Australian Barcodes can be used in all retail stores only excluding major supermarkets. Major stores may be regulated by a third party. The aussie barcode starts with a country code prefix of 93. Next time you passing the supermarket, pickup a item and check the first two digits of the barcode. If it starts with 93 chances are it is an Australian product or made in australia. A lot of products may only be packaged here but can still use the Australian barcode prefix.

As a barcode operator here in Australia for over 22 years. I have personally made over 1 million barcodes by hand using either a barcode generator software or in the early days computer batch software which was then hooked up to a film plotter. The film was loaded by hand and then the plotter would start and with a laser etch in the barcode image. It was then taken off and put thru a film processor.

For the first 7 years of my career this is how we made barcodes. After the barcodes where developed we had to cut them into individual barcodes and then scan each barcode using a barcode verifier. The printed verification of the barcode was then cut and packed with the barcode film called a film master and dispatched via a courier to the printer or platemaker.

By verifying the barcode film we could ensure all barcode images where in specification prior to being printed and guarantee the printers of a good quality printed barcode. Eventually the printer would have to send the printed product off to GS1 to go thru the GS1 verification process.

Over the years GS1 has refined the process of barcode verification to ensure printed products meet the general barcode guidelines for the major supermarkets making it easy to scan the final printed products. GS1 also check the barcode number is correct and advise of duplication.

Barcode Solutions Online have been making digital barcodes since 2002. We have carried on the traditional high quality barcode technical experience and applied it to the new buy a barcode products we now sell today. Buy A Barcode is a barcode number and a barcode image combined for the convenience of new companies and small business needing a barcode produced same day and suitable for all the shop retailers (excluding only major retailers like Coles, Woolworths, example)

Barcode Solutions Online ensure strict guidelines are set in place to ensure all our customers use the Buy A Barcode system for the right reasons. Some of our competitors are claiming barcode numbers purchased from them are more compatible and accepted in more stores than any other provider online and the barcode numbers provided by them are accepted by GS1. This is simply not the case and i believe false advertising. Be warned!

Customers needing to sell products to the major supermarkets and major retailers in Australia cannot use a " Buy A Barcode" number as these companies are enforced to go thru the GS1 Alliance membership program. By claiming the barcode image has been verified does not provide further compatibility with major retail stores. It is the barcode number itself that has to be registered to the company owner and has to be issued directly by GS1 Australia for the printed product to be accepted by the major store. Do not be fooled by advertising tricks.

Then the printed product has to be sent back to GS1 to pass the verification process called the  ISO 15416 verification (testing) method and once the product has passed. GS1 Australia issues the company with a Barcode verification certificate which can be provider to the major retail store to ensure compliance to the GS1 alliance process.

Current GS1 partners are companies like Coles, Woolworths, Kmart, Bunnings, Supercheap Auto, Target, Myers. Most of our customers are small business and have no reason to target the major retail stores and therefore we know Barcode Solutions Online Buy A Barcode system works perfectly and the 22 years experience does help a little as well. Our most recent companies to purchase from us have been Pet Stores, Chemists, Doctors, Hospitals, Schools, $2 shops, Newspaper Printers, Book Printers, Magazine printers, Take Away Stores, Pharmacy's, Vetinary Clinics, Music CD, Movie DVD etc.

Barcode Solutions Online, Barcodes made in Australia, For Australian retail stores and supermarkets.