Square for Retail enters SKU into GTIN field on Create Item when we scan SKU of new item

[StuartC]

We use the SKU field to identify items not the GTIN. We used to  be able to step into the SKU field and scan our item's barcode into the SKU field. After a recent update Square enters data only into the GTIN field. We have to copy the number and then paste into SKU field and then delete spaces in the SKU field. How can we just scan the bar code into the SKU field?

[Interluxe]

Hi, StuartC.

I'm trying to replicate your problem on my end, as we operate the same way you do. However, I'm not having any issue clicking into the SKU field and scanning the barcode and having it stick. Where I **DO** have a problem is if I use the AutoCreate function to scan. That one does specify that it will fill in the GTIN field if you use it. I usually start there to pull in any information that might auto-populate the data and/or a picture for the product, then clean up the GTIN and SKU fields. Other than that, scanning a barcode while in the SKU field is still working for me, so I'm wondering if you might have some other issue?

[StuartC]

We use the create item bar in Square for Retail (under Items) click into the SKU field and scan barcode of item. The number populates GTIN and not SKU field. We don't use auto create. It was working correctly about 1-2 weeks ago and I suspect Square made an update that is creating problems

[Candlestore]

@StuartC ;

I can replicate what you are doing when I scan a GTIN or an all number Barcode that is in the same format of a GTIN.

Now if I scan 5 digits or 7 with a letter then the SKU sticks.  

My question is, if X item has a SKU and when you scan it in it populates to a GTIN, what is the harm if it is for your system?

When someone comes to pay and you scan the item, Square looks in the SKU, GTIN fields first for the item.  

My other question is this an item you created the SKU for, or is it just a item you bought to resell that has a barcode on it?

I am trying to understand the issue of it populating in the GTIN field since you are using a GTIN formatted number instead of a SKU format for the SKU field?  Yes I know this worked before and Square has worked on these fields because businesses have been complaining that the Autoformat was invasive.  

So if the Barcode you scan populates into the GTIN field is this hurting anything?  Are you using both the GTIN and the SKU fields?  I am trying to understand the issue.

I have items in QuickBooks that have a GTIN, SKU, and a MPN and all 3 are used.  In Square some items have a GTIN and other have a SKU and then I have some that actually have the GTIN and a SKU field so if while checking out we scan the wrong barcode the item still appears.   So does your item have 2 barcodes and 1 you want as a SKU and not a GTIN?

I tried scanning a Barcode in to create an item, GTIN auto filled, Grabbed a Different item to scan the Barcode as a SKU and it erased the original GTIN.  So I typed in a GTIN into the SKU and it held.   Then save the item and I could scan either barcode and it pulled up the newly created item.

So I am just trying to understand why you need this barcode as a SKU not being able to use it in the GTIN field.

I am using Square 6.48 if that makes any difference to why I can replicate this and @Interluxe  can not replicate this issue.

[StuartC]

Entering aa GTIN hurts nothing for my bricks and mortar sales but...working with my online store creates huge problems.

1-Item is created/scanned at pos with ipad, scanned with product bar code on vendor packaging.

2- Square places scanned number in GTIN field. no problem so far...then

3- Item is passed to me to add photo etc and place online (square website)

4 I scan the bar code on the item using scan gun to identify the item and Square doesn't recognize the GTIN number in the Online portion of the dashboard, Square Online is looking for the SKU. I have to type in the item description to identify item which may or may not match what was entered at item creation and I don't get a good search result. 

So...Square wants to enter bar code as GTIN at Item creation but Square Online is looking for the barcode to be SKU. It seems Square for Retail POS does not work with Square Online dashboard

[Candlestore]

@StuartC:

What happens if you export your Square Catalog, and Copy your SKU field into your GTIN field?

I use GTIN and SKU fields with Square for Retail and have not had this issue.  When I scan a Barcode Square looks in SKU or GTIN field at the Point Of Sale.  Now for the Website this might be different as your customer would not be scanning in a Barcode to look for the item.  But might be typing in a SKU number (code) to find an item.  So if you place the GTIN in both fields through a csv or excel spreedsheet, that might help you out.  Problem would be if you need both the SKU and GTIN to be different. 

I do not use Square for my Website which is why I can not try this myself.  I just tried Searching on my Website for my MPN which returned 0 results, entered a GTIN and SKU and both of these were found, after I saved the changes.

The other thing I know is sometimes Square formates the GTIN with Blank spaces in it, but when it shows in the spreedsheet there are no spaces in the GTIN.  If you type in the GTIN with Spaces you may get an error or it may work but be different from what your scanning.  

Here is one of my items with the SKU and GTIN fields being the same and I have had no issues Scanning this item at the POS, maybe try this for Online.  Scan or Copy the GTIN field to the SKU fields and see if this helps.  The image below just shows you can put GTIN in the SKU field also.

Token

Item Name

Variation Name

Unit and Precision

SKU

Description

Category

SEO Title

SEO Description

Permalink

GTIN

Square Online Item Visibility

Item Type

Weight (lb)

Shipping Enabled

Self-serve Ordering Enabled

Delivery Enabled

Pickup Enabled

Price

Online Sale Price

Archived

Sellable

Stockable

Skip Detail Screen in POS

Option Name 1

Option Value 1

Default Unit Cost

Default Vendor Name

Default Vendor Code

Current Quantity

New Quantity

Stock Alert Enabled

Stock Alert Count

Tax - Pa Sales Tax (6%)

YPU2FDGU

10 in Burgundy Formal

Regular

076001501037

Tapers Formal

076001501037

Physical

N

Y

[MadeInMansfield]

I have a similar problem. We do not use GTIN yet sometimes when adding a new item and scanning the SKU square randomly populated the GTIN field AND then changed yhe item name to something completely random and nothing at all to do with our business. 

[Candlestore]

@MadeInMansfield ;

How are you scanning the New item ito Square, with a scanner connected to a POS using an App or using SquareDashboard on a computer?

Square use to be able to Scan new items into the SKU field in the app but recently I have noticed scanning new items into my Square Stand only fills in the GTIN field on my items I buy with a Barcode already on them.  Now if I create a Barcode myself an add 1 Letter in the Barcode, Square recognizes this as a SKU and not a GTIN.  I was testing this out with the Auto Populate before, and some Items were correct and other Items for example were way off.  Like a can of Dr Thunder came up as a Business Scanner Copier that looks to be 3 or 4 feet tall and I have a video of this in the forum here somewhere.  This might be because the Barcode GTIN was imput to the Database of GTINs incorrectly that Square uses to populate the information for Items.  What I have done is leave Square use the GTIN field and then Auto create a SKU and use that or copy the GTIN into the SKU field on a computer in Square because the App does not let you do that.  You can also see my post was from 8-3-2024 and was for Square App version 6.48, Squares app version that I checked in my systems last was 6.55w.  Just showing that Square has had updates since and just seeing if you have the newest version on your device.  Also if Square says Item is X when it is really B for example you can edit the Name and the description to match what You want.

[Candlestore]

@StuartC ;

Since this is happening to you with a SKU, I am guessing your SKU is close to a GTIN format. Because I can not replicate the problem you are also having.  Then again I use mainly CSVs to edit productucts or add products.

GTINs may be eight, 12, 13, or 14 digits long, and each of these four numbering structures are constructed in a similar fashion, combining Company Prefix, Item Reference and a calculated Check Digit (GTIN-14 adds another component- the Indicator Digit, which can be 0–9).

Since a GTIN has to be a Numeric value, adding a letter to your SKU would eliminate Square thinking this was a GTIN and put it into the SKU field.  This is probably the reason auto generates a SKU of 7 numeric and Letters to avoid being seen as a GTIN.  Another alternative is to Export your catalog, and for each Item Scan your Item ito the SKU column then Save your excel file, then upload this to Squares Catalog.

The other thing you could try is renaming the Product to Name   SKU.  I am just not sure if Scanning a barcode that resembles a gtin would be found in the Name field in Square.  The other thing is on a computer open your Square Catalog and Scan your SKU into the items SKU field on a computer instead of using the 

[StuartC]

This is still a major pain for us. We either save with GTIN save reopen and then can scan into SKU field or copy GTIN and remeove spaces as you are doing. IT IS A MAJOR PROBLEM with creating new items that come with a bar code on them already!

Stuart

[Candlestore]

@StuartC ;

I stopped responding here because you stated that there is no issue doing what I said about the GTIN as a SKU for Retail but issue is when you do this for Squares Online services.  I do not use Square Online and this might be bettered answered or asked in the Online Forum page and not the Square for Retail forum.  The only other thing I might suggest is since the Two do not seem to be comunicating correctly is Create the item on a Computer and not through the Square App.  I basically started Scanning Items in, letting the GTIN field go then use the Square Dashboard > Items > Actions > Create SKU.  Then at my Retail location there is no problem scanning the SKU I create or the Barcode on a Prepackaged Item as you noted.  With this being something of an issue between Retail and Square Online you may want to seek assistance from Online sellers in the Online forum.  My replies were based on this being an issue with The Retail app inside a Retail store.  I have a different online Store than one through Square since I had that before joining Square.

Here is a Link to the Square Online Help forum : https://www.sellercommunity.com/t5/Square-Online/bd-p/Square-Online-Store-Discussion