A barcode is a machine-readable representation of data used to identify products. It consists of alternating black and white bars that encode unique numbers. When scanned by optical scanners, barcodes retrieve product information from a database, such as price, name, and brand.

In retail, the most common barcode formats are the 13-digit EAN-13 (International Article Number) and the 12-digit UPC-A (Universal Product Code). Barcode Savers Malaysia provides both formats with every standard retail barcode package order.

The primary barcode format used in Malaysia is EAN-13, which is the international standard for retail items, excluding books and magazines (ISBN/ISSN) and pharmaceuticals (Pharmacodes). The 12-digit UPC-A format is also accepted in Malaysia and internationally, despite originally being intended for North America (United States and Canada). Since 2005, nearly all retail scanners worldwide are capable of reading both formats interchangeably.

Nearly every retailer today requires barcodes on products to manage ordering, pricing, sales, point of sale, and inventory. EAN-13 or UPC-A barcodes are standard requirements for products in most retailers’ inventories. To ensure your products can reach the widest possible market, it is strongly recommended that you acquire barcodes for them.

Each individual product you intend to sell requires its own unique EAN-13 or UPC-A barcode. Product variations, such as size and color, also need separate barcodes. For example, if you’re selling socks in different colors and sizes, each variant would need its own barcode.
We recommend purchasing enough barcodes to cover both your current products and any future additions to your range. Any unused barcodes can be assigned later, as they do not expire or have a time limit on their use.

When you supply your products to a retailer, they will link the unique barcode number to your product details, such as name, type, price, etc. This allows the product information to appear when it is scanned at checkout. Typically, you will need to complete a product information form that associates your product and company details with the unique barcode number for each item. The retailer will then enter this information into their sales and inventory systems, enabling your product to be scanned at the point of sale and tracked using their stock management software.

Barcode Savers Malaysia’s barcodes are authentic GTIN numbers, issued through the Uniform Code Council (now GS1). They are part of the same original numbering system as GS1 barcodes and work in the same way, meaning they will be accepted by the vast majority of retail stores in Malaysia and worldwide. However, some retailers may require direct GS1 membership instead of reseller barcodes. For more details, see our latest retailer requirements list here.

Most retailers will accept our barcodes but may request a Barcode Verification Report to ensure your product scans correctly at the point of sale (POS). You can arrange this report through a third party or directly with GS1, even if you purchased your barcodes from a reseller like us. Our barcodes will pass a Barcode Verification Report if they are printed correctly within the 80% to 200% magnification range and not significantly altered during the design stage.

We strongly recommend contacting the retailers you intend to work with to inquire about their barcode policies before purchasing from us.

Many sellers on Amazon successfully use reseller barcodes like ours to list products. However, we cannot guarantee that our barcodes will always be accepted on Amazon. This is because Amazon may use GS1’s GEPIR/Verified by GS1 website as one of the methods to verify brand ownership.

For further clarification and information on the limitations of using GTINs on Amazon, please refer to our Amazon Acceptance page.

No, Barcode Savers does not upload your product or company data to GS1’s GEPIR/Verified by GS1 website. No barcode resellers can do this. The numbers we supply pre-date the GS1 subscription model and are no longer managed by GS1. GS1 does not update their database to reflect the current owners of pre-subscription model barcodes.

It’s a common misconception that the GEPIR database links barcode numbers to products. In fact, the GEPIR database only provides information about the original holder of the prefix and does not link your product to your barcode in most retail stores. Additionally, while the new Verified by GS1 website may display product information, it is not integrated with retail stores and functions only as an online database. We recommend using gtinlookup.org to list your barcode and product data online for free.

Yes, our packages of 10, 100, and 1000 barcodes include a globally unique company prefix, with product allocation ranges of 0-9, 00-99, and 000-999, respectively. Other barcode packages do not include a company prefix; however, all barcodes we supply are globally unique.
For more information, please refer to our Company Prefix page.

For many small businesses, registering with GS1 Malaysia can be prohibitively expensive. GS1 requires an initial membership fee, along with annual subscription fees that can quickly add up over time.

Barcode Savers provides barcodes that originate from the Uniform Code Council (now GS1) but without any hidden fees, subscription costs, or additional charges. Our barcodes are valid indefinitely.

While we recognize the importance of a standards body, we believe barcoding your product shouldn’t require extensive training or complicated manuals. We believe the process should be simple and straightforward.

Barcode Savers reduces the cost and complexity of barcoding for small businesses, many of whom only need a small number of barcodes. We simplify the product identification process while eliminating the high costs of GS1’s annual fees and the additional expenses associated with using GS1 Alliance partners.

Yes, your barcode number is completely unique and linked only to the product you assign it to. All barcodes sold by Barcode Savers originate from GS1 (formerly the Uniform Code Council) and are guaranteed to be globally unique. Each barcode is supplied with a PDF certificate of authenticity.

Occasionally, customers ask us to store their product information “in” the barcode. However, the barcode itself only encodes a unique number. Product details such as price, brand, and name are stored in the retailer’s database. The unique number is used to retrieve this information for quick and efficient checkout.

The EAN-13 barcode numbers we supply start with the 060 – 089 number range. This indicates that the numbers were first issued by the Uniform Code Council (now known as GS1-US). These numbers originate with the same numbering system used by GS1 and are suitable for products sold in Malaysia and globally. Purchasing barcodes from Barcode Savers Malaysia is an affordable way of obtaining authentic globally unique GTINs for your products without having to pay annual license fees to GS1 Malaysia.

Barcodes starting with 955 are licensed by the Malaysian branch of GS1. However a 955 barcode does not mean the product is “Made in Malaysia”. Every GS1 global branch uses a different country code. This is simply to avoid duplicate barcodes globally. See our page about 955 barcodes for further clarification.

No, barcodes supplied by Barcode Savers pre-date GS1’s subscription model and are not subject to expiry. When you purchase barcodes from us, they are yours for life.

No, Barcode Savers does not charge any annual fees. Our barcodes originate from the same original numbering system as GS1 but are not subject to GS1 subscription fees. Once you purchase, you own your barcodes outright with no additional costs.

No, GS1 cannot assign your barcodes (purchased from Barcode Savers) to another company. Barcodes issued under the Uniform Code Council (UCC) era are the property of the original companies to whom they were assigned. A class-action lawsuit against GS1, stemming from attempts to impose annual fees on UCC-issued prefixes, resulted in a $3.8 million settlement. As a result, these prefixes remain the property of the original holders, and GS1 effectively lost control over them, no longer managing or having legal rights over UCC-era barcodes.

The UCC-era barcodes we supply have been purchased outright from previous prefix holders under these terms.

Please note that GS1’s database will show the first holder of a UCC prefix, as their records reflect historical ownership.

Yes, we offer ITF-14 barcodes as part of our Special Orders service. If you need carton codes to accompany your product barcodes, feel free to contact us. For more information about ITF-14 Carton Codes, please visit our support article.

To get started, simply visit our purchase page and select the barcode package that suits your needs. Before making a purchase, please ensure you have read our conditions of sale. If you have any questions or uncertainties, feel free to explore the comprehensive resources available on our site or contact us for assistance.

For further details, visit our support section or email us at contact@barcodesavers.my