How to Interpret Barcodes on Coupons (UPC)
We often ask, “Why’s my coupon beeping even with a legitimate, valid coupon?” Coupon will beep if any portion of the barcode does not match the product/item in your cart.
You must learn how to interpret the 12 digit number on your coupon before you can defend yourself if this type of situation comes. Dealing with the cashier will be such a pain. It’s about time you give them a Lesson!
A typical coupon barcode looks like the image posted above.
1 – UCC Prefix or Number System or GS1 Company Prefix
This digit signals to the POS system that it is scanning a coupon, not a regular UPC code. This portion of the code will be either a 5 or a 9. It deals with doubling. If your store doesn’t double coupons, then this number has no purpose. If your store DOES double coupons, then any coupon coded with a 5 will double (up to your store’s doubling limit) and any coupon coded with a 9 will not double.
2 – UCC Company Number
This 5 digit number is the manufacturer’s code. This identifies the manufacturer of the couponed item. This number must be the same as on the products being couponed.
What about if your company number assigned is longer than 6-digits? You would only use positions 2-6 for the Company Prefix on the coupon. The reamaining digits would be dropped.
3 – Family Code
This number designates items being couponed. Most manufacturers break their products into families. If you see a three digit number with no zeros, the coupon is coded for a specific product. If there is one zero at the end, the coupon is coded for more than one *variety* product. If there are two zeros at the end, the coupon is coded for more than one *type or brand* of product. Here’s an example of how it works:
25700 100 – any Ziploc or Saran Wrap item
25700 160 – any Ziploc item
25700 170 - any Saran Wrap item
25700 164 - Ziploc containers
25700 175 – Saran Wrap disposable Cutting Sheets
If the family code is 000, then the coupon will not beep with any product which falls under the preceeding 5-digit manufacturer’s code.
Some products are not broken into any families and are coded as 992. A 992 coupon will do one of two things, depending on how your store has it’s registers programmed. Either it will NEVER beep, even if you didn’t buy the product, or it will ALWAYS beep and require cashier intervention. These coupons were severely abused by couponers who wanted to use coupons even though they didn’t buy the product, so most major retailers have now programmed their registers to beep at every 992.
4 – Value Code
The two digits defines the value of the coupon. Value codes are predefined as outlined below. Regardless of what the wording on the coupon says, this code tells the register what you need to purchase and how much to take off. Yes, in many cases there are some VERY EXTREME differences between the wording on the coupon and what the barcode actually requires you to purchase.
4 – Check Digit
The last digit is the checksum, the same as all UPC-A numbers. No real relevance to couponers.
Scenario
Lifesavers and Pert coupons are beeping when they shouldn’t.
Lifesavers:
Almost every Lifesavers product is coded with 19000 as the manufacturer’s code. For some unknown reason, a *few* packages (including the Orange Mints) were coded with a 22000 instead. Strangely, the coupon was coded with 22000 instead of 19000, so almost every LEGITIMATE Lifesaver purchase will still beep. You can avoid the beeps by purchasing the Orange Mints (or other 22000 varieties) or you can explain to the cashier why the product is beeping now that you understand the miscoding.
Pert:
Most Pert products are coded with 83484 as the manufacturer’s code. At least one variety that I know of (Pert Plus 2 in 1 Shampoo Plus DEEP Conditioner) is coded with 37000 (the generic Proctor and Gamble code). I think this was an error in coding the product, but I can’t be sure. The Pert coupons are all coded for 83484 products, so they will beep if you try to purchase a 37000 product, even though it’s a LEGITIMATE use of the coupon. Again, you can avoid beeps by either not purchasing the 37000 products, or you can just explain to the cashier why it is beeping.
Thanks SD & BarcodeSchool for the infos.
