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Longer Bar Codes Coming in 2005

D_Fresh writes "The same thing that's happening to phone numbers is also happening in retail. The NYT (blahfreeregnotreallyblah) has a story about longer bar codes which will be required for U.S. retailers by 2005. Apparently they're running out of 12-digit codes and need to add a digit, but the code rework for this is non-trivial. Some shortsighted chains *cough*Kmart*cough* may be caught with their pants down in late 2004, since some scanners will simply crash if they scan a 13-digit code they can't handle. Enjoy your :CueCats while they last..."

5 of 351 comments (clear)

  1. Twelve Digits by LeftHanded · · Score: 5, Funny

    Twelve digits ought to be enough for everyone...

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    I think...I think it's in my basement. Let me go upstairs and check. -M.C. Escher (1898-1972)
  2. If only... by rbgaynor · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...AOL had not insisted on a new barcode for every update of their free CDROM we'd have plenty of numbers left...

    --
    "Good things don't end with eum, they end with mania or teria." - H. Simpson
  3. Re:Barcodes aren't unique anyway by unicron · · Score: 3, Funny

    I worked retail for a couple of years and in two or three instances I found duplicates.

    I knew I had seen those 3 black bars next to that little black bar before...but where!?

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    Finally, math books without any of that base 6 crap in them.
  4. Oh no... by Misch · · Score: 3, Funny

    Does this mean that I'm going to have to get the barcode that's tatooed onto the back of my neck redone?

    --

    --You will rephrase your request for me to go to hell. Goto statements are not acceptable programming constructs
  5. Cue Cat Stevens by MountainLogic · · Score: 4, Funny

    Longer bar codes are coming to win us They're coming to win us, they're coming to win us Longer boats are coming to win us Hold on to the core, they'll be taking the key from the door. ;-)