thread Re: Scanning in GTIN on existing item creates variation in Orders, Menu Items, Catalog & Fulfilment

Scanning in GTIN on existing item creates variation

rustyravenng — Sat, 20 Sep 2025 10:19:02 GMT

Hello, we've been using square since mid-2021 and recently started using barcodes for our items. We purchased a barcode scanner and have been going through our existing inventory and adding the barcodes for them (if they exist).

When we edit an existing item and scan the barcode, sometimes a new variation is created where one doesn't exist. I don't think it happens every time.

Does anyone know why this happens? It's annoying to go back and remove the variation since it is not needed.

Re: Scanning in GTIN on existing item creates variation

MayaP — Thu, 04 Apr 2024 14:34:17 GMT

Hello @rustyravenng, thanks for flagging this, I would be happy to help.

With Square for Retail, When creating an item by typing out or scanning a GTIN, you’ll also have the ability to easily find related variations, helping you streamline the item creation process. Once you’ve typed out or scanned a GTIN to create an item, selecting variations will appear throughout the normal workflow.

It sounds like this may be what's happening here however it's hard to know without looking at your account. Could you let me know if this is what you are currently experiencing?

Re: Scanning in GTIN on existing item creates variation

rustyravenng — Wed, 17 Apr 2024 00:20:54 GMT

Nope. That's not what's happening. The item already exists in our inventory. We edit the item from our square terminal and scan the GTIN on the product to enter it in (rather than type it in by hand). Sometimes, a new variation is created when none exists. I attached a screen shot of one of our items where this happened. It doesn't always happen and I haven't figured out the pattern.