After weeks and weeks, Diamond finally informed us about their barcode policy. Here is the complete un-edited email they sent us:

Dear Vendor:

Please be advised, that, effective for product shipping to Diamond Comic Distributors, Inc. (Diamond) as of January 2008, Diamond will require all items to be marked or labeled with the appropriate scanner friendly bar code. Solid packed case quantities of items should also include bar codes on the case label or case markings. The preferred placement of the bar code for printed matter is on the front or back cover.

While we realize obtaining and using bar codes may be an inconvenience for some of you, we are implementing this policy to better serve our retail customers, a growing number of whom are routinely scanning UPC bar codes in their daily cash register sales and inventory control operations. In addition, Diamond will be offering and supporting a Point of Sale system for our direct market retailers starting in mid-October 2007. We anticipate a large number of Diamond’s retailers will be on board and using Diamond’s POS system in 2008. Therefore, it will be imperative that we provide them with accurate bar code data when ordering and readable bar codes on the products we are shipping. This will lead to better sales tracking and order tracking on the retail side, which will ultimately lead to increased orders for our vendors’ products. All vendors will be required to provide Diamond with bar code data for their items when submitting their items for solicitation.

Different types of products generally carry different types of bar codes.
Here are some general rules.
Comics – UPC Code
Magazines – UPC Code
Graphic Novels and Books – ISBN 13 / EAN Other Merchandise – UPC Code

Information about standards and procedures for obtaining UPC bar codes can be obtained from GS1 US (formerly the Uniform Code Council) at http://www.uc-council.org.

UPC bar codes can also be obtained through one of the following authorized UPC resellers:
* Simply Barcodes (http://www.UPCcode.us)
* http://www.buyabarcode.com
* http://www.upcexpress.com
* http://www.legalbarcodes.com

A scannable bar code must be printed or stickered on all items shipped. At DCD’s sole discretion, items received without a valid scannable bar code may be either returned to the vendor, or assessed a $150.00 per sku/per shipment processing fee, as well as an additional $.20 per piece fee to cover expenses associated with creating, printing and stickering each piece for distribution (both fees subject to future increases). Distribution of items which arrive without valid bar codes (and are not returned to the vendor) may be delayed up to six weeks. The vendor shall extend full return privileges to both DCD and Retailers on all items stickered by DCD.

If you have any questions or concerns about this policy, or require additional information about how to obtain a UPC bar code for your items, please contact your Diamond Purchasing Brand Manager.

Thank you in advance for your understanding and compliance with this much-needed technology upgrade for our retailers.

Sincerely,
Bill Schanes
Vice President of Purchasing
DIAMOND COMIC DISTRIBUTORS, INC.

It’s nice to finally know these details. It’s also nice to find out that they are only requiring a UPC and not an ISBN number on comics which is big money difference. It also cracks me up that Diamond makes a sales pitch for their new POS system in the email. Clearly the barcodes were instated JUST for their new system.