Barcodes Acceptance
Our barcodes are in action throughout New Zealand and the world. Some examples of stores they are in are Animates, Chemist Warehouse, Farmers, Woolworths, Bunnings, New World*, Kings Plant Barn, Mitre10, Bin Inn, Farro, Huckleberry, Liquorland, Superliquor, Z Petrol and hundreds of independent stores and boutiques.
What restrictions do retailers place on barcodes?
These are common and important questions about the use of barcodes.
Broadly speaking, there are three main groups of retailers, as outlined below –
- One very small group of retailers effectively require you to be a member of GS1. GS1 is a membership organisation.
– All legal retail barcodes (including ours) originate from GS1.
– You may decide to obtain your barcodes directly from GS1, but this is ONLY a licensing arrangement, and you will typically be required to complete multi-page membership forms, pay joining fees and annual renewal fees for any barcodes you obtain from them, and then wait for the approval. & hence, GS1 barcodes are complicated, slow to obtain, and expensive. (We compete with GS1 to provide suitable retail barcodes easily, quickly & cheaply.) - Another larger group of retailers require barcode verification reports – we can supply these for you if needed – we are the only barcode reseller (that we know of) who can provide these for you.
- The majority of retailers worldwide will accept any legal and legitimate barcode.
Our barcodes are accepted by the vast majority of retailers worldwide. We are part of a network of about 60 barcode sellers in different countries worldwide, so we gain up-to-date information about barcode acceptance through this network.
Barcode Acceptance
The chart below shows some restrictions that we are aware of. However, with tens of thousands of retail stores in NZ and millions of retailers worldwide, we cannot know all the restrictions on barcode use. So to be completely safe, you should check with your specific retailer(s) before purchasing barcodes (unfortunately, this can take a lot of time and effort, and it is often difficult to obtain this specific information from retailers)
Barcode Restrictions Retail Category (see details below) |
Specific Retailers (see details below) | Barcodes Ltd (that’s us). |
Other Barcode Resellers |
GS1 |
The places that FORCE you to become a member of GS1 (very expensive) |
AustraliaSuper Retail Group (Amart Sports, BCF Boating Camping Fishing, Goldcross Cycles, FCO Fishing Camping Outdoors, Ray’s Outdoors, Rebel, Supercheap Auto and Super Retail Commercial) – requires their suppliers to prove that they are a current member of GS1. Hence, they will effectively only accept barcode numbers that have come directly from GS1. USAWal-Mart/Sam’s Club, Kroger/Fred Meyers, Macy’s/Bloomingdales, & J.C. Penney’s in the USA apparently require you to be a current member of GS1. Check with these stores directly if you intend to sell to them. NZFoodstuffs NZ Super Retail Group, which runs the Supercheap Auto stores in NZ, requires their suppliers to prove that they are a current member of GS1. Hence, they will effectively only accept barcode numbers that have come directly from GS1. NOTE that Super Retail Group also owns Rebel Sports in NZ. ChinaSome distributors mistakenly believe that the barcode shows the product’s country of origin. Hence, they prefer or require barcodes that come directly from GS1. |
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Our barcodes work but they prefer GS1 |
AmazonOur barcodes work on Amazon. Many of our client’s products are listed on Amazon. Amazon is increasingly pro-GS1. Amazon is on the board of GS1. Our clients list unbranded. If you wish to list on Amazon as a brand, you must supply your trademark and get your barcodes from GS1. |
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Our Barcodes Work Here These companies have accepted our barcodes – but often require Barcode Verification Reports &/or GLN numbers (PLEASE COME TO US FOR VERIFICATION) |
UKASDA – All ITF-14 Barcodes must pass ISO/IEC Barcode Verification Reports. Any printed stickers must achieve a minimum ‘C’ grade. Ireland
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No specific barcode restrictions | Most retailers in the world. |
If you have any questions about this, please contact us.
NOTE – we endeavour to make this as accurate as possible – however, tens of thousands of retailers in NZ and Australia and millions worldwide can each impose any restriction they wish. Please let us know if you are aware of any other restrictions.
NOTE – this is the most comprehensive list of restrictions we know of on the internet (please tell us if you find a more accurate one). Other resellers give no warnings or are vague – so don’t trust them. We put a lot of time and effort into making this as accurate as possible – we doubt that you will find a more accurate list of restrictions on the internet (let us know if you do).