Is it worth joining amazon to sell?

[adamnichols45]

I basically have to get my products barcoded etc at a cost of around £200.

I dont really need to do this unless I join up to amazon.

Im in the tool sector and just wondering how other people are doing on amazon. Im in the UK by the way.
thanks

[MWpro]

To sell on amazon.com, you need a UPC code, not a bar code system.

What's the difference? A UPC code is just a unique number given to you buy a business licensed to do so (much like domain name registrars actually). They give you this unique number, and an image of the actual bar code if you wish to use it. Each individual retailer (such as amazon) then links the UPC number to your product in their system.

I was in a similiar system. I got the UPC code for an inexpensive price and put my products on amazon.com. I am glad I did so, because it not only gives you an additional market to sell on (people who might not have otherwise found your product), but also gives your product legitimacy when it is googled and it's amazon.com page comes up on the search results page.

[piatkow]

The UPC/EAN code and barcode are treated as synonyms as the latter is just a physical representation of the former.

You will need a company code assigned by GS1 in order to use Amazon but if you are doing your own fulfillment physical barcoding would not be necessary. If somebody else handles your fulfillment or if you supply a reseller then barcodes will be expected.

[adamnichols45]

In a nutshell then from what I understand I do need GS1 to setup me up.

I have a quote from them before which was £99 setup and £99 per year. For that I got 100,000 numbers is what they said.

[piatkow]

I should have said "often treated as synonyms" of course.

GS1 is the current incarnation of what used to be the "Article Numbering Association" so they are the ones who allocate the number range.

Without looking up the EAN standard that sounds about right for the number of EANs in a single range.