The Home Depot Barcode Testing Center


The Home Depot Logistic Barcode Testing FAQ's
Q. Do all THD vendors need to have their shipping cartons and labels certified?
The THD barcode requirements are applicable to all Home Depot vendors shipping to RDC with the exception of Lumber, Live goods, & Special Orders.
Q. Are barcode samples required for every item we ship to Home Depot?
Vendors do not need to provide samples for every item. THD logistic barcode certification is needed for every size carton (direct print) and/or every size of printed label which will be processed through the RDC supply chain. Certification is required for all ship/production points.

During the registration process, a GTIN (12 digit for UPC-A and 14 for ITF-14) is requested for each submitted sample. This information is used solely to identify each provided sample.
Q. We have multiple ship/production locations which use identical size printed labels and direct printed cartons. Do we need to send in samples from all the locations?
Yes. Test samples are required from all ship/production locations, even if similar size cartons and labels are utilized. Due to differences in material, equipment, software, and training, it is very common for differences in print quality and compliance. Certification by ship location illustrates your company's comprehensive ability to meet the THD barcode requirements.
Q. Can we send in mockup test samples?
No. Actual live samples are mandatory. In order to evaluate compliance, only actual cartons and labels must be submitted for testing.
Q. What is the turnaround for test results?
Vendors should receive e-mail results within 3 business days of receipt at Bar Code Graphics.
Q. How do I know if my test submissions were received?
We recommend vendors send sample submissions using a shipping method which enables shipment tracking and delivery. Once a package is received and the Testing Agreement is processed, the primary listed contact will receive an e-mail notification indicating the samples are in the process of being evaluated. Please do not call Bar Code Graphics checking to see if your package has been received, unless it has been more than 24 hours since your tracking information indicated a package was delivered.
Q. Do we need to ship entire empty cartons for logistic barcodes directly printed on corrugate boxes?
Vendors do not need to ship entire empty boxes for evaluations. The panel of the carton may be cut out as long as there is 2" free space around all sides of the barcode. Please make sure the barcode is not impacted by any folds or other markings. DO NOT SHIP BOXES WITH MERCHANDISE!
Q. What factors are being evaluated for barcode certification?
THD logistic barcodes are tested for dimensional compliance, ISO/ANSI Print Quality, and proper formatting. Although the GS1 Company Prefix will be checked for proper positioning and ownership, GTIN data is accuracy is not tested.
Q. My company has many ship locations and multiple size cartons with direct printed barcodes. Is there a price break for large quantities of tests?
Per submission, the cost for a single testing sample is $50.00. For submissions with multiple samples, the first test sample is $50.00 and additional test samples are $40.00 each.
Q. If a particular submission does not pass certification, how will I know how to rectify the problem(s)?
Evaluations which do not pass certification will be accompanied by an issue summary, a ANSI/ISO print quality scan report, a digital image, and corrective actions which need to be taken to correct stated compliance issues. Vendors are required to re-submit samples until a particular size carton/label is deemed certified.