Why must certain stores stick on their own UPC labels?
 

Why do some store chains need to apply their own UPC label to the backs of DVD packages?

I've seen the same DVD in one store just have the one it originally came with and then the that DVD at another store with a big white one stuck over the original one.

Sometimes its even the same # on it.My Cinderella one for example.

Well , the only time I see it mainly is with the stores "bonus" that is included. So that they can track the sales of that version of it.

Not true.

My South Park Season 5 (from Target) actually had one stuck UNDER the shrink wrap, and I've seen some at other that did not have that.

Most stores slap on their own UPCs (even though they are the same numbers sometimes) to avoid fraudulant returns.

For example, if I buy Batman Begins at Wal-Mart for $16, their unique UPC prevents me from taking it to Best Buy and returning it for the full price.

And even though the UPC numbers might be the same, they are set up differently somehow (I'm not technically proficient with this aspect of the system), so you can't return DVDs to stores you didn't buy them from.

I hope that made sense.

I have seen some of the bigger stickers contain anti-theft devices.

To keep the man down.

To piss you off.

To help support the overseas sticker manufacturers.


But I know whatcha mean. I thought maybe it had to do with standardizing the UPC itself so the store's barcode readers didn't have problems.

:shrug:

But without a receipt, you can't get cash back anyway at most places.

store credit is just as good. and ill use the nightmare collection i got at ddd for example. there i got if for 34.xx. at best buy its still 89.xx. that would be a nice chunk of change to spend in a store.

Actually most places won't give you full price anymore without a reciept. They're computers automatically give you the cheapest sale price in the past six months.

Some DVD titles have different UPC codes based on the security device that has been placed inside the case. Chains like Target, Wal-Mart, Best Buy, Circuit City, etc. must purchase product containing security tags that match the systems they have installed at their front doors. Often studios will need multiple UPC codes to identify the security system being used. The boxes are printed for the bulk of the distribution and stickers (those under the shrink-warp) are added to identify an alternate type of security tag.