EAN Barcode rules....help..!!

Columbo · 2 Mar 2010 at 14:53

Any barcode experts in here...

We are at a specific phase of a software implementation and a bombshell has just been dropped and I wouldn't mind some advice...

It is that our purchasing dept are ordering SKU's that have a different item number but have the same barcode attached to them, is that right?

eg.
Part Number PPEU46NATL has the same EAN barcode attached as
Part Number PNEU46NATL.

Now I know that there is only one letter different between the 2 but in software terms they are seperate items.

Ive tried a search but cant find anything specific, is there any help that the OcUK squad could offer?

PlumpMonkey · 2 Mar 2010 at 15:18

Are the two separate part numbers two separate retail products?

EAN barcodes are generally used for European retail products, and each product should have its own unique barcode.

Columbo · 2 Mar 2010 at 15:22

PlumpMonkey said:
Are the two separate part numbers two separate retail products?

EAN barcodes are generally used for European retail products, and each product should have its own unique barcode.

They are essentially the same product but the outer packaging is different.

Werewolf · 2 Mar 2010 at 15:38

IIRC any changes in packaging should result in a different EAN generally, to prevent stock keeping problems, and other associated errors that might crop up (as companies do use the EAN to allow them to easily work out how much of the item can be transported at a time, and things like shipping charges).
Certainly if they are different catalogue/value versions of the item the EAN should normally reflect that.

Certainly as I understand it if you buy a pack of Tea bags and the packaging has changed/there is a promo (50% extra free etc), the EAN usually changes as well.

PlumpMonkey · 2 Mar 2010 at 15:44

That is my understanding too

Dave M · 2 Mar 2010 at 15:47

Part of the code will denote the country, part will denote the manufacturer, then a random bit and a check digit.

If the manufacturer has duplicated some codes there's not a great deal you can do. If your big enough you can get the manufacturer to change it, if not you can re-label yourself or design around the problem for these odd exceptions.

Zalman would change codes for no observable reason and sometimes re-use EANs for old lines, that could be confusing if you still had that old line on hand

antijoke · 2 Mar 2010 at 15:50

Hahahaha, who remembers this little beauty?

Werewolf · 2 Mar 2010 at 16:36

I actually wanted one of those when I was younger.
IIRC the SNES beat the Megadrive on it when one of the magazines tried it