Barcodes FAQ

Are your barcodes legal for use in Ireland ?
Yes. As our barcodes were originally issued by UCC - the Uniform Code Council (now renamed GS1-US), they are legal for use in Ireland, Europe, New Zealand & anywhere in the world.

Can you guarantee that all retailers will accept your barcodes?
No. No barcode supplier or issuing organisation can guarantee that every retailer in the world will accept their barcodes. Retailers have the right to refuse specific barcodes (or products) for a variety of reasons, or to make specific requirements for the labelling & packaging of good they stock - hence it is impossible for any organisation to guarantee universal acceptance.

It is your obligation to find out the specific barcode & packaging requirements of your particular retailers before purchasing any barcodes from us. We advise you not print your packaging until your retailers have expressed full acceptance of your barcodes & packaging.
For further information about restrictions regarding the barcodes you purchase from us, read here.
 
How do I purchase a barcode from you? 
Please take a look at our ordering process flowchart. If you need help deciding what to order, you may want to read our ordering help page too.

To order, simply click the "Order Now" button on the home page, then complete the required information and press "Submit." You then pay for your purchases via Visa or Master Card.  Upon successful credit card verification you will receive an email confirming your barcode purchase.

When we receive your order, we assign your EAN-13 barcode number(s) from our database. If all you want is the number, this is emailed to you.  If you require a graphic image of your barcodes, our Graphic Design department convert your numbers into barcode images and email them to you.

The turn-around time is often only a few hours. On some occasions it may take our team one to three business days. (If you have specific completion time requirements, please call or email to check on the current schedule.)
 
What should I do after I receive my barcode number?
Once you receive your unique barcode number, you can begin using it on your product. When you supply your products to your retailer, you usually need to provide them with the barcode number & product information (name, description, price, reordering info) etc. They will input this information into the inventory on their computer system.
 
What if I have more than one product, or some variations of my product? 
A unique EAN number is required for each different product in order for your retailer to properly identify your products in their inventory system.
 
Do I have to be a registered company to purchase a barcode number from you?
Definitely not, you do not need to be registered as a company. Any individual, business, or organisation can purchase & use our barcode numbers.

My business is located outside of Ireland. Can I still purchase a barcode number from you?  
Yes, you can purchase your EAN-13 barcodes from us. EAN-13 codes are used throughout the world.

Why should I purchase a barcode number from you?
If your business only has a relatively small number of products or only needs new barcode numbers occasionally, then we are the best option (in our opinion) for purchasing barcode numbers and MUCH CHEAPER than alternatives.

Our Main Advantages are:
1.      Low initial cost - you can start with 1 barcode number from €30
2.      No ongoing annual fees. Our EAN barcode numbers are sold for a single, straight-forward, one-off fee. This an be a significant cost saving.
3.      We provide the barcode graphic - many other barcode providers don't provide you with a graphic barcode image, or charge ridiculous prices for it.
4.      No membership requirements, or complicated forms to complete, or restrictions on how you use your barcode numbers. Once you have purchased your numbers, they are yours to use as you choose.
5.      We are quick! – we are usually able to complete your order within hours, not days. (Please let us know if you require your number urgently)

Will the barcode number I receive be unique?
YES. We guarantee that the barcode number you receive is unique and has not been issued by us to anyone else anywhere in the world. We can also provide a Guarantee Certificate by email (or post for a small fee). The Guarantee Certificate covers all the numbers you purchase at that time.

Our Guarantee Certificate guarantees that we won't issue your barcode number(s) to anyone else. (We guarantee this for all our numbers, whether or not you have a Guarantee Certificate). This is backed by a written Guarantee we have from the US company we purchase our bulk barcode numbers from, in which they guarantee that they won't issue our numbers (the numbers they have issued to us) to anyone else. In addition, the US company we purchase our barcode numbers from is recommended by George J. Laurer (inventor of UPC codes)

There is sometimes a fear of the duplication of barcode numbers - this is one reason barcode numbering systems are guarded carefully. No retailer wants two quite different products on their shelf with the same barcode number. Barcode number duplication can occur occasionally through things like
- manufacturers allocating the same number to two different products
- businesses making up their own barcode number
- buying a number from a company that generates numbers randomly.

Barcode number duplication can also occur through companies like ours selling the same number to more than one purchaser. We are aware of this potential danger, and have accurate systems in place to avoid duplication of numbers – we guarantee that we will not sell the same number to more than one client. (This is also a reason why we cannot offer refunds for any barcode numbers purchased – we cannot resell any numbers ‘returned’ to us because of the danger of duplication).

We purchase our barcode numbers from a reputable source in the US, which is recommended by George J. Laurer, who guarantee that they have not sold our numbers to anyone else. They have sold thousands of barcode numbers, with no numbers being sold twice and have thousands of satisfied customers. (It isn’t difficult to ensure that a business like ours doesn’t sell duplicate numbers).

Will my barcode ever expire?
No. Once we have assigned a barcode number to you, you have the right to use it for life (and with no ongoing annual charges).

Will I ever have to pay Renewal Fees?
Absolutely not. All of our charges are one-off payments. We will never ask you for any renewal or licence fees. These barcode numbers come from a company which joined the UCC (now GS1-US) in the 1990’s, before they started requiring annual renewal fees (August 2002) - therefore we do not need to pay any renewal fees for these numbers. This saving is passed on to you - we do not & will not ever charge you any renewal fees.

What are acceptable dimensions for EAN-13 barcode printing?
The nominal size of an EAN-13 image is 37.3mm wide x 25.9mm high. The minimum recommended size is 80% of the nominal size (ie 30mm wide). The maximum recommended size is 200% of the nominal size (ie 74.6mm wide). Width is more important than height, as the width influences the distance between the bars and how well the scanner can distinguish between them. We recommend test scanning any EAN image prototype produced by your manufacturing facility before going into mass production.

Will the barcode I buy be registered in a Central Database?
No. Individual barcode numbers are often not registered in a Central Database. There is no centralised international database of individual barcode numbers and products. It is up to the owner of the barcode number to ensure it is not used in duplicate situations, and to keep track of how the number is used.

When you receive your barcode number from Barcodes Limited, you control that specific number. If you discontinue one product, you may re-use that barcode number on another product - BUT you must pass on this information to the retailer, and ensure that both products are not being supplied at the same time. (It is wise to allow some time between the end of one product’s life, and the reuse of that number on another product). Hence, you become the registrar of that unique barcode number and are responsible to ensure it is used properly.

How Can You Sell Me a Single Number?
In the 1990’s, some manufacturers in the USA were given unique manufacturer ID numbers, these numbers were assigned to their companies & became their property.

At the start of the 2000’s, GS1-US (previously known as UCC) started requiring that all the manufacturer ID numbers they issued remain the property of GS1-US. They required the user to start paying annual fees to keep being allowed to use their numbers.

Several US manufacturers took UCC (GS1-US) to Court because of the new annual fees requirement. They succeeded, and received settlement of almost $4 million USD. As a result of the settlement, any company which had paid a membership fee to UCC prior to August 28, 2002, was entitled to free perpetual membership of UCC and continued use of their company prefix.

A few of these companies had unused barcode numbers, and sold these to other companies. We were able to purchase a large quantity of these unused numbers from a reputable company.

This is why we can now offer you a single barcode number, or a larger quantity of unique numbers from us for one simple one-off price (we don't charge annual or renewal fees).

Who invented barcodes?
George Joseph Laurer (born September 23, 1925 in New York) developed the Universal Product Code (UPC) in 1973. As an engineer at IBM, he was asked to develop the pattern used for the Universal Product Code. Have a look at his website http://www.laurerupc.com  He freely shares his knowledge and expertise about the symbol he created and clarifies many of its surrounding issues. He also expresses his frustration with the exorbitant fees charged by GS1-US, and recommends reputable companies like ours which can provide small quantities of UPC (barcode) numbers at an affordable price.   (Our barcode numbers come from a source recommended by George J Laurer).

Why was Barcodes Limited formed?
We were involved with another business, which developed a small number of successful retail products for Australia and NZ. As these products became more successful, we found that some stores required a barcode number on the products. Our initial investigations led to only one major source for barcode numbers, and horror when we saw the cost of obtaining the few barcodes we required. No-one else in NZ seemed able to provide us with a barcode. This got us asking questions - we thought there should be a way to purchase one (or a few) barcode numbers without paying large joining fees or annual fees for membership.

After lots more research, investigation & ingenuity, we obtained our barcode. Then we got calls from other companies asking how they could obtain a barcode number. So, not wanting others to waste their time and money unnecessarily, we decided to help other people obtain barcode numbers and graphics easily à hence Barcodes Limited was formed.

Do I have to print my barcode in black on white?
No. Black bars on a white background is the normal colouring for barcodes, and provides good contrast for scanning. However, you can print your barcode in other colours. You must ensure that there is excellent distinction between the bars of your barcode & the spaces between them. If you plan to print your barcode in other colours, get expert help and also undertake rigorous test scanning.

Can I see some sample graphics?
You can see sample images here.  If you have trouble with these, just send us an email & we can email you samples of barcodes in various graphic formats - so you can see which format you prefer.

What numbers are required for books and magazines?
ISBN (International Standard Book Numbers) and ISSN (International Standard Serial Number) are unique numbers that are assigned to published books, magazines, serials & other similar products.

ISSN numbers in Ireland are available from the Irish ISSN Centre at the National Library of Ireland.  (come back to us to purchase your barcode image once you have your ISSN number)

Order Now

To order a barcode number or graphic, click here.