So who can you trust and who should you avoid?
So this is the biggest question of them all. The reality is that there are thousands of sites on the internet that claim to sell barcodes, but a large proportion of them are unfortunately fake and or are selling duplicates. These places need be avoided at all cost, even if they seem to be very cheap. The classic rule comes in to play here: 'if it looks too good to be true, it probably is'. So here are a few of the reputable companies in SA and abroad that I would recommend, the final choice is up to you, but please remember to ensure that you do your homework on this.
In South Africa:
There are only two organisations that I am aware of in SA that are legitimate: GS1 and SA Barcodes.
GS1-SA : http://www.gs1za.org/
The first and most obvious choice is to go directly through GS1's South African branch, called GS1-SA. Unfortunately this is going to be a little bit of a headache because, as mentioned in the faq's, they are not very organised. I have struggled far too many times to reach them on the phone, only to get told that they will call me back, which they then fail to do. Another problem with GS1-SA is that they require our clients to attend a seminar or online training which is a hassle at best and a nightmare for us if they are on a tight deadline. In the end, however, there are some definite benefits to GS1. Firstly, you will be able to get your own company prefix which is useful if you are a big distributer. Secondly, they can be cheaper if you are ordering in bulk.
For small quantities of codes they are still expensive, especially because they only provide you with the number and not the barcode images themselves. You then have to purchase the image software separately to get an images of your codes. If you require barcodes by the thousands, however, they are probably going to be your cheapest option and the simplest method. So essentially, big companies, with big product lines, should generally go with GS1, as it is probably going to be worth the hassle in the long run.
SA Barcodes: http://www.sabarcodes.co.za/
The second option is SA Barcodes, an authorised online barcode reseller based in Cape Town. We use these guys alot of the time, and I am particularly impressed with what they have to offer. They sell unique, registered EAN and UPC codes at excellent rates (R275 or less). I have looked their codes up and they are the real deal, and are fully registered with the GS1. Another great thing about SA Barcodes is their customer service, they answer their phones and reply to emails which is a great start, they also replied to my queries within a couple of hours which was a pleasant surprise. They are able to deliver their codes, images included, within 24 hours, which is amazing!! For small to medium-sized businesses in SA, there is no comparison, I would recommend them above anyone else at the moment!
Internationally:
I have tried a couple of resellers from overseas, and have met with limited success. While I am still a little skeptical about purchasing from overseas sites as I have no idea where they are actually located, can't talk to them on the phone, and tend to question their offers; I have had some success with a couple of sites.
Buyabarcode: http://www.buyabarcode.com
These guys are great, but expensive! They sell a variety of packages which start from about 50$ (R400) per code. They are also able to do QR-codes, which is useful for media products, vouchers etc. They seem to be reputable and are certainly not a bad choice. Delivery was within a few hours of purchase, which is great.
Simplybarcodes: http://www.simplybarcodes.net/barcode-graphic-own-barcodes.html
Another well-know American Site and one of the biggest on the internet. These guys are also excellent, and can provide printed labels as well as the codes. While this is of little use to you if you are not in the States, if you are, they are probably your best option for this service as their rates are good.
In South Africa:
There are only two organisations that I am aware of in SA that are legitimate: GS1 and SA Barcodes.
GS1-SA : http://www.gs1za.org/
The first and most obvious choice is to go directly through GS1's South African branch, called GS1-SA. Unfortunately this is going to be a little bit of a headache because, as mentioned in the faq's, they are not very organised. I have struggled far too many times to reach them on the phone, only to get told that they will call me back, which they then fail to do. Another problem with GS1-SA is that they require our clients to attend a seminar or online training which is a hassle at best and a nightmare for us if they are on a tight deadline. In the end, however, there are some definite benefits to GS1. Firstly, you will be able to get your own company prefix which is useful if you are a big distributer. Secondly, they can be cheaper if you are ordering in bulk.
For small quantities of codes they are still expensive, especially because they only provide you with the number and not the barcode images themselves. You then have to purchase the image software separately to get an images of your codes. If you require barcodes by the thousands, however, they are probably going to be your cheapest option and the simplest method. So essentially, big companies, with big product lines, should generally go with GS1, as it is probably going to be worth the hassle in the long run.
SA Barcodes: http://www.sabarcodes.co.za/
The second option is SA Barcodes, an authorised online barcode reseller based in Cape Town. We use these guys alot of the time, and I am particularly impressed with what they have to offer. They sell unique, registered EAN and UPC codes at excellent rates (R275 or less). I have looked their codes up and they are the real deal, and are fully registered with the GS1. Another great thing about SA Barcodes is their customer service, they answer their phones and reply to emails which is a great start, they also replied to my queries within a couple of hours which was a pleasant surprise. They are able to deliver their codes, images included, within 24 hours, which is amazing!! For small to medium-sized businesses in SA, there is no comparison, I would recommend them above anyone else at the moment!
Internationally:
I have tried a couple of resellers from overseas, and have met with limited success. While I am still a little skeptical about purchasing from overseas sites as I have no idea where they are actually located, can't talk to them on the phone, and tend to question their offers; I have had some success with a couple of sites.
Buyabarcode: http://www.buyabarcode.com
These guys are great, but expensive! They sell a variety of packages which start from about 50$ (R400) per code. They are also able to do QR-codes, which is useful for media products, vouchers etc. They seem to be reputable and are certainly not a bad choice. Delivery was within a few hours of purchase, which is great.
Simplybarcodes: http://www.simplybarcodes.net/barcode-graphic-own-barcodes.html
Another well-know American Site and one of the biggest on the internet. These guys are also excellent, and can provide printed labels as well as the codes. While this is of little use to you if you are not in the States, if you are, they are probably your best option for this service as their rates are good.
