ComicsPriceGuide.com Forums - CPG - Questions and Answers - UPC; Why input? Whats it for? - Messages

Message from Jtolar

Sat, 21 Jul 2018 22:29:38 GMT

Not sure why it logged me out in the post above. btw, I have a Zebra LS2208 and some Symbol wireless handhelds also for testing. I know i would be willing to scan all my comics with bar codes.
edited by jtolar on 7/29/2018

Message from

Sat, 21 Jul 2018 22:22:24 GMT

I'm a little late but something I am interested in this.

First, how do you add UPC bar codes? There is no add button for UPC. Secondly, the second bar code as stated by solarno not a common practice outside of the printing industry. You may actually have to program your barcode reader to include this bar codes information in the output.

I am willing to help in the development of this information including the documentation on how to program readers and the searching abilities. Even though some comics do not have bar codes we may still be able to extrapolate the UPC code since it is somewhat uniform.

Message from thunderize1

Tue, 17 Jul 2018 01:38:42 GMT

I like that Idea and possible option even though older issues sometimes do not have a bar-code but still very useful.

Message from jarhead_84

Sat, 14 Jul 2018 18:05:20 GMT

I have discovered several books that don't have bar codes, like Captain Atom 53 from 1991 and Action Comics 632 from 1988. So my next question, more for curiosity, is when did they begin using barcodes on comics? And if barcodes cant be used for all comics, maybe put in a drop down menu for that feature and add the line" No Barcode Used" or something similar. That way the data base can be a complete as possible. Any thoughts on this?

Ben

Message from iron_puppy

Tue, 10 Jul 2018 22:08:41 GMT

Quite informative! Thanks to all!

Message from solarno

Tue, 26 Jun 2018 13:34:13 GMT

Ronbatman wrote:

Solarno, if you are willing I'd like to use your UPC information in a blog post. (obviously credited to you) Maybe rework it to better fit the blog. Let me know.

Feel free to use it! I kinda tossed that post together, so it would definitely need some editorial editing to make it a blog article worthy. I'm willing to tackle any tweaks you'd need, especially any pics.

Message from Ronbatman

Tue, 26 Jun 2018 11:28:00 GMT

Solarno, if you are willing I'd like to use your UPC information in a blog post. (obviously credited to you) Maybe rework it to better fit the blog. Let me know.
KDS, you're correct we will need additional help to implement it.

Ron

Message from kds_comics

Mon, 25 Jun 2018 13:19:55 GMT

Oxbladder wrote:

It wouldn't hurt if they provided more info as to why it is handy to have the UPC number (and that the whole number is necessary). If you look online there are explanations of how to read a barcode for your own use. I used to not pay them much heed but over the last few years I have found them very helpful. Some of the smaller publishers don't always have the most handy barcodes but for most one only needs to look at the barcode and you can tell exactly what issue, printing, and version/variant you have.

A more practical reason is if I could link the UPC code to a product and a price - then put the information in a inventory management system - I could get a bar code reader the comics upon sales at local flea markets or pop culture shows. Then I would know what sold and for what price.

The folks at CPG are going in the right direction - perhaps just need some third part software to get to a real inventory management / Point of Sale system.

Just my unsolicited comment.

KDS

Message from solarno

Mon, 11 Jun 2018 18:01:37 GMT

Barcodes are a funny thing in comic books. The typical barcode found on US published books is actually a combination of two different barcodes.

This first barcode is the official 12 digit UPC code. This code is tied to the title and not the individual issue. For books from all the major publishers the first 6 digits relate to the publisher, the last 6 digits relate to the title. Publishers have to buy each UPC code for each title. This would be rather expensive if they used a unique UPC for each issue, so....
The second barcode is a 5 digit code tied to the specific issue. Publishers generate these themselves for free but thankfully use a standardized format. I believe Diamond required this.

The anatomy of a barcode:
The example below is from Captain America #701, the Deadpool variant.

7 59606 08768 6 is the official 12 digit UPC code. This will be found on all issues of this particular volume of Captain America. This goes back to the renumbered issues stating with #695
As an example, the previous volume of Cap, Steve Rogers, had a UPC of 7 59606 08457 9 which was used on all 19 issues.
70141 is the issue specific non-UPC code. First three digits are the issue number. 4th digit is the cover/variant number. The 5th digit typically references the print run.
In cases of many variants (more than 10), publishers will use both the 4th and 5th numbers to denote individual versions. I'm honestly not sure what they would do if the number is higher than 99.
What happens when there is a title that reaches 1000? The recent Action Comics #1000 simply started the 5 digit code with 000.

Trade Paper Backs and Graphic Novels will typically have an issue specific UPC code with no 5 digit code.

Here's where it can get funny.

That second barcode is something the comic book industry uses. It's not a common practice or need in most other industries so most scanning software will just ignore the secondary issue specific barcode.
The UPC standard is used in North America, Australia, and I believe the UK. The rest of Europe and most of Asia use a 13 digit EAN code. It looks and works just like the UPC barcode but with one extra digit. I do not know if comic books published for sales in Europe or Asia require a UPC or EAN. I know in my previous life in the bicycle industry, identical products sold in the US and Europe typically used an EAN because the EU required an EAN and the most common POS systems used the US could read either. I'm kinda surprised that the comic book industry hasn't moved to EAN numbers as a global standard.
As stated above, TPBs will use UPC codes unique to that particular trade with no issue specific barcodes. They will also have ISBN numbers which are a required global standard for books. These allow trades to be sold in bookstores and the like.

In the long run it would be great if CPG could start using the barcodes found on most modern comic books and TPBs. It could make collection entry faster and more accurate. It would also require a good chunk of development time to get scanning up and running properly since any software/app would need to be able to translate the different types of barcodes potentially found on a book or trade.

Cheers!
Jim

Here are the UPC prefixes for some of the bigger publishers:
Marvel - 7 59606
DC - 7 61941
Image - 7 09853
Dynamite - 7 25130
Dark Horse - 7 61568
IDW - 8 27714
Titan - 0 74470
edited by solarno on 6/11/2018
edited by solarno on 6/11/2018

Message from Ronbatman

Mon, 11 Jun 2018 14:07:41 GMT

If we ever get a scanning system we will be miles ahead by having the UPC number entered. That is the end goal although there isn't a time frame for it.

Message from Oxbladder

Mon, 11 Jun 2018 11:05:25 GMT

It wouldn't hurt if they provided more info as to why it is handy to have the UPC number (and that the whole number is necessary). If you look online there are explanations of how to read a barcode for your own use. I used to not pay them much heed but over the last few years I have found them very helpful. Some of the smaller publishers don't always have the most handy barcodes but for most one only needs to look at the barcode and you can tell exactly what issue, printing, and version/variant you have.

Message from jarhead_84

Mon, 11 Jun 2018 10:04:52 GMT

OK, that makes a little more sense, and I didn't think all numbers needed to be added as I had never done that before, but figured out by trial and error.

Ben

Message from Oxbladder

Mon, 11 Jun 2018 09:42:59 GMT

UPC's can be very helpful. It can tell you which printing you have (if there are more than one printing that is) and it can tell you if you have a variant or not. I am not sure why you wouldn't think that not every number needed to be entered. Generally, most online data entry systems don't recognize spaces and in the case of UPC's there are not really spaces. I know it looks like and when they are just printed out without a barcode they put dashes in but that is more for the use of sellers/distributors as parts of the code can categorize a product. For example, almost all trade paperbacks and hard covers start with 978 and only have 13 digits while comics all have different lead numbers based on who is the publisher and have extended digit sequences that identify issue number, which cover (variant) you have (if any), and which printing. To scanners though there are no spaces just a series of numbers 12-13 digits long plus and extension for comics.

Message from jarhead_84

Sun, 10 Jun 2018 17:46:40 GMT

2 Questions.

1. What is the purpose of adding the UPC Code in the data base? I get why you input creators. Artist, cover artist etc. If you click on a creator you can find out what all issues they have been involved with, DC< Marvel or Indie, which would benefit someone who is looking get all the covers that a particular artist did, as long as its in the data base. If you click on the UPC link, it just brings up a box to add are edit one.

2. Might be a good idea to address how to add a UPC. It took me 6 attempts before I figured out that you have to use EACH and EVERY number that is in the UPC box, with NO spaces.
Just a suggestion.

Ben