Auction glossaryUPC Barcode: What It Is and How It Identifies a Product
A UPC barcode, or Universal Product Code, is the 12-digit barcode printed on retail products in the US and Canada. It identifies the product, not the individual unit, so every identical item shares the same code. Scanning it lets stores and sellers look up the product's name, brand and details instantly.
How does a UPC barcode work?
The first digits are a company prefix licensed from GS1, the nonprofit that manages barcode standards. The next digits identify the product, and the last is a check digit that catches scanning errors. Its international cousin, the EAN, has 13 digits.
How do auction houses use UPC barcodes?
On Auktia, a seller (auction house) points a phone at a UPC or EAN and the title, stock photo, brand, category, details and retail price fill in; they tap the condition and whether it's tested. Products are remembered, so the next scan of the same item fills in instantly. It's how a liquidation manifest becomes finished items. See barcode scanning for auctions.
Questions people ask
Is a UPC the same as an FNSKU?
No. A UPC identifies the product everywhere; an FNSKU is Amazon's warehouse label for one seller's units, usually starting with X00.
Do different colors or sizes have different UPCs?
Yes. Each variation is its own product, so a drill in two colors carries two UPCs.