Understanding Amazon FBA Barcodes // How To Get GS1, EAN, UPC, FNSKU Barcodes
Navigating the world of Amazon’s Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) program can be a complex endeavor, especially when understanding the labyrinth of barcoding requirements. Amazon FBA demands specific barcode guidelines to streamline its vast and intricate logistics network. For sellers, mastering these requirements is not just about compliance; it’s about ensuring their products move efficiently through Amazon’s system, reaching customers swiftly and without hassle. The terms GS1, EAN, UPC, and FNSKU, while they might sound like mere acronyms, are, in fact, critical components of this process.
This blog post aims to demystify these barcode standards and explain their significance in the Amazon FBA ecosystem. Whether you’re a new seller making your first foray into online retail or a seasoned merchant looking to optimize your Amazon FBA operations, understanding these barcodes is crucial.
We will delve into the world of GS1 barcodes, the global standard for unique product identification, and explore how obtaining a GS1 barcode can benefit your business on Amazon. Additionally, we’ll break down the specifics of EAN and UPCs, often required for product listings on Amazon, and explain their roles in global and North American markets, respectively. Furthermore, we’ll discuss FNSKU labels, Amazon’s unique identifier for products in its fulfillment centers, and how these differ from other barcode types.
Join us as we navigate the intricate requirements of Amazon FBA barcodes, providing a clear guide on obtaining and utilizing these crucial elements of online retail. This understanding is not just a compliance measure; it’s a strategic tool for ensuring your products are primed for success in the competitive marketplace of Amazon FBA.
If you are selling on Amazon, you must have a barcode so that Amazon can track your products in its system. Amazon is very strict about what barcodes can be used and how they are applied. So please read this guide in full so your product arrives in Amazon’s fulfillment center ready to sell.
What are Amazon FBA Barcode Requirements?
We combine multiple aspects of FBA Barcode requirements into one complete article so that it’s easier to follow if you are selling on Amazon FBA; then, you need to understand what to expect using Amazon’s official guide. It’s a little technical, so we try to break it down. The official guide is below Below:
Amazon uses three different types of barcodes, and they require certain standards for each.
Manufacturer codes // Must be GCID, UPC, EAN, JAN, or ISBN.
Amazon Barcodes // FNSKU
Transparency Authenticity Code // This only applies to brand owners registered with Amazon’s anti-counterfeiting programs. This does not apply to small sellers.
UPC and FNSKU barcodes are the most widely used and recognized barcodes and are the ones that we recommend that you require
When to obtain a barcode
For most sellers buying products overseas, you must obtain the barcode before your item finishes production and have the manufacturer apply it to the packaging before it is packed in the container to ship overseas.
This is because it is the easiest point to apply, and almost all manufacturers will do this for free or at a minimal cost. If they do charge, it’s only a few cents per item, which is much cheaper than the 20 cents a label that Amazon changes to apply.
In addition, when you get the barcode applied at the factory, you can ship directly from the factory to the Amazon Fulfillment Center. Many Freight Forwarders are set up to ship directly with Amazon, and if you arrange a shipment in Freightos or Flexport, they give you the option to ship to an Amazon Fulfillment center. I suggest taking advantage of this.
Amazon FBA Barcode Types
Amazon recognizes several barcodes, but you must focus on UPC and FNSKU. It’s essential to know that when you ship a product to Amazon, you have to have one visible barcode and only one visible barcode. You must cover up the old code if the item already has a barcode and uses another code. There are no exceptions, and Amazon is very strict about this.
So, when should you use FNSKU or UPC? Almost all sellers should use FNSKU, which is Amazon’s barcode. So if someone says “Amazon’s barcode,” they almost certainly refer to FNSKU.
If you are a European seller, you will want to look into EAN barcodes. EAN stands for European Article Number and is provided by GSI, the same organization that assigns UPC. in
Important note about GCID: Amazon stopped recognizing this code in 2018 and only uses it for products registered before this date. As new sellers cannot use this code anymore, we will not cover it in this guide.
UPC Codes
UPC, short for Universal Product Code, is the most common code used in North America. UPC is a 12-digit code unique to your product and recognized by almost all retailers, including Amazon.
EAN Codes
EAN stands for European Article Number and is provided by GS1, which assigns UPC. EAN has 13 digits instead of the 12 that UPC has.
FNSKU, aka Amazon’s barcode
FNSKU stands for “Fulfillment Network Stock Keeping Unit” and is assigned by Amazon to products sold exclusively on Amazon. You must print this off if you are shipping directly to the Amazon warehouse. If the product already has a UPC or other barcode, you must ensure this code covers it up. Amazon will only accept items that have one barcode.
For Amazon’s barcode, every seller will have a unique barcode for every unique item. We encourage sellers to obtain one from Amazon so that Amazon can create a unique listing. If you sell an item using a standard UPC, then Amazon will lump all items with the same UPC into one listing. This can lead to product hijacking by your competitors.
Amazon ASIN codes
ASIN stands for Amazon Standard Identification Number. In addition, you must have a trademarked brand registered with the US trademark office and apply for Amazon’s Brand Registry. This is for more advanced sellers that have developed private-label brands.
Amazon Brand Registry: Help Protect Your Brand on Amazon
What are the Best FBA Barcodes?
UPC is the best one to get, as it is the most universally recognized. UPC barcodes are recognized by both Amazon and almost all major retailers. If you were to get just one, we recommend this. We’ll go into more detail on this later. We also believe that FNSKU is a great option for Amazon sellers. Please see below for a detailed guide on each.
How to Get an FNSKU from Amazon Seller Central
Obtaining FNSKU is relatively simple if you already have a seller’s account; if not, you must set that up first.
Log into your seller account.
Go to the ‘Manage FBA Inventory’ page.
Click on the product.
In the drop-down menu to the right of the product, click Print labels
Click print
Apply Labels
If you want your supplier to print and apply the labels, save this as a PDF, send it to the supplier, and instruct them on how to do so. They must ensure the FNSKU is the only visible barcode placed directly outside the final retail packaging.
The full details are on the Amazon website, so please follow this guide: Use an Amazon barcode to track inventory.
Guide to UPC barcodes
UPC Barcodes, which GS1 produces, are the most common and universally recognized barcodes in the United States.
UPC barcodes are provided by GS1, a non-profit organization that issues the codes and maintains a database of registered codes and their owner. You can apply for a UPC directly from GS1 here: https://www.gs1us.org/
GS1 has over 100 organizations worldwide, basically 1 per country, so be sure you register directly with the one related to your country or the country you plan on selling in. Regardless of which one you apply with, UPC barcodes are recognized worldwide.
If you are buying a barcode secondhand, you can check who owns it here: http://gepir.gs1.org. In addition, Amazon is starting to check UPCs assigned to different ASINs using the GS1 database, so sellers who didn’t buy directly from GS1 could have their listing removed.
For GS1, You will need to pay a $250 registration Fee and $50 a year to keep it active, allowing you to get ten barcodes. If you need to buy more than 10, you must pay extra.
How to Print FBA Barcodes
You can use a standard desktop printer if you apply the labels yourself. However, you must ensure that you have the correct label paper in the printer. According to Amazon: “You must print all Amazon barcodes in black ink on white, non-reflective labels with removable adhesive. Dimensions must be between 1 inch x 2 inches and 2 inches x 3 inches (1 inch x 3 inches or 2 inches x 2 inches, for example). ‘
The steps to print are as follows:
Go into Seller Central
Click on items you want to print labels for
Click on the action for selected items
Pick how many labels you need to print
Click print item labels
Then you’ll get a printout of all items in pdf
Click print
And that’s it!
How to place Barcodes For FBA
Place on a flat area of the outside retail packaging; avoid placing on corners and curves.
Make sure to cover any other barcodes fully.
There should only be one scannable barcode per item; two different barcodes will confuse Amazon’s system, and it will get flagged.
Use a Laser Printer; they are more accurate and less prone to smudges.
Conclusion
Barcodes are critical to getting your product ready to be sold on FBA. Ensure you do it right; otherwise, Amazon may charge extra fees or, even worse, have your product rejected.
Overall, you need to ensure that you have a valid UC or FNSKU, that the labels are correctly printed, and that you place them on the package. Feel free to comment if you have any other questions about FBA barcodes and labeling, and we’ll get back to you!
Additional Resources:
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