Barcodes for Consignment Software

What Are Barcodes?

Barcodes are a series of vertical parallel lines (of varying widths and distances apart) that represent information about an object or product that when scanned (with bar-code scanners) display or enter said information in software programs (like Best Consignment Software).

How Are Barcodes Used?

Barcodes are printed on price labels, hang tags and various products so they can be scanned at POS to hasten checkout and to find records of inventory items.

Consignment Software and Barcodes

Best Consignment Software makes barcodes optional and automatically assigns codes as inventory items are entered.

Bar codes used in consignment and resale shops are mostly 12 digits in length. The first 6 digits are the manufacturer's ID and the next 5 are the item number. The 12th digit is known as a 'check' or 'cut' digit which lets the scanner know if the number was scanned correctly. This is not necessary with BCSS so it is usually necessary to configure or calibrate the scanner to 'cut' (ignore) the 12th - by reading this code (or one applicable to the make/model):

cutdigit

Print Barcode Labels with Consignment Software

With Best Consignment Software, labels can be printed as inventory is entered, or any time after using 'filters' (settings) to define which labels to print.

They can be printed by category, consignor, disposition (of unsold inventory - donate, return, destroy, transfer to shop ownership), date in, date discounted, date of last sale, description, details, item # range or price range. Labels can also be selected for printing from a list of items, allowing specific labels to be printed.

They can be sorted when printed by category, consignor, date in, discount date, item ID, % share, price or quantity.

Add New Inventory in Best Consignment Software

Press F3.

Select a Consignor and click OK. The New-Item Screen will open with the Consignor's ID auto-entered.

If part or all of the consignor's last name was used as the ID, that will appear in the ID field. Using part or all of the consignor's last name will help identify ownership later when viewing an Item ID.

The number appearing in the Item Number field will be appended by BCSS to the Consignor ID to form the Item ID. If Smith was used as the Consignor ID, the first item entered for Smith will be one and the Item ID for that item will be Smith-1.

Label Description - This description appears on the Price Tag. Space on the label is limited to 20 characters so make the description as descriptive as possible.

Select a Category. If the selected category has been associated by User-Defined Groups (See Manual, Inventory, User-Defined Groups), selecting the category will change the names of the fields 'User-Defined Inventory Group' to the Group-Defined Names . Use the drop-down arrows in each box to select appropriate options.

Enter up to 100 characters in the Details Field. This description will appear on Detailed Labels and Detailed Inventory Reports.

Change the Consignor % (in decimal form) if necessary. (The default is .40 (40%).)

Enter Selling Price.

Click on New Picture and navigate to the location (on the computer) of the picture to add a picture of the item to the Item Record.

Select a Sales Location (Store #1, #2, Downtown, etc.) if applicable.

Press Cancel to clear the entry or Press OK to save the Record.

To view the newly-added item, use the Scroll Button on the List Screen to scroll down to the last Entry in the Inventory List:

Barcodes at POS

With Best Consignment Software scanning a barcode at POS instantly populates the new-sale screen with details about the item being purchased: Item ID, Description, Price, Quantity and Consignor, making this method of data entry highly preferable to alternate methods which require choosing items from lists and typing in item information (like the bar-code numbers).

Of course more than one item can be scanned for the same invoice (and up to five invoices may be open at once). The total and taxes are computed and displayed. Dollar or percent discounts can be applied and the salesperson can be designated. The clerk enters the method(s) of payment. If a credit card is selected, the amount of the sale is entered as the amount of payment (and can be edited). Change due, if any, is calculated and displayed.

Barcode Practicality

In summary, stores selling more than just a few items in a month's time will find time saved and mistakes avoided both before and at the point of sale. Keep in mind that patrons of consignment and resale stores shop at other outlets and are accustomed to seeing organization, correctness and fast checkout. Money spent on software and hardware compatible with barcoding will see a high return on investment.