alternative to gs1 barcode?

[rukleit]

every year i pay GBP 140 for the use of their barcodes. Actually I only use one single barcode (as requirement for our fulfilment centre etc.) for the label of our product.

Anybody knows a cheaper alternative? If yes, what are the disadvantages compared to GS1?

Thanks for your reply in advance!

 

[kulture]

I would ask your fulfilment company why you need to have a registered EAN bar code. Why cannot you use an internally generated bar code.

 

[alwaysinamess]

Does anybody know more about this but with the opposite view, I try to list on Amazon and someone stops our listing saying it is there EAN etc.

Its basically a load of baloney, we had a company that we were removed from who said there product was unique, we ordered it and it was exactly the same as ours, I want to legally challenge these fake EAN's, can it be done, Its so out of order, its the same product from the same supplier, in fact it would go against the supplier to be selling a counterfeit version of this.

You cant win with Amazon and that's why I hate the platform so much, I bet there are many competitors who are in the same boat.

On ebay we have a paypal and ebay account manager that would just sort it straight away if it was a issue but its not a problem on that platform yet, On Amazon though we have no one who will listen to us and our point, the system is quite unfair.

 

[rukleit]

I would ask your fulfilment company why you need to have a registered EAN bar code. Why cannot you use an internally generated bar code.

Thanks. But does an unregistered EAN have any disadvantages (e.g. is it illegal)?

At some point we may want to get our product into the shelfs of retailer (which sure require a bardcode) - so I assume this couldn't be done with an unregistered barcode right?

 

[kulture]

There is nothing illegal with using an unregistered bar code. But you are right, you will need to use a registered bar code for many retailers.

 

[rukleit]

There is nothing illegal with using an unregistered bar code. But you are right, you will need to use a registered bar code for many retailers.

Ok thanks. I realize with GS1 I am eligible to print hundreds of barcodes (but actually I only need one) - maybe is there a way to just "rent" a registered barcode from somebody else? Or would this be a problem as barcodes are registered to specific companies....

 

[Josh_Farmer]

http://www.barcodestalk.com/bar-code-numbers US site is much cheaper

 

[kulture]

Yes you may rent from some "resellers". The only problem that has been reported is that some major retailers refuse to accept them.

 

[Josh_Farmer]

Yes you may rent from some "resellers". The only problem that has been reported is that some major retailers refuse to accept them.

With the site above you actually buy the barcodes not rent them.

 

[kulture]

You need to be careful who you buy from. If they issue prefixes released after August 2002 then they are not allowed to be re-sold and are in any case on an annual licence.

Prefixes released prior to this were on a perpetual licence, and did not have a restriction on re-sale. See http://bellsouthpwp.net/l/a/laurergj/UPC/index.html for more information. It is a web site created by the inventor of UPC and EAN codes.