is an identifier for trade items developed by GS1 (comprising the former EAN International and Uniform Code Council)[citation needed]. Such identifiers are used to look up product information in a database (often by inputting the number through a bar code scanner pointed at an actual product) which may belong to a retailer, manufacturer, collector, researcher, or other entity. The uniqueness and universality of the identifier is useful in establishing which product in one database corresponds to which product in another database, especially across organizational boundaries.

GTIN is an "umbrella" term used to describe the entire family of GS1 data structures for trade items (products and services) identification. GTINs may be 8, 12, 13 or 14 digits long, and can be constructed using any of four numbering structures, depending upon the exact application. GTIN-8s will be encoded in an EAN-8 bar code. GTIN-12s may be shown in UPC-A, ITF-14, or GS1-128 bar codes. GTIN-13s may be encoded in EAN-13, ITF-14 or GS1-128 bar codes, and GTIN-14s may be encoded in ITF-14 or GS1-128 bar codes. The choice of bar code will depend on the application; for example, items to be sold at a retail should be marked with EAN-8, EAN-13, UPC-A or UPC-E bar codes."

UPC stands for for Universal Product Code and references a unique 11-digit GTIN assigned to an individual product. The UPC was invented in 1973 by George Laurer under contract by IBM as a solution for the grocery store industry to track and control inventory and distribution. An actual number in barcode format ends up with 12 digits because the 12th digit is called the “check digit” and is calculated based on the 11 assigned numbers as a redundancy check in case of data entry error. The check digit validates the reliability of the UPC by adding together the 11 numbers and reducing them to a single value. A GTIN-12 and a UPC-12 are the same thing and it will take many, many years for the world marketplace to accept the use of the new term "GTIN-12" in place of "UPC". The UPC will probably never go away, only the name will eventually be commonly known as "GTIN-12". Just as musicians still refer to their recordings as "records" instead of "CDs" even though vinyl records aren't used anymore, there will likely be a huge percentage of the world population that will always refer to a GTIN-12 as a UPC.

An EAN stands for European Article Number and is simply a 13-digit barcode version of a GTIN, also known as a GTIN-13. The extra digit that allows for country identification. The country flag merely indicates from which country the range of numbers was assigned. It does not indicate the location or ownership or origin of the product using the number. According to George Laurer, many countries are using the same symbol with their identifying country flag, but chose to call the symbol by other names. An example is JAN (Japanese Article Number), the Japanese version. The UPC symbol has truly become worldwide and all barcoding software is programmed to read UPC barcodes, however not all companies have updated their software in North America, and therefore not all North American retailers are able to read 13-digit EAN codes. Retailers were requested to implement the upgrade in 2005, however there are still some who have not done it.

Who needs and uses GTINs/UPCs and Bar codes?
When you go to sell your product at a retail outlet, that retailer will have you fill out a product information form which tells them the details of your product. Every retail outlet keeps track of their inventory—no matter how small. Unless your retailer is the vegetable stand at the farmer’s market, they probably have an inventory system that is based on bar codes in order to keep track of the products they sell, what price, and where they get the product.

 

 

 

 

A product information form is where you will put your company info, product details, and enter the 12-digit UPC (GTIN 12) that is assigned to each of your products. If you are selling t-shirts, a blue large t-shirt needs to have a separate UPC from a pink large t-shirt. If you are selling jam, strawberry 16 oz. needs to have a separate UPC from 4 oz. strawberry. Based on the information you fill out on your form, and the corresponding bar code you put on your product(s), when the retailer scans your product bar code at the register it will call up the information in their system that was provided on your form and therefore gives you credit for the sale. So to simplify things, a bar code is just the numeric/graphical code that keeps track of your product. It’s an inventory tracking tool.

What is the difference between a UPC, EAN, GTIN and a Barcode?

A UPC (GTIN-12)/EAN is the number assigned to a product sold in a retail store as explained above. A bar code is simply a graphical translation of a UPC (GTIN-12)/EAN number into bars and spaces of varying widths. A bar code is designed to be scanned by an optical reader that interprets the bar and space widths and translates that into the number represented by the bars because reading straight lines is easier than numerical digits.

You can have a UPC (GTIN-12)/EAN but not have a bar code. You cannot have a bar code that is not based on a UPC (GTIN-12)/EAN. You need a bar code in order to have your UPC (GTIN-12)/EAN be scannable by bar code readers in retail stores. You do not need a scannable bar code for online sales—your UPC (GTIN-12)/EAN is sufficient.

The bar code generated by a GTIN-13 (EAN) is exactly the same as its GTIN-12 (UPC) counterpart. The only difference is in the numbers along the bottom of the bars and spaces. There is NO difference in the actual bar code of a UPC and an EAN and bar code scanners do not know the difference between a GTIN-13/EAN and a GTIN-12/UPC. If you have a UPC you do not need an EAN. If you live outside the US you may use an EAN or a UPC. Ask your retailer if they want a 12-digit or 13-digit bar code. We can provide you with both.

 This is a sample UPC (GTIN 12).

  And this is a sample EAN (GTIN 13) of the same number.

You can see that the bars are exactly the same.

What is the GS1?

"GS1 is a leading global organisation dedicated to the design and implementation of global standards and solutions to improve the efficiency and visibility of supply and demand chains globally and across sectors. The GS1 system of standards is the most widely used supply chain standards system in the world."

"GS1's main activity is the development of the GS1 System , a series of standards designed to improve supply chain management. Much of the development is initiated by its Member Organisations (MOs). Companies wishing to use the GS1 System should apply for membership to a Member Organisation. Companies in countries where there is no MO can obtain their membership directly from GS1 Global Office. "

"The GS1 System is an integrated system of global standards that provides for accurate identification and communication of information regarding products, assets, services and locations. It is the most implemented supply chain standards system in the world."

The GS1 used to be the Uniform Grocery Product Code Council, originally established in the 1970s to help standardize product tracking for the grocery store industry. The UGPCC became the UCC in September 1974. The European Article Numbering (EAN) Association launched in Belgium 1974 to work with the UCC on global numbering solutions. In June 2003 the EAN became the GS1. You can read the entire evolution timeline on the GS1 site here: http://www.gs1.org/about/media_centre/

Do I need more than one UPC?
You need a UPC and associated bar code for every product variety you are selling. Your UPC (GTIN-12) by itself does not store the information, but when you fill out your product info forms for your products and associate them with your number, you are, in effect, telling retailers the info about your product.

 

 

 

 

Let’s use Jam as an example. Let’s say you create jam in 3 flavors and two sizes: Guava, Strawberry and Strawberry-Guava. You also offer it in two sizes: 8 oz and 16 oz. Therefore you need a UPC for each variety and each size, thus you need 6 separate UPC (GTIN-12)s for your Jam products.

Does every product need a UPC and bar code?
If you are going to sell your product in retail stores that use an inventory system and a bar code price scanning system, then yes, your products need bar codes. If you are selling your product at the local swap meet and there are no price scanners around, then no, you don’t need a UPC bar code. If you are selling your own products in your own store and don't have scanning equipment, then you don't need bar codes, but you still will want to have unique numbers to identify your products. You don't have to have UPC (GTIN-12) numbers for internal use.
Do UPC Barcodes work outside the United States?
Yes, the barcode will work anywhere that either UPC or EAN barcodes are scanned throughout the world. This includes North America (Canada & US), Central America, South America, Europe, the South Pacific including New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia, Asia, India and the Middle East—anywhere in the world that scans bar codes on products. However, not all EAN codes can be read by all retailers in North America.
Is a UPC or EAN the same as an ISBN?
Not entirely. The International Standard Book Number (ISBN) is a 13-digit GTIN that uniquely identifies books and book-like products published internationally because of the prefix used (978-979). UPCs are for retail products other than books and magazines. You can obtain an ISBN number at ISBN.org. However they will attempt to charge you an additional $25 for your actual bar code at the time of your purchase through their partner company Bowker Barcodes. You do not need to pay that exhorbitant price. We can create your bar code based on your ISBN number for only $2.99 and it will be provided in more formats and better quality than Bowker Barcodes.

If you are publishing a magazine, you may need a Bipad number, not an ISBN (it depends on your distributor—a Bipad is just a UPC but under a certain prefix and it is antiquated but some still use it). If necessary, obtain your Bipad number from bipad.com and then pay us to create your actual bar code for only $2.99. They refer you to a company called Pips that will lead you on a wild goose chase of technical garb that actually doesn’t say or mean anything in an attempt to confuse you into thinking they are more legitimate than other companies.

Can I make my own barcodes?
Yes. You can make your own barcode graphics files from the numbers you buy, but you may not make up your own numbers. There are software programs you can buy if you have a lot of barcodes to make. It will be more cost-effective for you to do it that way, providing you know how to use the software. There are also websites claiming to offer free barcode generating, however the quality of the graphic file provided is often not sufficient to meet GS1 optical reader specs.

If you use our low-priced barcode service you will be getting a guaranteed barcode in multiple professional file formats that will definitely work on your product labeling when printed within GS1 specs (no less than 80% size, no more than 200%, and dark lines on light background, printed at 600 dpi or more). Another thing to watch out for is barcode fonts. While you can obtain the Code 39A font to translate numbers into barcode lines and spaces, you need to make sure you understand the output requirements in terms of size and resolution so you barcodes are scannable. You also need to make sure you have calculated your check digit correctly.

Also beware of costly barcode services such as Bowker Barcodes, as referred on the ISBN.org website. They charge $25 for the exact same service that we charge $2.99 at our sister site My Barcode Graphics and we actually give you more file formats and better quality. If you need a lot of barcodes (more than 20) we offer bulk pricing.

What if my UPC is the same as someone else’s?
Whether you purchase your UPC (GTIN-12) from the GS1 or us, your number will never be duplicated. We are assigned a group of numbers within our manufacturer’s prefixes that we rightfully own and any numbers within that group will never be duplicated by us. When we assign you numbers we provide you with a Certificate of Ownership, Authenticity and Uniqueness, stating that your number(s) are unique and will never be assigned or used for another product. If you ever come across another product with the same UPC as the one issued to you by EZ UPC, contact us immediately.
Does my UPC have an expiration date?
No. Just like our manufacturer’s prefixes that were assigned by the Uniform Code Council (now the GS1), your UPC will not expire, as it is a subset of one of our prefixes and those prefixes were assigned to us as a company asset in perpetuity (forever). Your purchase agreement and certificate of authenticity confirm this also.
What if my UPC doesn’t work or a retailer won’t accept it?
Some Walmart stores or regions, and some Kroger Family Grocery stores (such as superstore Fred Meyer) might not accept your subset numbers(s) if they are not purchased through the GS1–they require your own GS1 certificate. We also have reports of people successfully submitting their numbers and providing their certificate from us to these stores and not being asked for a GS1 Certificate.

What we have found is that if you are working with Walmart and Kroger stores at a local level, they don't get involved in the GS1 politics. It's only when you get a national distribution contract that requires you to work with their Corporate Headquarters or on a National level and submit your product data to a certified Data Pool, that they are strict about enforcing the political rule that you must provide an ownership certificate directly from the GS1.

Other stores that have been reported to require a GS1 Certificate as well as an owned company prefix in recent years include: Macy's, Bloomingdales, Lowes, Walgreens, Target, however we also have many customers who have used our numbers in those stores over the years. It's a bit hit or miss these days as the GS1 and the Global Data Synchronization Network (GDSN) effort becomes more widely used.

Remember, if you get a sizeable contract at a big box retailer, you will likely have to pay the price to go through the GS1 and at that point you can justify the cost depending on the price of the contract. For everyone else, EZ UPC is a cost-effective and hassle-free alternative or a great stepping stone while you are scaling your small business.

We are not responsible for retailers that refuse to accept numbers from a legal reseller or require a GS1 certificate and prefix.

Am I required to have UPCs for my products?
Technically no, however in today’s world most all retailers use UPC bar codes as an inventory/pricing control. It really is up to your retailer. If you are selling your products yourself at the swap meet or farmer’s market, then you don’t need UPCs.
How do I register my UPC?
The GS1 does not register or issue GTINs/UPCs. They issue Global Location Numbers (GLNs) under a manufacturer’s prefix with sets of assigned numbers. When you purchase GTINs/UPCs from EZ UPC, you are purchasing unique numbers under one of our manufacturer’s prefixes that we legally own and can assign to you because we obtained it prior to the lawsuits and changes against the GS1 in 2002.

They have recently added "Trade Item Info" to their database but we, the manufacturers are responsible for providing that information to them and we are not required to. Certified Data Pools have to publish the trade item data to the GDSN in order for Trade Item Info to appear in the GEPIR. If you look up a UPC from a common food product in your refrigerator you'll see the company but probably no info about the product because nobody wants to take the extra time to enter all that info for the GS1's benefit. This should never have an impact on the functionality of your UPC (GTIN 12) in the marketplace. If you get a UPC (GTIN 12) for a music CD, we recommend you register your CD with Nielsen’s Soundscan.com, the database that tracks and reports music sales in North America.

How Fast Does My Order Come?

Your order will be filled immediatley—depending on your quantity it will be instant or if ordering a large quantity such as 1000, it may take up to 15 minutes. All orders are sent via email in the form of a Download link to a Zip File that contains your complete order. You may have to check your spam folder.

Why Isn't EZUPC BBB Accredited?

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is a membership-based organization, kind of like an original Yelp for reviews. They allow anyone to write reviews/make complaints, but if a company wants to respond to those reviews/complaints, they have to join the BBB membership and pay fees.

As such, historically, BBB ratings are largely used by people who have lots of negative ratings so they can try to justify and explain those to their customers.

Thus, the reason why we aren't BBB Accredited is because we don't need to be—we don't have any complaints against us, and thus, why would we pay money to participate in their membership?

What if my UPC is the same as someone else’s?
Whether you purchase your UPC (GTIN-12) from the GS1 or us, your number will never be duplicated. We are assigned a group of numbers within our manufacturer’s prefixes that we rightfully own and any numbers within that group will never be duplicated by us. When we assign you numbers we provide you with a Certificate of Ownership, Authenticity and Uniqueness, stating that your number(s) are unique and will never be assigned or used for another product. If you ever come across another product with the same UPC as the one issued to you by EZ UPC, contact us immediately.
What if my UPC doesn’t work or a retailer won’t accept it?
Some Walmart stores or regions, and some Kroger Family Grocery stores (such as superstore Fred Meyer) might not accept your subset numbers(s) if they are not purchased through the GS1–they require your own GS1 certificate. We also have reports of people successfully submitting their numbers and providing their certificate from us to these stores and not being asked for a GS1 Certificate.

What we have found is that if you are working with Walmart and Kroger stores at a local level, they don't get involved in the GS1 politics. It's only when you get a national distribution contract that requires you to work with their Corporate Headquarters or on a National level and submit your product data to a certified Data Pool, that they are strict about enforcing the political rule that you must provide an ownership certificate directly from the GS1.

Other stores that have been reported to require a GS1 Certificate as well as an owned company prefix in recent years include: Macy's, Bloomingdales, Lowes, Walgreens, Target, however we also have many customers who have used our numbers in those stores over the years. It's a bit hit or miss these days as the GS1 and the Global Data Synchronization Network (GDSN) effort becomes more widely used.

Remember, if you get a sizeable contract at a big box retailer, you will likely have to pay the price to go through the GS1 and at that point you can justify the cost depending on the price of the contract. For everyone else, EZ UPC is a cost-effective and hassle-free alternative or a great stepping stone while you are scaling your small business.

We are not responsible for retailers that refuse to accept numbers from a legal reseller or require a GS1 certificate and prefix.

Who is George Laurer and Why Does it Matter?
George invented the UPC (Uniform Product Code) in 1973 under contract with IBM. He used to maintain a website with all the information about the origin of the UPC, the UCC and the GS1, and also shared details and info about the class action lawsuits against the Uniform Code Council (now the GS1) for monopolizing, as well as lists other legal resellers such as us. We were one of the first resellers he verified and listed on his website. His site used to explain about the mechanics of bar codes and the numbering system, and shared great advice on how to determine if people like us are legal and legitimate and it had a blacklist of websites he had found to be fraudulent or suspicious.

Unfortunately several resellers who made plenty of money off of unsuspecting and trusting customers threatened him with legal action in late 2016 and at 91 years old, he threw in the towel and removed the information on his site that had been there for 15 years. The sad thing is he was only trying to help by giving information so people wouldn’t be victims of fraud.

George passed away in December 2019 at the age of 94. AP News: George Laurer, inventor of ubiquitous UPC, dies at 94

His website can be viewed in the internet Wayback Machine. You have to view prior to 2016 to see the content prior to his removing of the recommended companies (like ours) and those on his Black List, which he removed when he was legally threatened in 2016.

Here is our site on his recommended list in July 2007:

How Fast Does My Order Come?

Your order will be filled immediatley—depending on your quantity it will be instant or if ordering a large quantity such as 1000, it may take up to 15 minutes. All orders are sent via email in the form of a Download link to a Zip File that contains your complete order. You may have to check your spam folder.

What is a GTIN? A UPC? An EAN?

Excerpted from Wikipedia:
"Global Trade Item Number (GTIN) is an identifier for trade items developed by GS1 (comprising the former EAN International and Uniform Code Council)[citation needed]. Such identifiers are used to look up product information in a database (often by inputting the number through a bar code scanner pointed at an actual product) which may belong to a retailer, manufacturer, collector, researcher, or other entity. The uniqueness and universality of the identifier is useful in establishing which product in one database corresponds to which product in another database, especially across organizational boundaries.

GTIN is an "umbrella" term used to describe the entire family of GS1 data structures for trade items (products and services) identification. GTINs may be 8, 12, 13 or 14 digits long, and can be constructed using any of four numbering structures, depending upon the exact application. GTIN-8s will be encoded in an EAN-8 bar code. GTIN-12s may be shown in UPC-A, ITF-14, or GS1-128 bar codes. GTIN-13s may be encoded in EAN-13, ITF-14 or GS1-128 bar codes, and GTIN-14s may be encoded in ITF-14 or GS1-128 bar codes. The choice of bar code will depend on the application; for example, items to be sold at a retail should be marked with EAN-8, EAN-13, UPC-A or UPC-E bar codes."

UPC stands for for Universal Product Code and references a unique 11-digit GTIN assigned to an individual product. The UPC was invented in 1973 by George Laurer under contract by IBM as a solution for the grocery store industry to track and control inventory and distribution. An actual number in barcode format ends up with 12 digits because the 12th digit is called the “check digit” and is calculated based on the 11 assigned numbers as a redundancy check in case of data entry error. The check digit validates the reliability of the UPC by adding together the 11 numbers and reducing them to a single value. A GTIN-12 and a UPC-12 are the same thing and it will take many, many years for the world marketplace to accept the use of the new term "GTIN-12" in place of "UPC". The UPC will probably never go away, only the name will eventually be commonly known as "GTIN-12". Just as musicians still refer to their recordings as "records" instead of "CDs" even though vinyl records aren't used anymore, there will likely be a huge percentage of the world population that will always refer to a GTIN-12 as a UPC.

An EAN stands for European Article Number and is simply a 13-digit barcode version of a GTIN, also known as a GTIN-13. The extra digit that allows for country identification. The country flag merely indicates from which country the range of numbers was assigned. It does not indicate the location or ownership or origin of the product using the number. According to George Laurer, many countries are using the same symbol with their identifying country flag, but chose to call the symbol by other names. An example is JAN (Japanese Article Number), the Japanese version. The UPC symbol has truly become worldwide and all barcoding software is programmed to read UPC barcodes, however not all companies have updated their software in North America, and therefore not all North American retailers are able to read 13-digit EAN codes. Retailers were requested to implement the upgrade in 2005, however there are still some who have not done it.

Who needs and uses GTINs/UPCs and Bar codes?
When you go to sell your product at a retail outlet, that retailer will have you fill out a product information form which tells them the details of your product. Every retail outlet keeps track of their inventory—no matter how small. Unless your retailer is the vegetable stand at the farmer’s market, they probably have an inventory system that is based on bar codes in order to keep track of the products they sell, what price, and where they get the product.

 

 

 

 

A product information form is where you will put your company info, product details, and enter the 12-digit UPC (GTIN 12) that is assigned to each of your products. If you are selling t-shirts, a blue large t-shirt needs to have a separate UPC from a pink large t-shirt. If you are selling jam, strawberry 16 oz. needs to have a separate UPC from 4 oz. strawberry. Based on the information you fill out on your form, and the corresponding bar code you put on your product(s), when the retailer scans your product bar code at the register it will call up the information in their system that was provided on your form and therefore gives you credit for the sale. So to simplify things, a bar code is just the numeric/graphical code that keeps track of your product. It’s an inventory tracking tool.

What is the difference between a UPC, EAN, GTIN and a Barcode?

A UPC (GTIN-12)/EAN is the number assigned to a product sold in a retail store as explained above. A bar code is simply a graphical translation of a UPC (GTIN-12)/EAN number into bars and spaces of varying widths. A bar code is designed to be scanned by an optical reader that interprets the bar and space widths and translates that into the number represented by the bars because reading straight lines is easier than numerical digits.

You can have a UPC (GTIN-12)/EAN but not have a bar code. You cannot have a bar code that is not based on a UPC (GTIN-12)/EAN. You need a bar code in order to have your UPC (GTIN-12)/EAN be scannable by bar code readers in retail stores. You do not need a scannable bar code for online sales—your UPC (GTIN-12)/EAN is sufficient.

The bar code generated by a GTIN-13 (EAN) is exactly the same as its GTIN-12 (UPC) counterpart. The only difference is in the numbers along the bottom of the bars and spaces. There is NO difference in the actual bar code of a UPC and an EAN and bar code scanners do not know the difference between a GTIN-13/EAN and a GTIN-12/UPC. If you have a UPC you do not need an EAN. If you live outside the US you may use an EAN or a UPC. Ask your retailer if they want a 12-digit or 13-digit bar code. We can provide you with both.

 This is a sample UPC (GTIN 12).

  And this is a sample EAN (GTIN 13) of the same number.

You can see that the bars are exactly the same.

What is the GS1?

"GS1 is a leading global organisation dedicated to the design and implementation of global standards and solutions to improve the efficiency and visibility of supply and demand chains globally and across sectors. The GS1 system of standards is the most widely used supply chain standards system in the world."

"GS1's main activity is the development of the GS1 System , a series of standards designed to improve supply chain management. Much of the development is initiated by its Member Organisations (MOs). Companies wishing to use the GS1 System should apply for membership to a Member Organisation. Companies in countries where there is no MO can obtain their membership directly from GS1 Global Office. "

"The GS1 System is an integrated system of global standards that provides for accurate identification and communication of information regarding products, assets, services and locations. It is the most implemented supply chain standards system in the world."

The GS1 used to be the Uniform Grocery Product Code Council, originally established in the 1970s to help standardize product tracking for the grocery store industry. The UGPCC became the UCC in September 1974. The European Article Numbering (EAN) Association launched in Belgium 1974 to work with the UCC on global numbering solutions. In June 2003 the EAN became the GS1. You can read the entire evolution timeline on the GS1 site here: http://www.gs1.org/about/media_centre/

Why Isn't EZUPC BBB Accredited?

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is a membership-based organization, kind of like an original Yelp for reviews. They allow anyone to write reviews/make complaints, but if a company wants to respond to those reviews/complaints, they have to join the BBB membership and pay fees.

As such, historically, BBB ratings are largely used by people who have lots of negative ratings so they can try to justify and explain those to their customers.

Thus, the reason why we aren't BBB Accredited is because we don't need to be—we don't have any complaints against us, and thus, why would we pay money to participate in their membership?

Do I need more than one UPC?
You need a UPC and associated bar code for every product variety you are selling. Your UPC (GTIN-12) by itself does not store the information, but when you fill out your product info forms for your products and associate them with your number, you are, in effect, telling retailers the info about your product.

 

 

 

 

Let’s use Jam as an example. Let’s say you create jam in 3 flavors and two sizes: Guava, Strawberry and Strawberry-Guava. You also offer it in two sizes: 8 oz and 16 oz. Therefore you need a UPC for each variety and each size, thus you need 6 separate UPC (GTIN-12)s for your Jam products.

Does every product need a UPC and bar code?
If you are going to sell your product in retail stores that use an inventory system and a bar code price scanning system, then yes, your products need bar codes. If you are selling your product at the local swap meet and there are no price scanners around, then no, you don’t need a UPC bar code. If you are selling your own products in your own store and don't have scanning equipment, then you don't need bar codes, but you still will want to have unique numbers to identify your products. You don't have to have UPC (GTIN-12) numbers for internal use.
Do UPC Barcodes work outside the United States?
Yes, the barcode will work anywhere that either UPC or EAN barcodes are scanned throughout the world. This includes North America (Canada & US), Central America, South America, Europe, the South Pacific including New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia, Asia, India and the Middle East—anywhere in the world that scans bar codes on products. However, not all EAN codes can be read by all retailers in North America.
Is a UPC or EAN the same as an ISBN?
Not entirely. The International Standard Book Number (ISBN) is a 13-digit GTIN that uniquely identifies books and book-like products published internationally because of the prefix used (978-979). UPCs are for retail products other than books and magazines. You can obtain an ISBN number at ISBN.org. However they will attempt to charge you an additional $25 for your actual bar code at the time of your purchase through their partner company Bowker Barcodes. You do not need to pay that exhorbitant price. We can create your bar code based on your ISBN number for only $2.99 and it will be provided in more formats and better quality than Bowker Barcodes.

If you are publishing a magazine, you may need a Bipad number, not an ISBN (it depends on your distributor—a Bipad is just a UPC but under a certain prefix and it is antiquated but some still use it). If necessary, obtain your Bipad number from bipad.com and then pay us to create your actual bar code for only $2.99. They refer you to a company called Pips that will lead you on a wild goose chase of technical garb that actually doesn’t say or mean anything in an attempt to confuse you into thinking they are more legitimate than other companies.

What kind of data is stored in my barcode?
Technically none. The lines and spaces are simply a glyph that translates your number into lines that can be read by an optical reader. The data about your product, such as price and product size and name, is up to you to provide your retailers when you fill out your product information form. If you are not consistent with your information that you provide, it is possible that Retailer A will show your product as one thing, and Retailer B will show it as another. Therefore it’s important that you make sure you are consistent with your product information that you are associating with your GTINs/UPCs. In 2006 the GS1 launched a new bar code that actually will store data called the GS1 Databar. It is only up the manufacturer/product packager if you choose to use it or not. It will not change how your product is scanned in the retail marketplace.
Can I make my own barcodes?
Yes. You can make your own barcode graphics files from the numbers you buy, but you may not make up your own numbers. There are software programs you can buy if you have a lot of barcodes to make. It will be more cost-effective for you to do it that way, providing you know how to use the software. There are also websites claiming to offer free barcode generating, however the quality of the graphic file provided is often not sufficient to meet GS1 optical reader specs.

If you use our low-priced barcode service you will be getting a guaranteed barcode in multiple professional file formats that will definitely work on your product labeling when printed within GS1 specs (no less than 80% size, no more than 200%, and dark lines on light background, printed at 600 dpi or more). Another thing to watch out for is barcode fonts. While you can obtain the Code 39A font to translate numbers into barcode lines and spaces, you need to make sure you understand the output requirements in terms of size and resolution so you barcodes are scannable. You also need to make sure you have calculated your check digit correctly.

Also beware of costly barcode services such as Bowker Barcodes, as referred on the ISBN.org website. They charge $25 for the exact same service that we charge $2.99 at our sister site My Barcode Graphics and we actually give you more file formats and better quality. If you need a lot of barcodes (more than 20) we offer bulk pricing.

What if my UPC is the same as someone else’s?
Whether you purchase your UPC (GTIN-12) from the GS1 or us, your number will never be duplicated. We are assigned a group of numbers within our manufacturer’s prefixes that we rightfully own and any numbers within that group will never be duplicated by us. When we assign you numbers we provide you with a Certificate of Ownership, Authenticity and Uniqueness, stating that your number(s) are unique and will never be assigned or used for another product. If you ever come across another product with the same UPC as the one issued to you by EZ UPC, contact us immediately.
Does my UPC have an expiration date?
No. Just like our manufacturer’s prefixes that were assigned by the Uniform Code Council (now the GS1), your UPC will not expire, as it is a subset of one of our prefixes and those prefixes were assigned to us as a company asset in perpetuity (forever). Your purchase agreement and certificate of authenticity confirm this also.
What if my UPC doesn’t work or a retailer won’t accept it?
Some Walmart stores or regions, and some Kroger Family Grocery stores (such as superstore Fred Meyer) might not accept your subset numbers(s) if they are not purchased through the GS1–they require your own GS1 certificate. We also have reports of people successfully submitting their numbers and providing their certificate from us to these stores and not being asked for a GS1 Certificate.

What we have found is that if you are working with Walmart and Kroger stores at a local level, they don't get involved in the GS1 politics. It's only when you get a national distribution contract that requires you to work with their Corporate Headquarters or on a National level and submit your product data to a certified Data Pool, that they are strict about enforcing the political rule that you must provide an ownership certificate directly from the GS1.

Other stores that have been reported to require a GS1 Certificate as well as an owned company prefix in recent years include: Macy's, Bloomingdales, Lowes, Walgreens, Target, however we also have many customers who have used our numbers in those stores over the years. It's a bit hit or miss these days as the GS1 and the Global Data Synchronization Network (GDSN) effort becomes more widely used.

Remember, if you get a sizeable contract at a big box retailer, you will likely have to pay the price to go through the GS1 and at that point you can justify the cost depending on the price of the contract. For everyone else, EZ UPC is a cost-effective and hassle-free alternative or a great stepping stone while you are scaling your small business.

We are not responsible for retailers that refuse to accept numbers from a legal reseller or require a GS1 certificate and prefix.

Am I required to have UPCs for my products?
Technically no, however in today’s world most all retailers use UPC bar codes as an inventory/pricing control. It really is up to your retailer. If you are selling your products yourself at the swap meet or farmer’s market, then you don’t need UPCs.
How do I register my UPC?
The GS1 does not register or issue GTINs/UPCs. They issue Global Location Numbers (GLNs) under a manufacturer’s prefix with sets of assigned numbers. When you purchase GTINs/UPCs from EZ UPC, you are purchasing unique numbers under one of our manufacturer’s prefixes that we legally own and can assign to you because we obtained it prior to the lawsuits and changes against the GS1 in 2002.

They have recently added "Trade Item Info" to their database but we, the manufacturers are responsible for providing that information to them and we are not required to. Certified Data Pools have to publish the trade item data to the GDSN in order for Trade Item Info to appear in the GEPIR. If you look up a UPC from a common food product in your refrigerator you'll see the company but probably no info about the product because nobody wants to take the extra time to enter all that info for the GS1's benefit. This should never have an impact on the functionality of your UPC (GTIN 12) in the marketplace. If you get a UPC (GTIN 12) for a music CD, we recommend you register your CD with Nielsen’s Soundscan.com, the database that tracks and reports music sales in North America.

Who is George Laurer and Why Does it Matter?
George invented the UPC (Uniform Product Code) in 1973 under contract with IBM. He used to maintain a website with all the information about the origin of the UPC, the UCC and the GS1, and also shared details and info about the class action lawsuits against the Uniform Code Council (now the GS1) for monopolizing, as well as lists other legal resellers such as us. We were one of the first resellers he verified and listed on his website. His site used to explain about the mechanics of bar codes and the numbering system, and shared great advice on how to determine if people like us are legal and legitimate and it had a blacklist of websites he had found to be fraudulent or suspicious.

Unfortunately several resellers who made plenty of money off of unsuspecting and trusting customers threatened him with legal action in late 2016 and at 91 years old, he threw in the towel and removed the information on his site that had been there for 15 years. The sad thing is he was only trying to help by giving information so people wouldn’t be victims of fraud.

George passed away in December 2019 at the age of 94. AP News: George Laurer, inventor of ubiquitous UPC, dies at 94

His website can be viewed in the internet Wayback Machine. You have to view prior to 2016 to see the content prior to his removing of the recommended companies (like ours) and those on his Black List, which he removed when he was legally threatened in 2016.

Here is our site on his recommended list in July 2007:

What is the GS1?

"GS1 is a leading global organisation dedicated to the design and implementation of global standards and solutions to improve the efficiency and visibility of supply and demand chains globally and across sectors. The GS1 system of standards is the most widely used supply chain standards system in the world."

"GS1's main activity is the development of the GS1 System , a series of standards designed to improve supply chain management. Much of the development is initiated by its Member Organisations (MOs). Companies wishing to use the GS1 System should apply for membership to a Member Organisation. Companies in countries where there is no MO can obtain their membership directly from GS1 Global Office. "

"The GS1 System is an integrated system of global standards that provides for accurate identification and communication of information regarding products, assets, services and locations. It is the most implemented supply chain standards system in the world."

The GS1 used to be the Uniform Grocery Product Code Council, originally established in the 1970s to help standardize product tracking for the grocery store industry. The UGPCC became the UCC in September 1974. The European Article Numbering (EAN) Association launched in Belgium 1974 to work with the UCC on global numbering solutions. In June 2003 the EAN became the GS1. You can read the entire evolution timeline on the GS1 site here: http://www.gs1.org/about/media_centre/

Who is George Laurer and Why Does it Matter?
George invented the UPC (Uniform Product Code) in 1973 under contract with IBM. He used to maintain a website with all the information about the origin of the UPC, the UCC and the GS1, and also shared details and info about the class action lawsuits against the Uniform Code Council (now the GS1) for monopolizing, as well as lists other legal resellers such as us. We were one of the first resellers he verified and listed on his website. His site used to explain about the mechanics of bar codes and the numbering system, and shared great advice on how to determine if people like us are legal and legitimate and it had a blacklist of websites he had found to be fraudulent or suspicious.

Unfortunately several resellers who made plenty of money off of unsuspecting and trusting customers threatened him with legal action in late 2016 and at 91 years old, he threw in the towel and removed the information on his site that had been there for 15 years. The sad thing is he was only trying to help by giving information so people wouldn’t be victims of fraud.

George passed away in December 2019 at the age of 94. AP News: George Laurer, inventor of ubiquitous UPC, dies at 94

His website can be viewed in the internet Wayback Machine. You have to view prior to 2016 to see the content prior to his removing of the recommended companies (like ours) and those on his Black List, which he removed when he was legally threatened in 2016.

Here is our site on his recommended list in July 2007: