Do You Need a Barcode Scanner or Printer?

Barcodes: What Are They and Why Do Shops Use Them?

When you visit major retailers, every item has a barcode for speed and accuracy. In consignment, thrift, or resale stores, barcodes can save time and reduce errors, but are they necessary for small or growing shops?

What Does a Barcode Scanner or Printer Actually Do?

• Barcode Scanner: A hand-held device that plugs into your computer, allowing you to ring up sales or inventory instantly by scanning a tag, instead of typing each price or ID.
• Barcode Label Printer: Prints sticky tags or labels with a barcode (and often price, category, description). Attach these to your items for scanning at checkout or during inventory counts.

Pros of Using Barcodes in a Consignment or Resale Shop

• Saves time at checkout scan, ring, and done (especially helpful for shops with lots of small/everyday items).
• Improves accuracy reduces human error in data entry, pricing, or consignor numbers.
• Links every sale to the right consignor for easy payouts and reporting.
• Speedy intake software can batch-print labels for new items in seconds.
• Powerful reports track what is selling fast (or slow) by scanning, not counting by hand or cross-referencing manual tags.

Reasons Some Shops Don’t Use Barcodes At First

• Very small or boutique shops may prefer handwritten tags for a personal touch, especially with unique or vintage goods.
• Manual tags can seem cheaper to start no need to buy a scanner or label printer.
• Low inventory volume may not justify the extra equipment, especially if all items are different and sales are slow.

How to Decide: Barcode or Not?

• If you plan to track sales, inventory, and payouts with consignment software, barcodes are highly recommended for accuracy and speed.
• If you sell under 25 items per week and love the look of handwritten tags, manual can work but limits your growth.
• If you want to run frequent sales, print new tags fast, and avoid mix-ups with consignor numbers, barcode tags and scanners are a must-have even for single-operator shops.

Cost & Setup: What Does It Really Take?

• Reliable barcode scanners start around $30-60 (USB, plug-and-play).
• Label printers for barcodes are usually $100-250 (Dymo, Zebra, Brother are top retail brands). Labels are affordable in bulk.
• No advanced setup is needed with compatible consignment software just plug in and print/scan.

Transitioning from Manual to Barcodes

• Start with manual pricing and tracking if you must, but as your item volume grows, adding barcodes will boost productivity and reduce mistakes.
• Most consignment software lets you print both barcode and plain tags, so you can switch gradually as needed.

FAQ: Barcode Scanners & Printers for Store Owners

Summary: Barcode Readiness Checklist

• Do I want faster checkouts and accurate inventory?
• Will my consignment software work with barcode scanners/printers?
• Can I afford to spend $100-300 to save hours each week and avoid payout errors?
• Do my staff need help with faster intake and tagging?
• If yes to most, a barcode solution is smart even for small shops

Next Steps & Simple Advice

• Read your consignment software’s “hardware compatibility” page before buying new gear
• Compare label printer models known to work with your software (see hardware page)
• If unsure, ask for a demo or call your software vendor’s support before committing

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