How the 18 digits are built
An SSCC is made of an extension digit, your GS1 company prefix, a serial reference you allocate, and a check digit calculated from the rest. The company prefix is what makes it globally unique — which is also why an SSCC must never be reused across shipments within the retailer's retention window. Duplicates are a classic cause of "carton not received" claims.
The rules retailers actually enforce
- Placement — usually on two adjacent sides, within a defined height band from the pallet base so a fixed scanner can read it.
- Symbology — GS1-128, printed at a minimum size with adequate quiet zones either side.
- Quality — sufficient print contrast; thermal labels that have faded in transit are a common failure.
- Uniqueness — no reuse, and it must match the GIN segment of your DESADV.
Why label charges are so winnable
A label chargeback is an assertion that the label was non-compliant at the moment it left you. If you hold the carton-label scan from your own despatch line, you have evidence of the label as shipped — and damage in transit is the carrier's or the retailer's handling, not your packing.
The second common win is version drift: retailers update routing guides mid-season and charge against the new rules for goods shipped under the old ones. The guide version in force on your ship date is the one that applies.
Frequently asked
What is an SSCC label?
An SSCC label carries the serial shipping container code — an 18-digit GS1 identifier that uniquely labels one carton or pallet, letting the retailer scan goods in and match them to your despatch advice.
What does SSCC stand for?
Serial shipping container code. It identifies a single logistic unit — a carton or a pallet — rather than a product.
Can an SSCC number be reused?
Not within the retention period retailers and GS1 expect, which is commonly a year or more. Reusing one causes cartons to be mismatched at receipt and is a frequent cause of shortage claims.
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Get a free deduction checkKeep reading
What is an advance shipping notice (ASN)?
What an advance shipping notice is, what the EDI 856 and DESADV messages contain, when it must be sent, and why a late ASN is the one of the most common retailer chargebacks.
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A plain-English guide to retailer chargebacks and deductions: what they are, the six categories, typical penalties, and how much they cost fashion brands.