Anyone using UPCs to inventory their collection?

Hmmm. Years ago I purchased a reader for skews! Software and the whole bit. Spent over 2K on it and it never worked out for my business. At that time you had to manually enter all the skews. 

Fast forward to day. I have an app on my iPhone. When I am in a store sometimes I will scan a bar code and within seconds the full product, pictures and description and pricing comes up. It can store that bar code but I never thought of implementing that into an inventory program. You have a great idea there. Brick and mortar stores frown on people coming in to use their store as a display for Internet purchases. If you watch you will see people checking items out, trying them on etc. then scan the item and it will give them best prices on net. I typically buy from the brick and mortars. 

I just purchased a Mike's steam engine today. I will scan it with phone and post results when I get home. 

I used Red Laser, a free app on iPhone. When I scan a Coach purse, tons of info comes up. When I scan a MTH item it just comes up "this item is from Mike's Tain House". 

I am guessing the manufacturer dictates how much information is available through the bar code. Also when I use my inventory to scan bar code it just shows the product ID number. You have to enter all info yourself which is useless. 

I am sure there will be day we can do this. Still a great idea. 

Just scanned a box that arrived today. Doesn't give specifics, just "O Scalke SD70ACe w/Protosounds 2 CNW/Heritage" Gives Manufacturer, Studio, Publisher, Label as MTH Electric Trains and an EAN and UPC as 0658081234014, and a binding as "Toy."

I used "ScanLife" for Android. Not a whole lot of usable info.

Good idea!

Yes, I have an inventory program in FileMaker, Windows version.  My database is functional for my needs but would need polish to release to others.  It is a relational database, my inventory - MFG data.  MTH lets their dealers download a upc file for each catalog back to 2001, some of the early ones are incomplete.  I need 2012 RTR and 2012 V2 from MTH, my source has dried up.  Also, I have started to build the ATLAS and Lionel catalog files but have a long way to go.  If anyone has them built or knows of a source, I would appreciate a copy.

The barcode reader is easy,  Get one that plugs into a USB port.  It will enter the UPC data into your document/field just like a keyboard.  I have a Metrologic from NewEgg a number of years a go.  Checking NewEgg now there are some $40+ ones that have good ratings.

Weaver/Crown do not use UPC codes.  Don't have any older Williams but Bachmann does.

UPC codes are a quick and accurate way to look up a model if you have the data.  Since I have more train stuff than I can put out at one time a data base is a quick and easy way to see what I have.  I have a pdf report file I carry on my smart phone.  I may have to get the unreleased mini-Ipad just to run FileMaker Go.

Dan

Wasn't the LCCA doing a project to identify all the Lionel products via their UPC codes. Does anybody know what happened to that?

Al