What’s with those bar code stickers on top of CD jewel cases?
It only began about 7-8 years ago.
What’s wrong with the bar code on the back of the CD? In fact, I’ve never seen a cashier scan the top anyways.
Why aren’t they part of the plastic wrapper? I have dozens of CDs where there are remnants of these horrible little stickers. “Pull here”, my arse.
Who makes these and what’s the point? Please help.
billy
I believe the point is to see if you’ve opened (and thus possibly copied) the CD. Once the seal is broken, stores will only give you the same CD in exchange. You can’t get cash or store credit if it’s been opened.
WAG: If you have a rack of CDs, you can scan them from above for inventory purposes without having to remove them and scanning the code on the back.
I had a friend who had a scam he referred to as “burn and return.” He’d buy a CD from a big store, like Coconuts. Take off the outter celophane wrapper. Delicately slip the CD out of the case WITHOUT removing that sticker thing. Burn CD. Return CD to store, making up some excuse about the CD being a gift, and he already had it or something. He’d get an in store credit. He’d get another CD. Rather and Rinse, returning CD to different branch of chain.
Of course, as this mildly smells of fraud, piracy and a number of other crimes, I am opposed to it. On the record, anyway.
Heavy inventory guy checks in:
Yes, as well as the fact that bar codes are not all the same, they have their own subclasses (UPC, EAN, etc)
The labeling generated by the stores inventory system is 100% compatible with the stores inventory tracking tools. It may also include additional information (title, artist, album name) printed in clear text, something many record covers lack. If a store refuses to accept returns without the sticker its more likely a bonus not the intent of the system to prevent fraud. Many CD’s I have seen lately have adhesive seals and such for that.