Barcodes for Greeting Cards |
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Simply Barcodes understands the unique challenges facing those needing to purchase barcodes for greeting cards. With so many options available, where do you go, and who is legitimate? Customers often share with us that barcoding greeting cards seems so complicated. Many don’t understand why they need barcodes. Others do not understand the guidelines including whether or not the single card and box set require different barcodes.
The options and requirements for a barcode for greeting cards differ slightly from UPC barcodes for other retail products in that the greeting card industry requires a very large quantity of unique barcodes for the many different greeting card designs. Due to the number of codes required, greeting card companies may utilize the less costly Greeting Card Supplemental system (outlined below) as an alternative to purchasing individual UPC codes for each and every card design.
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12-digit UPC barcode |
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Greeting card supplemental (bar) code that identifies the various designs |
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Frequently Asked Questions |
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What is a Greeting Card Code and how are they different? |
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The barcodes for greeting cards differ slightly from UPC barcodes for other retail products in that the greeting card industry requires a very large quantity of unique barcodes for the many different greeting card designs.
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The 12-digit barcode on the left, the standard UPC barcode, identifies the sale of one single loose greeting card from a greeting card company. All greeting cards from a single company will feature the same 12-digit UPC code.
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The barcode on the right, referred to as the greeting card supplemental barcode, identifies the various designs and differs from one card design to another. |
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Example of supplemental requirements: |
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00001 identifies a funny father’s day card with a golf picture |
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00002 identifies a serious get well card with the flower picture |
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00003 identifies a happy birthday card with a cake picture |
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Note:
You could forego this supplemental system completely and simply use a different UPC code for each different card design. In fact, most of the big greeting card companies have switched from the supplemental system that we explain here to using different UPC codes for each their greeting card designs. This, arguably, is the IDEAL way of barcoding greeting cards. Unfortunately, it’s also the most expensive! Official UPC codes cost far more than simple greeting card supplemental codes because UPCs are based on centrally-issued UPC numbers while supplemental codes are simple sequential 5-digit numbers. For customers with limited budget, the method of barcoding greeting cards with 1 single common UPC plus different supplemental codes for each design, as we outline it below, remains the most sensible solution. |
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Do I really need a barcode for my Greeting Card? |
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Yes, practically all retailers require greeting cards to be barcoded. Only the smallest of specialty shops still key in a price by hand. Most greeting card companies print the barcode directly on the back of each card. This barcode helps the retailer quickly and accurately ring up each card. |
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Can I purchase a Greeting Card Supplemental without having a UPC code? |
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No, all individual cards must have a UPC code first in order to create the greeting card code. The 12-digit barcode on the left, the standard UPC barcode, identifies the sales of one single lose greeting card from a greeting card company. All greeting cards from a single company can feature the same 12-digit UPC code.
You can purchase your UPC and greeting card codes at the same time or add the greeting card codes later.
You benefit from this system due to the reduced overall cost for purchasing supplemental graphics creation versus UPC codes for each unique design.
Note: This system only applies to loose single cards. Box sets require their own unique UPC codes. |
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How much does a Greeting Card Code cost? |
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The cost is $89 for your official UPC code plus the cost for the supplemental codes. You will need a different supplemental code for each of your card designs. |
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| Quantity |
Price per graphic |
| 1 to 9 |
$25 each |
| 10 to 24 |
$20 each |
| 25 to 49 |
$15 each |
| 50 to 74 |
$12 each |
| 75 to 99 |
$8 each |
| 100 to 249 |
$4.95 each |
| 250 to 499 |
$3.75 each |
| 500+ |
Call |
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The pricing above assumes that you select a single image format. You may select multiple formats at an additional charge. |
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How do I purchase Barcodes for Greeting Cards? |
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For assistance, please call us at +1 404-869-0701 or 877-872-2060.
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Description |
Ordering Instructions |
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Recommended Option
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Get a different Greeting Card Supplemental Code for each card design with just 1 single UPC Code. (This gets the job done within any budget.)
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The Ideal Option
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Get a different UPC code for each different card design and forego the Supplemental Codes. (This gets quite pricy as UPC codes are much more expensive than supplemental codes.)
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Only Supplemental Codes
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Use this option if you already have your UPC and need to order only Greeting Card Supplemental Codes.
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Additional UPC Codes
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Use this option to purchase UPC codes for additional box sets.
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We only require that you provide contact and billing information. You are not required to provide product information. |
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Your retailer collects your product information, which they associate with your barcode at the Point of Sale. |
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Note: We also accept checks, money orders, and wire transfers. If you wish to use one of those payment methods, please print and complete this form. |
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What do I get when I order my Barcode for Greeting Cards? |
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| 1st | Upon completion of your order, you receive an email confirmation of your UPC and/or Greeting Card Supplemental Code purchase. |
| 2nd | Simply Barcodes assigns your official UPC code from our database of official codes issued by the UCC (now called GS1) and/or creates your Greeting Card Supplemental Code. |
| 3rd | We generate the digital barcode images. |
| 4th | We email your Greeting Card Code graphic images to you as an attachment.
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In what format are my Barcodes for Greeting Cards created? |
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If you are ordering UPC Codes, you will receive your UPC in three different formats (EPS, TIFF, or JPEG) so that your graphic artist, printing company, or manufacturing facility can work with the graphic in their preferred software.
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If you are ordering a UPC Barcode for your Greeting Cards WITH Supplemental Codes, you may choose from four different formats (EPS, PNG, JPEG, or AI).
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If you are ordering greeting card SUPPLEMENTAL CODES ONLY, you also choose from four different formats (EPS, PNG, JPEG or AI). |
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EPS Format - This layered, vector EPS file is the preferred format of most graphic designers due to its quality and versatility, particularly for resizing. EPS is an "exchange" format, not necessarily associated with one specific graphics program. An exchange format is one intended for multiple applications to be able to open. |
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PNG Format - This raster PNG file works well for graphic artists who need a transparent background. This format supports lossless data compression. However, this format is not suitable for significant resizing. |
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JPEG Format - This uncompressed, high-quality JPEG file is the most common file format. All computers can open a JPEG. However, it is not suitable for resizing. |
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AI or Adobe Illustrator - This layered, vector AI file, generated in Adobe Illustrator, is the preferred format of most graphic designers due to its quality and versatility, particularly for resizing. AI is an application-native file format for Adobe Illustrator. An application-native format is intended for use by the creating application. |
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When do I get my Barcodes for Greeting Cards? |
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The turn-around time is often within an hour.
All orders received before 4 p.m. Eastern Time on business days are completed the same day. Orders placed after 4 p.m. will be processed next business day. If you require RUSH completion, please call 877-872-2060 (toll-free) or +1 404-869-0701 (international) to make arrangements. |
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How do I get my Greeting Card Barcode on my card? |
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Providing the barcode image to your graphic artist and including it in the design of your packaging or label prior to printing is the easiest and most economical way of getting your greeting card barcode on your card.
If your cards have already been printed, you will need barcode labels. If you would like to order pre-printed barcode labels, please select this option when ordering your Greeting Card Code. If you have already completed your order, then click label printing to order labels. Please use the label price calculator on the label printing order form to determine the price for your labels. All orders received before 2 p.m. Eastern Time on business days are completed the same day and shipped for free within the continental U.S. |
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What if I am selling to The Kroger Co., Macys, Inc., Wal-Mart Stores, Sears Brands, LLC or other stores that require GS1 membership?
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In the case of these few retailers, you will have no choice but to lease your UPC numbers directly from GS1. These stores require that you have your own GS1 membership.
However, once you have obtained your prefix number from GS1, you can still return to us to have your digital UPC barcode images created using the GS1 numbers as well as any greeting card barcode supplemental codes you might need. |
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Apart from Greeting Card Codes we also offer
UPC Codes,
EAN Codes,
Barcodes for Amazon,
Barcodes for Music,
ISBN/Book Barcodes,
Magazine Barcodes,
Barcodes for Produce,
Barcodes for Alcohol, GTIN Codes,
SCC-14 Codes,
SSCC-18 Codes,
Coupon Barcodes,
QR Codes,
Data Matrix Barcodes,
UPN Barcodes,
Code 128 Barcodes, Code 39 Barcodes, and many other barcode types. We also provide barcoding services like,
graphic creation, and
label printing.
Call
877-872-2060 (toll-free) or
+1 404-869-0701 (international) or live chat with our Experts for more information regarding our barcoding services. Our multilingual customer service team welcomes the opportunity to speak with you about your unique situation.
