UPS is phasing out its barcode scanning system in favor of radio frequency identification RFID
Just saw on news, UPS is doing away with bar codes and switching to RFID tags. They say starting this year and the question is, how is that going to affect printing labels at home. What do I need to prepare for, will we have to use new type of labels to print or will UPS drops put them on.
This what I got googling AI:
"While UPS still uses barcode technology in some legacy systems and for certain customer-facing tracking, the core operational scanning in its 900+ warehouses and trucks is shifting to RFID This means barcodes are being phased out as the primary method for package identification and tracking in UPS’s internal logistics.
In short: Barcodes are not disappearing entirely, but they are being replaced in most operations by RFID for faster, more accurate, and automated tracking."
I'm not freaking out "yet" but just looking ahead, would be a pain having to use two different printers, one for PO and one for UPS.
lakefor94
·4 months agoI do appreciate you all hashing this out right away. Thanks go out to you all.
tobaccocardyahoo
·4 months agoSince many believe that the sky is falling, I will postulate the worst case scenario, which might be the best case for the UPS bottom line.
Small shippers will not be a part of UPS' future. This will be a part of the deliberate efforts by UPS management to reduce costs. No longer will small shippers be able to buy shipping on UPS, other than in person shipments from the UPS stores. Reduced costs on pickups, reduced data center costs, lower damage claims, fewer discounts, fewer brown trucks and drivers, shorter shifts.
USPS will thank UPS for that additional parcel business by shifting more long haul traffic to UPS.
onefootflipper
·4 months agoNeither UPS nor Fedex is going to move to a label system that singular people and most small businesses are incapable of producing.
Nothing is going to change for us. They are just going to slap the extra id sticker on the box like they have already been doing with those little rectangle ones for years.
itsjustasprain
·4 months agoAbsolutely - of course. There is no way that they would suddenly inconvenience so many users by suddenly demanding labels printed only on specific stationery with embedded RFID tags.
They will do an Acceptance scan of the user label barcode or tracking number just like always and then apply an RFID tag to go with it. The unique code of the RFID tag will be logged in their system as part of the tracking data for that package.
kalyoth
·4 months agoYou can eliminate the Small Business part of that argument immediately. When you register with UPS/FedEx, they would likely require you as part of the cost of opening the account to also buy their printer, scale & supplies direct. That has been their standard for least 30 years of my being involved with contracts nationally with either of them. Don't think it won't happen today. ebay would just drop them as direct postage carrier.
onefootflipper
·4 months agoI last had a day job in 2019, We had negotiated rates with both UPS and Fedex. We used Zebra Printers that we always purchased used on ebay, out own scales and UPS sent us pretty much as many thermal labels as we asked for at no charge at all.
You still see UPS branded thermal labels show up by the case on ebay because they are so generous with them. I used to buy those, although these days my youtube shipping supply sponsor sends me so many free samples of what they do sell that I only end up buying boxes and tape.
I am sure contracts vary wildly from one company to another. However I don't believe that UPS and Fedex are just going to throw away all that business from people who can't make that label or all the preprinted return label business (can't put that in the box if it is an RFID label).
adamcartwright
·4 months ago@tsme35
Since it says barcodes are being phased out as "the primary method" of ID/tracking, I read this as UPS adding the RFID label themselves, if necessary.
Major shippers would likely switch over to using the new RFID labels, but for mom and pop sellers, UPS would scan the bar code and add the RFID label themselves.
Just what makes sense to me.
tsme35
OP4 months agoI just called the UPS store near me, and they had to get the manager, according to her, for online sellers it should stay the same. You print and drop off the package; they will tag it. But that is the info for now, doesn't mean it won't change. If I get any free time this week, I might call UPS directly. I'm trying to list as much as I can before the 8% USPS rate increase next week.
simba6
·4 months agoI have seen those on packages. They look like they could be damaged by some printers.
How long before we all will be required to have ID chips implanted ?
tsme35
OP4 months agoI haven't found anything on the start date just that their putting everything in place but was saying in 2026 is all
martin2001
·4 months agoLOL...UPS and fedex chips. You just enter their premises, do a 180 and leave, and they get all the info. They won't even need the package
caldreamer
·4 months agoAnd the worst part, now FedEx is looking into rolling out the same RFID program.
caldreamer
·4 months agoPrinting UPS RFID labels at home is straightforward with the right tools.
Required Equipment
Steps to Print
Considerations
tsme35
OP4 months agoscary part is how much the "right" tools will cost and most likely ebay will have to set up the program using their labels
funfactorychannel
·4 months ago275 for 1500 labels.
The cost is going to be crazy for everyone.
tsme35
OP4 months ago$275 plus the cost of the thermal printer ouch
onefootflipper
·4 months agoAnyone selling at scale should already have a thermal printer anyway. Heck, I keep a backup one in case my primary one goes down.
tsme35
OP4 months agoAs long as the printer is capable to use the tag labels. Not all are.
onefootflipper
·4 months agoI severely doubt that will ever be forced. Instead it will become part of negotiated rates with large volume shippers. Like my last employer had negotiated rates with Fedex and UPS that were slightly better than The ebay or pirate ship ones. Now they are likely going to be saying, "Well Dan, to get the discount you want you need to switch to the RF tag labels."
meme6253
·4 months ago$275 for 1500 labels that's insane!
caldreamer
·4 months agoI think the only way around this is if the Seller (does not print label) but sends QR code to their phone and goes to UPS facility and have UPS print the label.
It would be too cost prohibitive for Sellers to purchase RFID printer and special RFID labels.
tsme35
OP4 months agoThat or print the label and have UPS put a tag on it. But then the question is, the small drop off locations be able to do it the tag. I have a couple that are pharmacies that I drop off sometimes and a UPS store, we had a UPS facility open for an hour but they shut that down last year. Plus, it sucks waiting in line to drop my prepaid packages off while people have to fish through their phone trying to find the code on each return they're dropping off.
I'll have to find out the cost for the labels and printer, doubt it would be cost effective, especially with the constant rate increases as it is
martin2001
·4 months agoWhat about the cost of the printer?
jdbelt1960
·4 months agoAs most of us ship through Ebay's shipping program and do not purchase labels directly from USPS I would expect any changes will be on their end. I could not imagine the burden being put on Ebay sellers.
tsme35
OP4 months agoThis is for UPS not USPS, even tho it would make sense for the PO, maybe they wouldn't lose or play the "where's my package game"
But then again these are the questions I'd like to know before they switch without warning. UPS started equipping the trucks and warehouse's with the readers sensors end of 2024.
martin2001
·4 months ago"where's my package game"...like UPS and FedEx never lost anything nor broke anything. USPS is doping a great job, delivering 23+ mil packages daily, much more the UPS or Fedex.
tsme35
OP4 months agoNever used FEDEX and UPS has never lost any of my packages, broke them but never had to open a search for one. I haven't filed a claim for a lost package for the USPS since ebay started the refund policy last year, came close a few times. I've file a missing package search at least 2-3 times a month because a package will disappear for 6-10 days and that's on the ones the customers let me know about.
lakefor94
·4 months agoI don't know, man. From what I have heard here on the boards, USPS is as close to perfect as they come, nearing sainthood;)
onlinecentral
·4 months agoThe 4x6 inch label will probably have no change.
The 2-1/2 x 1-3/4 label gets added later at a sorting hub. That is when and how the RFID technology will be applied, in my opinion.
dhbookds
·4 months agoI seriously doubt UPS is going to require any great change for individual on line sellers/mailers.......AND the multitude of businesses that use their services. The printing on the label may change.....but requiring special labels/equipment.......nope.......
jdbelt1960
·4 months agoSmall online sellers are slowly being choked out first with tariffs and now with USPS delivery changes.
meme6253
·4 months agoThey are referring to UPS not USPS
kalyoth
·4 months agoUPS RFID Rollout
This appears to potentially make all existing methods w/o special RFID label stock invalid. Will be a fun rollout since many businesses generate return labels with UPS for home printing.
tsme35
OP4 months agoDidn't even think about returns, most buyers print off their paper printer. Also the labels will have to be flat, not in rolls, where can you get the labels, how much more will they cost. I'll have to have a printer for UPS and one for USPS. It's the reason I posted the thread, get prepared and ahead of it before I'm rushing around to set up for it.