How To Swap Your Non GS1 Barcode Without Persecution

Richard Morgan
March 8, 2019

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Lorna Lever joins us to dispel myths about how to swap your non GS1 barcode, the amnesty for those sellers still on legacy barcodes and how to make the change of barcode on your Amazon listing

Selling on marketplaces for global retailers, Mothercare, Early Learning and BooHoo and Dune London
Lots of experience na scars from these areas
Didn’t understand what EANs or UPCs were
Global brands just have this setup already
Lorna learnt a lot coming into GS1

The Wild West

Goes back to 2002 and a lawsuit in the US
GS1 Members could perpetually keep their barcodes without paying an annual licence
They started selling those on and these are the unauthorised source of GTINs

Duplicate GTINs

There are companies out there that are duplicating and selling on and on
These are not part of the GS1 system and could therefore become a duplicate of GS1 codes
It need to be one system only for them to work
As soon as a duplicate appears in Amazon it’s a problem for them and customers

Amazon data feed from GS1

Amazon take a data feed from GS1 and verify new lines against the data feed
They will be moving onto the back catalog as well making the unauthorised GTIN sellers a bigger problem for Sellers
eBay are also tackling this duplicates problem and having a crackdown

eBay

Difference between Amazon and eBay is that Amazon can have a GTIN as a prohibited item so can’t be resold
eBay not there yet as a newer player
But have been accelerating their programme from the end of 2017
On eBay people are still buying GTINs there creating duplicates
GS1 working with eBay to demonstrate how this is causing problems
Had 300 listings removed on eBay already

Don’t know where to buy

Not about policing or squeezing money out of small sellers
Why are people buying these?
People don’t know where to buy
Pricing is different from US to UK
Can I buy from the UK as it’s cheaper?
- People see a 13 digit number and assume that’s all you’re getting, but GS1 offer a lot more than just the digit
- When you’re starting out you might want to test things
- GS1 has 112 offices and compete against each other – so don’t talk of pricing between localities
- You can join whichever one fits you and your business best but a local office gives a more local service and language

Shady Barcodes can be Changed – Hurrah

Buying shady barcodes worries you – can you swap your non gs1 barcode?
You may not be able to change your listing or ask anyone about the barcode
Heard it’s Not easy to change a barcode once you’ve started selling
We’ve a seller here that has switched his barcode to a new GS1 legit barcode and it’s worked
GS1 website shows you how swap your non GS1 barcode safely
Lorna looking for someone with a product that people are happy to test the switchover

How to Swap your Non GS1 Barcode

Any existing stock in Amazon with an old barcode needs to come out of Amazon first to change the barcode
Clear your stock
Close the listing
Switch over the barcode on the listing
Once it’s gone through and confirmed and listed – give ti a few hours afterwards
Raise a new shipment with the new barcode and send it in

Change the FNSKU or keep it?

Does changing the barcode change the FNSKU
Suggest you use the stickerless option – the GTIN is the identifier for the product

Amnesty?

Not persecuting anyone, won’t hold anything against you
Legacy products with old barcodes are out there
There is a way forward to swap your non GS1 barcode
The Amnesty is in an experimental phase currently
Want to ensure the system is working and so needs everyone to use it to be a success
Looking to talk to people about what would work as an amnesty to help you join GS1
Feedback on why you didn’t join GS1
A lot of it is down to awareness