Cracking UPCs for Amazon
Why you need barcodes to sell on Amazon
Universal Product Codes, or UPCs, tends to be a confusing topic for Amazon sellers. And with good reason. There are many layers to product identification codes, but here are the basics you need to know.
Each of your products need to be identifiable to be sold on Amazon. Amazon requires UPCs just like most stores that are selling your products. Amazon requires a unique identifying number for products on their platform. When setting up a listing, you are adding a product to the Amazon catalog. Amazon requires that you enter either a GTIN or EAN or a UPC. In our experience, Amazon prefers UPCs when setting up a new product.
When you purchase a UPC, it will include the GTIN versions. GTIN stands for Global Trade Identification Number and is the broad term for all product code numbers. A barcode is an image version of the code. Scanners use the barcode to access information about it, such as color, size, and your company name. Barcodes are the same as UPC codes, but not all barcodes are UPCs. You can have a GTIN barcode, for example.
Why do I need a UPC when amazon assigns each product their own ASIN?
The different numbers, including SKUs, UPCs, ASINs are all product tracking numbers, but they have different uses. ASINs are Amazon’s internal tracking numbers automatically assigned to products added to the catalog. UPCs can be used everywhere, and are also used in Amazon. SKUs are a company’s internal number, but also used in Amazon for tracking. Using several identifying numbers is also a backup system in case workers can’t get one number, they have other identifiers.
Each individual product must have one. This means if you have variations, like sizes, each variation must have its own UPC. UPCs also help protect your brand and products from fraud by carrying your company data, which is also, in the GS1 database. Amazon now requires UPCs that are in the GS1 database. That means you must purchase them through GS1. GS1 barcodes are now required. Amazon checks the GS1 database for your product information.
The website for GS1 is gs1us.org
Helpful tips:
There is a lag time for amazon validation of the UPCs. When you buy your barcodes, you will be setting them up by adding product and company information to them, which can take quite a bit of time if you have a lot of products. It also takes a few days for the data connected to the barcodes to be completely available. Amazon won’t let you set up your listings until they have verified your UPC codes with GS1.
The codes must be in your name or your company’s name when you set up your Amazon listings. As a brand owner when you purchase the codes, you must enter your company information, which gets attached to the code and associated product.
Cost:
Currently, 10 GS1 barcodes are $250, the next tier jumps to 100 for $750. The next tier is 1,000 for $2,500. The prices are enough to stop some small businesses in their tracks and it’s a cost entrepreneurs should be aware of. The more you buy, the more you save, but it can be a barrier to entry for many businesses. There is also, an annual renewal fee of at least $50 depending on your pricing tier. If you only have a few products, you can get buy at first by purchasing GTINs instead of UPC codes. This can get you started, but you’ll have to get UPC codes later anyway. We recommend just adding the cost of UPC codes to your startup costs.
If you have any more questions, or if you would like to work with us, contact us at hello@thorandcompany.com