I get a lot of questions about. BARCODES

I always tell everything I know about ’em which is pretty general, so I thought I’d get a little more facts together and send it out to everyone at once.

The first question is "do you do barcodes?"  The answer is no.  I know you see all the big guys offering this service.  The reason they can offer it is because they are the big guys.  That barcode they print on your CD isn’t really your barcode.  It’s their barcode with one part of that number signifying your album.

All barcodes must originate from the U.C.C. (Uniform Bar Code Council).  If you buy directly from them you have to buy a minimum of 100 barcodes at a minimum charge of $750.  There is also an annual renewal fee of at least $150.  That’s why the big guys can do it, I can’t.

It’s my belief that if you’re an independent artist ordering 50, 100, or 200 CDs at a time you don’t have a huge need for a barcode.  Most of your sales are made at your shows by you.  If you have local or regional music stores that agree to sell your CDs and support local acts they will usually not be bothered by you not having a barcode.  If online outlets like CD Baby or others agree to sell your CDs they will usually provide the barcode if necessary.

Now, all that being said, if you still want a barcode there is another way to go.  There are companies that buy barcodes in bulk from the U.C.C. and sell them off one at a time.  These codes work in every store except Wal-Mart and Krogers.  Wal-Mart and Krogers require a copy of your GS1/UCC certificate with your companies name on it.  (In other words, for them you have to own your own barcode, the $750. ones.)

These companies require a one time set up fee and then a price per single barcode.  They email you the barcode as a high resolution JPEG file that you can place in your art work.

Buy A Barcode.com has a one time set up fee of $65.00 and the price for single barcode is $35.00

Upccode.net has an $89.00 fee.  I’m not endorsing either company, these are just two examples I found and they look very reputable and easy to use.  Also these prices are the last time I checked and are subject to change.

So that’s the barcode story.  I hope I shed a little light on the confusion.