Goodbye UPC, Hello DataBar!

Have you noticed that the UPC code that you’re used to seeing on Manufacturers Coupons is not always printing with Coupons.com? I’ve gotten several questions recently about this because people are worried that their coupons aren’t printing correctly. These coupons are fine. This is actually a change coming to coupons to make them scan more accurately it also gives companies the ability to code a coupon with more accuracy to help avoid coupons being used on incorrect products.

The standard 12 bar UPC bar code on the backs of coupons has been replaced by the more advanced barcode system called then DataBar. The DataBar is longer than the UPC and contains expiration dates within the code which will make checkout a breeze!

DataBar is more cashier friendly; it has a better scan rate and also eliminates manual expiration date-checking. Have no fear! Cash registers at major retailers are prepared for the DataBar and smaller locations will be ready soon!

Thanks, Frugal Finders!

Posted by: Heather Schisler This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our Disclosure Policy.

Join the Discussion view comments (18)

Comment

July 6, 2011 | 7:55 am

Mitchell Wischmann

To all of you who are having issues with these coupons, I suggest you print out this post and ask for a manager. If the store’s systems haven’t been upgraded yet, they are supposed to be putting them through manually.

If these won’t scan at Walmart, ask the cashier to try the hand held scanner.
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1. July 6, 2011 | 9:33 am
  
  Laney
  
  I did have a cashier use the handheld scanner at Publix last week & my printables scanned. Otherwise they have been putting them in manually which is a pain for everyone involved!
  Reply
July 6, 2011 | 6:04 am

amanda

i have had issues with coupons.com printing and all they keep telling me is to check i have their coupon printer installed right even though its KNOWN they have been having major issues with their site and there is nothing wrong with my printer. I was just at target last night and was shocked to see the computer tell me a coupon was expired, so their computers seem to be updated. (i didn’t realize it was expired)
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1. July 6, 2011 | 1:05 pm
  
  cassie
  
  My coupons never print on Internet Explorer so I just copy the link and then print it off of Mozilla Firefox. Hth
  Reply
July 6, 2011 | 2:44 am

Willow

I can see that this change will be a big hassle for several years. It is hard enough when coupons are coded in error now. Imagine how many more mistakes the manufacturer can make with coding their coupon with lots of extra stuff. This will prevent some fraud until the unscrupulous figure out a way around these new bar codes.
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July 5, 2011 | 11:34 pm

Sheila

I had a coupon like that and Walmart refused it – said they can’t take it w/o a UPC code.
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July 5, 2011 | 9:54 pm

Lindsey

has anyone tried these at walmart yet? They state they are ready but I dont want them looking at me like I am lying, cheating, and stealing from them.
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July 5, 2011 | 9:43 pm

Amanda Davis

this is not a good thing for smaller stores (especially military stores on post) because not everyone is aware of the change and my commissary is notorious for not knowing coupon rules and they WILL NOT accept coupons without barcodes. this would hurt a lot of us that shop there because of their lower prices, especially in places like here (Alaska) where anything “new” is slow to trickle up this way…i havent noticed anything different on my Q’s lately, and I hope not to until all stores are on board with this change and they are universally accepted!
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July 5, 2011 | 9:41 pm

Laney

Maybe this is why my printables are no longer scanning. For the past 2 or 3 months hardly any of them scan at all! It is getting very frustrating. I hope they make changes to the registers so that they will recognize them in the future because checking out takes way too long anymore!
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July 5, 2011 | 9:20 pm

Tammy

I have a mac and this sometimes works to print the coupons.com coupons.

If you want to print Bricks coupons on a MAC with Safari, replace the “wg”, “wi”, or “vi” to “xs”. You can also do the reverse, take a Safari link “xs” to IE “wi” or “vi” or to FireFox “wg”.

If you want to print Bricks coupons on a MAC with Firefox, replace the “wg”, “wi”, or “vi” to “Xg”. You can also do the reverse, take a Safari link “xs” to IE “wi” or “vi” or to FireFox “wg”.
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July 5, 2011 | 9:18 pm

Tammy

Thanks for letting me know. I had this problem at Target the other day, but she took it anyway.
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July 5, 2011 | 8:31 pm

tiffany

Walmart won’t take them without t he barcode. They won’t scan.
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July 5, 2011 | 8:23 pm

jilllian

i use a macbook and i use safari just fine i don’t have any problems- i have never used firefox or anything , for anything coupon related! and never have problems
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July 5, 2011 | 8:17 pm

Nikki

I tried to use them at 3 different major retailers and none of them would take them. I hope they educate their employees about the change :(
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July 5, 2011 | 8:11 pm

sherry

I have had to throw them away, stores won’t take them without the bar code, especially the military base. The bx won’t even take printed out coupons.
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July 5, 2011 | 8:08 pm

diana

I have a macbook & can’t seem to get coupons to print from coupons.com…any suggestions??
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1. July 5, 2011 | 8:20 pm
  
  Katharine Salas
  
  I also have a Mac and am interested in an answer on being able to print out coupons from coupons.com. I get an error response. I have a feeling it has to do with browser support/compatibility with the website. I always use firefox, which is generally the “friendlier” and more compatible than safari. But do you have problems when using safari and firefox? I hate when sites are only supported with using internet explorer, so annoying!
  Reply
2. July 5, 2011 | 8:39 pm
  
  Bianca
  
  I have a mac, I’ve been able to print from coupons.com using safari.
  Reply