Q&A Information about Barcodes

Are you confused about getting an EAN Barcode?

If you are like most people who are visiting our site, you have been told by a retailer that you need a EAN barcode in order to sell your product.

EAN stands for Universal Product Code., It's a 13 digit number that is associated to your product. UPC barcodes are used in the United States and Canada, EANs are used in the rest of the world. If you are selling in North America, we recommend that you get a UPC since UPCs can be read in the majority of countries worldwide.
Every product needs a EAN barcode and, we make it easy.

Let's start at the beginning.

You order a barcode or a number of barcodes from Nationwide Barcode. We send you a couple of different graphic files. We send three different files for each EAN number you order, an EPS file, a JPG and a TIF file. EPS stands for encapsulated postscript...these files can only be opened by programs such as Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, Coral Draw and other high end graphic programs. The TIF and the JPG file can be opened by everything else...word, paint, pretty much any design program that you have.

NOW WHAT?
After you order the barcode and before we send it to you, we generate the EAN barcode graphics and create a Certificate of Authenticity, which is also a transfer of ownership of the 13 digit EAN numbers.
We make sure that we never duplicate EAN barcodes. This way, when you buy a EAN, your EAN barcode number is a unique, one-of-a-kind barcode. We e-mail them to you within 24 hours...usually the same day.
We assign the EAN barcode to you. Then, you assign the EAN barcode to your product.

There is no hidden data built into a barcode, there is no pricing information, there is no product information. The bars represent only the 12-digit number.

If you order 10 barcodes or more, we provide you with an Excel spreadsheet that can be used as a barcode tracking sheet.

You need to determine which unique barcode goes with each product that you have.
You need to affix a copy of the barcode to each product. There are only two ways that you can do this. You can print up a label (or buy labels from us or someone else) or, you can include the graphic on the packaging for your product.

Once you affix the barcode to the product, you will need to communicate to the retailer what the product is and what number you have assigned to the product. There is no download of data from a database. The process is that you teach the retailer.

This is usually done by creating a sheet that describes your product. These product sheets should contain the following information:

1) Name of Product
2) Description of Product (Size, Weight, etc.)
3) Manufacturer Information
4) Selling Price
5) EAN Code

The retailer is going to enter all of this information into their Point Of Sale back-end, This is their computer system that is attached to their electronic cash register system.
Some retailers have you enter this information on line (CD Baby, Amazon, Barnes and Noble)

When a customer wants to purchase the item, they take it to the checkstand and the clerk scans the item using a barcode reader. When the item is scanned, two things happen:

1) Product Information comes up on the Point of Sale System and is printed on the invoice or receipt
2) The unit purchased is removed from inventory.

RECAP
There is no information programmed into the barcode except the number itself.
You assign the number to your product.
You teach the retailer how the barcode number is associated with your product.
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Nationwide Barcode is the best place to buy a EAN code

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How do I know that you are legitimate?


Nationwide Barcode is a joint venture between Multicom/Bader Publishing and 680 Digital.
You can go to www.laurerUPC.com - He is the inventor of the UPC/EAN barcode and he deems us one of the legitimate guys.

What is a Bar Code?
A bar code  is a unique 13-digt code that allows wholesalers and retailers to track the sales of your product. This allows them to manage inventory and to sell your products at their Point of Sales Systems (cash registers)

How does a bar code work?
When you sell your products to a wholesaler or retailer (Amazon, Target, Borders Books, Autozone, etc.), they will have you fill out a product information sheet. One of the things that you put on that sheet, is your company and product information including the 13-digit EAN code number. Then, the wholesaler or retailer enters this information in their information systems computer. This computer ties into the registers at the front of the store. The cashier scans your item and the information comes up. Every time an item is scanned and sold, it deducts the number of items sold from their inventory.

How many Bar Codes do I need?
You need as many barcodes as you have products or variations of products. If you are selling shoes, you would need one for each style, color and size. If you are selling soft drinks, you would need one for the 12 oz. can, the 12 oz. bottle, the six or twelve-packs, and the liters of each flavor. Every variation needs a unique barcode.

Will my barcode work at every store?
Yes…except Krogers and Walmart. Both of these retailers require that you provide certificates directly from GS1. We have heard that Walgreen's and Macy's also asks for the barcode certificate but will optionally input the 13 digit number of each product. It is your responsibility to ask your retailers if they will accept 12 digit EAN numbers from a company that subdivides barcodes.

Will my Bar Code work for every product?
All products in the United States use the 13 digit EAN barcode, except for books and pharmaceuticals. Books require ISBN barcodes. ISBN barcodes are only available from www.isbn.org. Magazines can use either ISBN or EAN codes.

What do all those bars on a bar code mean?
Is there data encrypted within the bar code?
No. The bar code bars represent only the 12-digit number. There is no other information contained within the bar code. All information is supplied to you to the wholesaler or retailer.
Will this bar code be a one-of-a-kind barcode only for my product?
Yes. We guarantee it and will supply you with a certificate of authenticity.

Will my bar code ever expire? Do I need to pay a renewal fee?
No, your bar code will never expire. We only charge a one-time fee. We joined the U.C.C. (GS1) prior to 2000 when they started charging renewal fees. Since we never have to pay one, neither do you.

Will my Bar Code be scannable?
Yes. We provide a high resolution graphic that you can insert into your packaging graphics.
Why should I buy from you?
All barcodes originate from GS1 (The Uniform Code Council) They sell subscriptions for $750.00 and limited use barcodes for $75.00 (plus renewal fees). We can get you GS1 compliant one-of-a-kind barcodes at a much lower cost.

Who are you guys? I've never heard of you...
Multicom Publishing is a DBA of Recovery Systems of Seattle. Nationwide barcode is a DBA of 680 Digital. The owners of both of these companies have joined forces to administer official, genuine EAN barcodes to other entrepreneurs like you.

What kind of files do you send me?
We send both TIFF (Tagged image Format Files) and EPS (Encapsulated Postscript)
The TIFF file will open in any graphics program, the EPS is a scalable vector file that is used by all graphic arts and printing companies

Should I buy from the GS1 or from Nationwide Barcode? - Read this