UPC Codes for Amazon UK

[macmacman]

Looking to sell on Amazon. But the products we distribute do not have bar codes.

I only want to test amazon with about 20 products. I have spoke to GS1 and the cost of about £200 is fine for 1000s of products but a bit steep at £10 a product in my case.

Is there another way roundit? I don't think the manufacturers are going to help me.

 

[edmondscommerce]

I have known people just make them up...

 

[Mister B]

Looking to sell on Amazon. But the products we distribute do not have bar codes.

I only want to test amazon with about 20 products. I have spoke to GS1 and the cost of about £200 is fine for 1000s of products but a bit steep at £10 a product in my case.

Is there another way roundit? I don't think the manufacturers are going to help me.

Not steep at all.

If the products are good enough to sell on Amazon, then the initial outlay will more than pay for itself through an increase in sales revenue.

As for alternatives, there are a few companies that sell numbers singularly on both Amazon and ebay. You could investigate that route.

Mister B

 

[kulture]

I have heard of people who use barcodes from cans of beans, and birthday cards. To try out on Amazon you could get away with this. In the longer term you should consider purchasing your own EAN codes or UPC codes. As it is Amazon UK you are selling I would suggest using EAN codes.

 

[AndyP]

Using fake codes "may" work for a while but it is not recommended and ultimately screws up the system. If you are a serious retailer looking for long term growth and the respect of your peers then play the game properly and ignore anyone suggesting that you do otherwise. I am a huge believer in what goes round comes round.

 

[edmondscommerce]

wasn't suggesting it at all - just mentioning that I have known people who do it

 

[kulture]

Using "fake codes" happens all the time on Amazon. It is not a satisfactory solution but sometimes it is the only one. Some manufacturers do not follow the EAN/UPC guidelnes and put one bar code on a whole range of items. Thus making it impossible to distinguish between the items by bar code. But these items are on sale on Amazon, clearly indicating that "fake" EAN codes are generated and used. Indeed Amazon themselves have started selling these items and so they must be "inventing" different codes to do so.

As you are NOT the manufacturer I would not purchase your own set of EAN codes as it could be a wasted investment. I would first contact the manufacturer and ask them if they have EAN or UPC codes for their goods. It may be that they DO have them, but have not yet gone to the expense of printing the bar codes. I would also ask them if they do NOT have EAN codes whether they have any plans of applying for them in the future.

To be honest I would not want to build my business around products where the manufacturer does not want to invest in proper EAN or UPC codes.