Trouble using variations and GTIN in Square for Retail

[mtg535]

I am selling books, some of which come in hardcover and paperback with different GTIN (ISBN) numbers. I have them listed with the title in 2 variations and have added the GTIN numbers that apply to each. When I scan the barcode with the Square for retail app on an Iphone I get the message that no item is found with that number. Books that are only available in one format, so no variation required, scan and add to the cart with no issue. Any thoughts before I just make a whole bunch of duplicate items rather than using variations?

[Candlestore]

@mtg535 ;

I have seen where others have had issues with scanning books because the ISBN barcode has the ISBN +5 barcodes.  The +5 is for editions etc.  

Now I have 1 idea that may or may not work.

List the book as the Name of the book and then add the version or edition as a variation.

If you can scan the complete Barcode with the +5 , Instead of saving it as a GTIN save it as a SKU.  SKU can have 40 Characters I believe, where as the GTIN field must follow certain formats and character lengths.  

I do not sell books so I have no examples of this at my store so I am putting it here to find tomorrow.  I never scanned a ISBN barcode and was wondering if this would work.  For this image put in 97[Redacted]051195 for the SKU field and then try scanning the Barcode and see if this finds the Item in Squares catalog   call it Test.  

From everything I have tried in the past with barcodes with +5 etc characters it does not work but I just thought of the SKU field tonight instead of the GTIN field.  

When I try to scan this Barcode all I get is 97[Redacted]0 on my cell, and it is not seeing the 51195.

If this is the case you could Make Item "Book Name"

Variation 'Soft Cover 51195'  with SKU 51195.... but have all variations have the same GTIN of 97[Redacted]0,

Then at checkout when you scan the item you will get Found Item 97[Redacted]0 and a drop down of all your variations to choose from since they all have the same GTIN.  This is why I say in the Variation Name put what makes it different Hard, Soft Cover... Edition 3, 4 , etc along with the +5 numbers.   If you have the +5 numbers in the Variation Name with a space before and after the 51195 you may be able to search just for that on the checkout screen to populate the 1 correct book unless 51195 in ISBN languae is for a Soft book cover, then you would get all Soft books to scroll through for example.  

I have done this for my Pumpkin scented candles that are custom made.  Since I do not have the scent made I do not have one to ring up at checkout.  So the barcode for the Pumpking jar is used in the GTIN field for all my scents as varaiations for my 70 oz Pumpkin Jar.  So when someone wants a Pumpkin Spice Jar ordered I scan an empty Display jar, then Square pops up all my scents so I can choose the 1 Scent the customer is ordering.  The scents are listed as the Name for the Variation and the SKU is the correct SKU for that Item when I print my barcodes.  So my barcode for a 70oz Pumpkin Spice candle is "70oz Pumpkin Spice".  So if I scan the empty Jar I have to choose the scent BUT if I scan the 70oz Pumpkin Spice SKU, it automatically populates.  Square will give you a warning saying that GTIN or SKU already exsists which I say ok make the item anyway.  

Below are images from my Square Dashboard of how I have this setup and you can see the gold warning from Square that the GTIN was used more than once.

I do not know if this will work for you but was an idea I had since I do not think Square can scan ISBN numbers correctly yet.

[mtg535]

Thanks for your thoughts. Square does recognize the ISBN in the GTIN field as long as I don't have any variations in the book listing. It is reading the bar code correctly and ignores the +5. It's when I have variations as part of the entry that I get the item not found message. Happens when the numbers are stored in either the GTIN or SKU fields. I've tried doing it like you are - duplicate GTIN and unique SKU for each variation. Still doesn't add to the cart. I'm scanning using the Iphone camera into Square for Retail on an Iphone.

Guess I'll change them all to separate listings rather than use variations. 

[JemDesigns]

I have this same issue with clothing where each size is a different variation but it won't recognise the variations only if they all are separate items with no variations.

[Candlestore]

For each variation do you have a Unique SKU or GTIN for each variation?

Since you say you have the same issue that it won't recognise variations.... I would need more details on what your variations in Square look like, how are they entered etc.  

The other reason I need more help with this is because you have the same issue, but the original post was about ISBN barcodes which square does not recognize since the are a barcode +5 extra digits.  This is to help book seller distinguish the different printings or editions of a printed book.  Paper back vs Hard cover for example.

In your Item Clothing do have a SKU at all for the Size variations?  As you see in my reply above with images I have the same GTIN for all my variations with a UNIQUE SKU for each.  If I scan the GTIN, Square gives me a drop box to select which Variation I want.  If I print my SKU barcode and scan that Square recognizes it and adds that specific item to the cart.  

Would you be able to post an image of your item and variations like I have above?

[LOKLGeneral]

I have the same problem with books, it is incredibly frustrating.  I even delete the "synced" products from Faire and create new products with the "sku" or ISBN and it still will not work.  Why isn't square responding to this?

[JJ_]

Hello there @LOKLGeneral  

For this one, I recommend reaching out to our support team, so they can pinpoint what is going on with your account. They can be reached at 855-700-6000 between 6 am - 6 pm Pacific Time Monday-Friday. 

You can also get in touch with our Messaging and Email Support Teams here.