Does Anyone Use Barcodes For Inventory?

When we had our store we used a barcode system to keep track of our inventory. It worked real good. It kept track of all our items. At the end of each month we could run all kind of reports. It made life simpler.

Anyone have preferences of "train database" software?

Other than writing something yourself are there choices and how customizable are they?

I can use a simple excel spreadsheet like I do  but I'd love to have some database software  to track my equipment  as well as decals, etc.

The only problem I have see is that you have to setup the code in whatever software you are using. I tried one of the Inventory Apps on the  iphone and it did not recognize the bar codes. So I did some research on barcodes. Unless the code is setup in your private system or a public system it will not be found.   If you have a store and have multiples of items to inventory, and what you are scanning is really in the box, or you actually have the box, it will work. But for a one off collection setting up the codes it is time consuming.

RFID tags would be cool because then I could find the things. ��

Barcodes are nothing more than a series of lines that correlate to the numbers, called SKUs, listed at the bottom of barcode. The scanner reads the lines instead of the numbers. That's it. If the bar code is smudged or unreadable, the cashier merely has to type in the numbers by hand.

So a scanner saves you time by not requiring you to type the numbers. It doesn't unlock any secret information, and you don't need the scanner to use the SKUs for inventory.

But you do need a database to give those SKU numbers some meaning. Without the database, all you have is some numbers. If you brought the box from your favorite Lionel and MTH locomotive to a grocery store and had the cashier scan the barcode, the store's computer registers would display a message that says something like "number not recognized." It sees the numbers but doesn't recognize what those numbers represent.

It's possible for the manufacturers or distributors to share that database via the Internet, if they chose to, but even then the information in the database is limited. It tells the retailer the stock number, basic description and price, not the features of a locomotive or other information listed in the catalog. You would still need to fill out your inventory manually for that information.

As mentioned in order to take advantage of barcodes, well the ones on the boxes, you need access to a database that uses that barcode.
The barcodes from Lionel, MTH etc. boxes are usually the sku of the item plus additional numbers. If you go to eBay's site and scan the object while the search box has the focus it should be able to find the item. This will actually work on the manufacturers websites as well (provided that you can search for the barcode value or the search is a 'contains any' search).

RFIDs are pretty cool, but integrating them can be a bit of a pain, unless you have access to RFID scanner and perhaps some coding skills.

If the item has a barcode, I use it. I just use it to see info on the item, then I manually put it in the database I use. I just use a scanner app for my iPhone...

Hey thanks for all the responses. Just curious; what is an RFID exactly? Is that another name for a barcode?

Rod

Rod Stewart posted:

Hey thanks for all the responses. Just curious; what is an RFID exactly? Is that another name for a barcode?

Rod

It's a tiny circuit, many times used in packaging for items that stores would like to be able to track easily, such as for theft monitoring.  (ever have them forget to wipe something past a pad at the register and then have the alarm go off as you walk out the door? - I think that might be the RFID not being set in their database as "OK to leave")

If you've ever bought a DVD/CD lately, there is most times a rectangular package with a sticky back inside the package.  It also can be done printed directly on a sticker without the plastic package, I believe.

I couldn't find a pic of the one I mention being enclosed with DVDs, but here's a pic of one of the sticker type ones.  The side shown would have the sticky stuff and be facing down, so there can be regular printing on the other side.

-Dave

Dave;

Thanks for that info. Have seen those of course, but did not know that is what they are called.

Rod

Set up time would be huge IMHO....once done....great!

AMCDave posted:

Set up time would be huge IMHO....once done....great!

Dave; my thinking exactly.  I may dabble with it a bit, but it's likely not practical.

Rod

Prefer the kind of bar that doesn't require any stinkin' codes.  Forget wasting time inventorying toy trains.

Radio Frequency Identification Code

Lionel bar codes used to be straightforward, but not anymore.

used to always be 023922xxxxxC, where xxxxx is the five digit Lionel SKU.  C is the check digit which can be calculated from the first 11 characters.  So basically from the five digit SKU can get the full bar code.  On many of the newer 8xxxx numbers, the bar code doesnt use any portion of the SKU.