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CHARGEBACK CORNER:  Barcode Labels

Chargebacks related to barcode labels - specifically the carton and pallet labels - are often related to barcodes that cannot be scanned.  The vendor is responsible for ensuring top-quality barcode labels when packages are shipped. 

Laser-printed barcode labels may look good to the eye and scan correctly, but may not be robust enough to survive the shipping process.  Remember, you goods may be unloaded and then reloaded at a third-party distribution company's facility before being delivered to your customer's store or distribution center.  While the third-party company may accidentally cause a barcode label to become unreadable due to handling, the vendor does have the responsibility to use a barcode label capable of withstanding "reasonable" shipping environments and handling.

Barcode printers are capable of printing in both thermal and thermal-transfer mode.  In thermal mode, there is no ribbon and the printer changes the label's composition, turning white areas/dots into black, via the heated print-head.  Thermal labels are typically easy to smudge, and do not hold up as well as those printed in thermal-transfer mode.

Thermal-transfer printing involves using a ribbon between the print head and label.  The ribbon is transferred to the label by the heated print-head.  Thermal-transfer labels are typically smudge-resistant.  In addition, even though this process involves using a ribbon, because the label composition is different than thermal, the ribbon and thermal-transfer label stock combined can cost as much as 75% less than thermal labels alone!

In both cases (thermal and thermal-transfer) the label stock can be composed of just paper or a stronger, paper-polyester combination, which helps to ensure the label survives the handling during transportation.  It is also very important to match the label stock to the correct ribbon for thermal-transfer printing.

Another consideration is whether to get gloss or flat coated labels.  Gloss coated labels will reflect light, and are typically used in low-light environments.  Flat coated labels do not reflect light, and are typically used in bright-light environments.  If your trading partner is having problems reading your labels, you might need to switch coatings.  Gloss coating in a bright-light environment may be throwing too much ambient light back to the barcode scanner causing read delays or errors.