The Truth About Bar Codes

UPC-A Bar Code

You will need a bar-code (UPC-A) if you plan on placing your project in a retail or wholesale environment. If you plan to sell your CD's, DVD's, or cassettes only off the bandstand or on your own web site, then it's merely a cosmetic application and serves no real purpose other than making your package look like the other "guys."

O.K. Now you have decided you will be selling through retail outlets such as storefronts, web stores, wholesale distribution, so what comes next will depend on your budget.

You definitely will want to purchase your own bar-code if you are planning to form your own distinctive record label or company, especially if you plan to record and market other artists that record for your label. Your bar-code will scan and be recognized as your record label, company, etc. The current price for a Universal Product Code is $750.00. Contact the Uniform Code Council, Inc., 7887 Washington Village Drive, Suite 300, Dayton, Ohio, 45459-8605 USA. Telephone: 937-435-3870

Still need a bar-code, but don't want to spend an extra $750.00? We will provide a free bar-code with any CD or DVD package you purchase through Alpha Multimedia Group. You will still have a unique UPC number, but it will contain a master number registered under our company's name. You can still sell your product through retail or to wholesale distributors. Your UPC number will still be unique to your product and will scan as your title, artist, and configuration, i.e. compact disc, DVD, cassette, etc. Please note that we do not sell bar codes separately due to product liability issues.

Please contact us for further information about the proper application of UPC or ISBN registration numbers and codes to your artwork.