Every product that is sold in the world needs a unique barcode, also known as a Global Trade Item Number (GTIN). When you’re selling through Amazon FBA (fulfillment by Amazon) there is a confusing set of requirements for how you need to barcode your products. Some products require that you print off a barcode and apply it, while other products don’t need additional labeling at all.
We’ve received numerous questions over the years from our readers, and would like to share the answers to the most common questions.
Where should you buy a UPC code for Amazon? If you’re launching a brand new product that is not currently on Amazon, then you’ll need to buy a barcode. The only place you should buy a barcode from is GS1, which is the worldwide organization for managing barcodes.
You’ll also hear some other names like UPC, GTIN, EAN – these are all the same thing as far as you’re concerned. Don’t cheap out and buy second-hand barcodes – only buy from GS1.
Since GS1 numbers are global, you can buy them from any country. One thing we’ve noticed is that UK GS1 barcodes are cheaper than US GS1 barcodes for some reason. Make sure you shop around the GS1 sites for various countries and find the best deal.
When you generate the barcode number for your new product you will have to enter a lot of product details. There is a very good guided process on the GS1 site when you’re making the barcode, but please make sure that all of the details you entered are correct. Amazon will cross-reference the detail with GS1 when you try to add a product to the Amazon catalog.
What is a FNSKU barcode? The FNSKU is Amazon’s “fulfillment network SKU” – this is usually the barcode that you have to print off and apply to your FBA products. Amazon will confirm whether you need to use the FNSKU when you’re creating an FBA shipment to send into Amazon’s warehouse
How do you know if you need to label your product with a barcode? When you try to create a shipment to send into Amazon FBA they will tell you whether you need to apply a barcode. If you do need to apply a barcode, then you will have the option to download the required barcode from Amazon. You can then print this and apply it.
The barcode you download from Amazon will not be the same as the GS1 barcode. Amazon has their own barcode system called FNSKU (fulfillment network SKU) that they use. It allows them to track not only the product, but also who is selling the product if there are multiple sellers.
If you do not need to label your product with a barcode from Amazon, then it means that the FBA system will just track the product using the GS1 barcode that’s already on the product (e.g. a lego box set will already have a scannable barcode on it).
Should you put a barcode on the outside or inside of a clear polybag (plastic bag)? The best practice is to put them on the outside if you’re applying a label yourself. If your product doesn’t require labeling, then just make sure that the existing barcode on the product is visible if you are putting it inside a clear polybag.
When Amazon labels your product, what does the barcode show? Amazon’s barcode service will put the FNSKU (Fulfillment Network SKU) on your product.
What is the minimum size requirement for Amazon barcode on packaging? Usually 1” x 3” will be sufficient. However, Amazon constantly updates their guidelines so it’s best to check the details in your Amazon Marketplace. If you’re not sure, then see what size the barcode downloads as when you try to print them off from Amazon and just stick with that size.
Do you need to cover a barcode on the product box if you’re applying a separate label for Amazon FBA? Yes you should. Otherwise, the wrong barcode might get scanned and it may strand your inventory. This goes for any shipping boxes as well.
Should you put both the UPC (GS1 barcode) and FNSKU on your product? Just put the FNSKU on. If you put both, it could confuse Amazon. The UPC (GS1 barcode) is required to make a new listing. The FNSKU is what Amazon actually uses to scan and track inventory in their warehouse unless the product is commingled.
Why do some products not need to be labeled with a barcode? The reason is that the product can be “commingled”. That means for a particular unit of that product, Amazon is not keeping track of who it came from. For example, if there are ten different sellers for a particular Lego set, Amazon doesn’t really care who sent in the specific Lego set that they are shipping out since they are all the exact same.
In these cases, Amazon will just scan the UPC (GS1 barcode) that should already be on the product packaging.
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