How do you buy barcodes for your products?
There are two ways that you can buy barcodes for your company.
1.) Buying barcodes through a distributor
GS1 is the official international barcode provider, and are the sole providers of unique and registered barcode numbers. Each country has their own division (for example, GS1 South Africa) for buyers to easily operate from.
Unfortunately, purchasing through GS1 is not just a matter of buying a barcode and then being on your way. You will need to become a member of the company, go for training, sign a lot of paperwork, submit a few essential documents, as well as pay an annual registration fee for every year that you use the barcode numbers.
However, this system will make plenty of financial sense for large companies who are buying hundreds or thousands of barcode numbers at once. Being a registered member of the GS1 also entitles you to add a company prefix to your barcode number.
For smaller businesses however, the hassle is too expensive and time consuming for the simple purpose of efficiently getting your product range into retail. But, as luck would have it, due to a court case involving GS1 in 2002, there is an alternative…
Unfortunately, purchasing through GS1 is not just a matter of buying a barcode and then being on your way. You will need to become a member of the company, go for training, sign a lot of paperwork, submit a few essential documents, as well as pay an annual registration fee for every year that you use the barcode numbers.
However, this system will make plenty of financial sense for large companies who are buying hundreds or thousands of barcode numbers at once. Being a registered member of the GS1 also entitles you to add a company prefix to your barcode number.
For smaller businesses however, the hassle is too expensive and time consuming for the simple purpose of efficiently getting your product range into retail. But, as luck would have it, due to a court case involving GS1 in 2002, there is an alternative…
2.) Buying barcodes through a reputable reseller
Barcode resellers are companies who have bought large quantities of previously owned, yet unused barcodes. Their legitimacy lies in the fact that the numbers still originate from the GS1 system.
Using resellers as your means to buy barcodes is usually a fast process. Once your payment is sent through, the company can send you your barcode numbers almost immediately. There is no paperwork, and no annual registration fees to pay – once purchased, the barcode will belong to you or your company for life.
This once-off means of purchasing is greatly beneficial to smaller companies needing to get their products onto shelves as soon as possible. It’s quick and simple, although not advisable for those buying barcode numbers in the thousands.
Using resellers as your means to buy barcodes is usually a fast process. Once your payment is sent through, the company can send you your barcode numbers almost immediately. There is no paperwork, and no annual registration fees to pay – once purchased, the barcode will belong to you or your company for life.
This once-off means of purchasing is greatly beneficial to smaller companies needing to get their products onto shelves as soon as possible. It’s quick and simple, although not advisable for those buying barcode numbers in the thousands.