Glossary Term
UPC (Universal Product Code)
A 12-digit barcode used extensively in North America for tracking trade items in retail stores.
The Standard for Retail
If you’ve ever bought anything in a US grocery store, you’ve used a UPC. It is the most common form of GTIN (Global Trade Item Number) in the world. For Amazon sellers, the UPC is usually what you need to create a new product listing (the ASIN).
UPC vs. FNSKU
A UPC identifies the product (e.g., this model of headphone). An FNSKU identifies the product *and* the seller. Amazon prefers you use FNSKUs because they prevent your inventory from being mixed with other sellers of the same product (commingling).
- Must be registered with GS1 to be valid on Amazon.
- Used to generate the unique ASIN identifier.
- Essential for selling in physical retail stores.