UPC Bar Codes are not required by TrepStar, but you can add them.


Is a bar code required?
If you sell your product from your website, there is no need for one. If you intended to sell on Amazon or in stores like Walmart or Target, they require you add one.

Where do I get my Bar Code?

NOTE: TrepStar does not receive any affiliate commission or are paid in any way for recommending these sites.

  • BuyaBarCode.com: Good for selling anywhere including Amazon, Walmart, Sam's Club and others...
    1. Higher cost (about $30 each).
    2. Recommended for Amazon sellers: As of October 2022, buyabarcode.com does claim the bar codes WILL work on Amazon.
    3. As of this writing (12/28/22) BuyaBarCode.com reports:
      1. "Will the barcodes work for Amazon and their new requirements?"
        "Yes, the barcodes we sell work for ALL aspects of Amazon. We are the ONLY barcode seller (other than GS1 and our partner TheBarcodeRegistry.com) whose barcodes will work for all aspects of Amazon - including Amazon Brand Registry. All of the other barcode sellers will have serious limitations on Amazon and you will not be able to register your Brand on Amazon if you purchase barcodes from them."
      2. Here is more information regarding bar codes on Amazon.com
      3. They state: "FACT: We are the only UPC barcode seller whose barcodes work at Walmart, Amazon, Macy's, Home Depot, and Kroger. This is because we can place you directly into the GS1 database. No other barcode seller can do this! Beware of dirt cheap sellers making untrue claims."
      4. They state: After your purchase, you will be provided instructions for assigning barcodes to your products and company.
    4. They've been around a long time and are trustworthy.
  • EzUPC.com: Can be used on Amazon in most cases but not recommended for selling on Walmart, Sam's Club and some others...
    1. Lowest cost (About $5.00 each and good discounts when you order more).
    2. Amazon Sellers: Most of the time, you'll be able to use the bar code on Amazon but you should read their guarantee which explains how and when you can use the bar codes on Amazon:
      1. "We guarantee that our numbers will work on Amazon, as long as you do not own a Registered Trademark ® and are not planning to participate in the Amazon Brand Registry (if you have an existing Brand/Storefront you can use our numbers), and that you follow our instructions included with your order on entering your products into their system when creating your listings."
      2. "Note that there are a handful of physical stores that require you to buy directly from the GS1. These include but are not limited to Walmart retail stores at the national level and some regional (and Sam’s Club), any Kroger owned grocery store including Fred Meyer, any May Company Department stores such as Macy’s, Bloomingdales and Lord & Taylor."
    3. If you don't need to sell on Amazon, then ezupc.com is recommended since it is much less costly.
    4. They've been around a long time and are trustworthy.
  • GS1US.org - You can buy bar codes directly from the US government GS1US.ORG site.
TrepStar is watching to see if Amazon changes these rules or ideally, would simply offer a low cost bar code service of their own.

How do I get the bar code on my CD or DVD artwork?
Once your order the bar code, they'll send it to you in graphical form. You also have a unique number with your bar code. You can take that graphic and add it to your disc artwork, or the cd or dvd case artwork (copy and paste using your graphics software like photoshop).

What is a Bar Code?
A bar code, also known as a UPC (Universal Product Code), is simply a unique 12-digit number that allows retailers to easily track sales of your product within their inventory system.

How Does a Bar Code work?
When you go to sell your product at a retailer (i.e. Target, Costco, or Amazon.com), that retailer will have you fill out a product information form. On that form is where you will put your company and product details as well as your 12-digit UPC bar code number. The retailer then manually enters that information into their inventory management computer. This way, when they scan your bar code at the register, it calls up that form in their system and gives you credit for the sale. In other words, the bar code is simply a link between your product and the product information form you fill out for each store that sells your product.

Will my Bar Code be scan-able?
Yes. As long as the proportions of the bar code are preserved and as long as it is printed at 300 dpi or higher, your bar code will be scan-able.

What are EAN bar codes? Do I really need one?
The EAN bar code system is used outside of the U.S. and Canada and is 13 digits long. It is based upon the 12-digit UPC system with the simple addition of a single number that signifies a country code. The great thing about having a 12-digit UPC bar code is that it will work in any country in the world. Therefore, if you have a UPC bar code you do not need an EAN bar code.

How many Bar Codes do I Need?
A bar code is simply an inventory tracking tool that retailers use in their computer systems. For example, if you sell two DVDs and a CD, you would want 3 bar codes

Will my Bar Code work for any retail product?
Yes, all retail products in the United States (except for magazines and books) require the same type of 12-digit UPC bar code.

Will my Bar Code work in a country other than the United States?
Yes, the bar code will work anywhere that either UPC or EAN bar codes are scanned - which is most of the modern world. This includes Canada, Australia, the UK, Europe, Asia, Mexico, South America, the Middle East, and anywhere else that they use bar codes.

Is there any information stored or encrypted within the bars of a UPC bar code?
No. There is no information stored or encrypted within the bars of a UPC bar code. The bars are simply a style of font (called the UPC-A font) that correlates to the 12 numbers beneath the bars.

How Does information get linked to my bar code?
When you go to sell your product at a retailer (i.e. Target, Costco, or Amazon.com), that retailer will have you fill out a product information form. On that form is where you will put your company and product details as well as your 12-digit UPC bar code number. The retailer then manually enters that information into their inventory management system. This way, when they scan your bar code at the register, it calls up that form in their system and gives you credit for the sale. In other words, the bar code is simply a link between your product and the product information form you fill out for each store that sells your product.

Will a bar code I purchase from 3rd party bar code companies be completely unique to me?
Yes. The bar code you purchase from a legitimate bar code website originates from the U.C.C. and is guaranteed to be unique. You are the only person in the world who can legally use that bar code number.

Do I ever have to pay any Renewal Fees?
No, most 3rd party bar code providers charge a one time fee.

Will my bar code ever expire?
No, your bar code will never expire. Once the bar code is issue to you, it will never be issued to anyone else again and it is yours for life.

Can I print my bar code in anything other than black on white?
It is very important that you always maintain a high degree of contrast between you bar code and its background. We always recommend black on a white background.

Why should I purchase UPC bar codes from 3rd party bar code companies instead of going directly to the U.C.C ?
All bar codes must originate from the U.C.C. However, if you purchase them directly from the U.C.C. you have to buy a minimum of 100 bar codes at a time at a minimum charge of $750 (and the price keeps rising). Plus they will additionally charge you an annual renewal fee of at least $150. If you only need a small quantity of bar codes, you can get exactly what you need from us at a much lower price. Also, since most of the 3rd party companies joined the U.C.C. before August, 2002, they don't get charged renewal fees by the U.C.C. For this reason many of those companies don't charge you renewal fees each year either.