Are Chargebacks Costing You Time & Money?

Avoiding Chargebacks Caused by Bad Barcodes

Barcode-related chargebacks can happen for a wide variety of reasons. These include unreadable labels, wrong barcode formats, poor print quality, incorrect data encoding, missing quiet zones, label damage, or inconsistent label placement. In many instances, one labeling configuration error can affect every label and/or carton in a shipment, which means a small root-cause problem can scale into repeated deductions until corrected.

Common Barcode Problems That Lead to Chargebacks

Other Common Issues with Barcode Labels Can Include:

• Incorrect barcode symbology
• Insufficient quiet zones around the barcode
• Improper label placement on seams, curves, edges or damaged surfaces
• Use of low-quality label materials or ribbons
  

Simple Ways to Prevent Barcode-Related Chargebacks

• Use recognized standards
  - Follow GS1 standards and each retailer’s routing guide or labeling requirements for product, case, carton, and pallet labels.
• Control print quality
  - Standardize printer settings, darkness, speed, ribbon, label stock, and maintenance routines to reduce scan failures.
• Protect quiet zones and sizing
  - Maintain adequate blank space around the barcode and ensure that size, height, and density meet requirements.
• Standardize label placement
  - Define exact label positions on cartons and pallets so scanners can find codes quickly and consistently.
  

Conclusion

One simple method to avoiding chargebacks caused by bad barcodes requires the use of quality materials and equipment. INOPAK's coding experts are here to help you reduce your operational costs and increase line efficiencies. Contact us today for an evaluation of your process!