Are these barcode numbers new or used?

All of the barcode numbers we sell originated from the UCC or Uniform Code Council, now known as GS1, prior to August 28, 2002.  The numbers that we sell were sold by the UCC in the mid to late 1990s.

The way barcodes were previously sold was by prefix, which at that time made a full 100,000 barcode numbers. Since each prefix that was sold made such a large quantity of barcode numbers, most times, the original owner only used a few of the numbers and the rest were left untouched. If any of the numbers were used, it was many years ago to the point that they would no longer appear in anyone’s database so essentially it would be just like a brand new number.

Even if you go to GS1 you are not guaranteed to get a brand new number. If get barcodes from them and do not pay their required renewal fees they take the barcodes away from you, hold onto them for 4 or 5 years and then issue them out to someone else.

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