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What is BIPAD?
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The BIPAD numbering system is unique to the retail magazine business. As illustrated in the block to the right,
the BIPAD number is the middle 5 digits of the magazine barcode. It is the permanent identification of the the
magazine throughout its retail life. Along with an industry prefix, and issue number, the BIPAD numbers are
encoded in the barcodes on magazine covers and used by magazine wholesaler-distributors and magazine retailers
to process the publications through their systems. In doing so, they record the sales, count returns, stores
sales history, determine future distributions, and make payments.
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Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs) about BIPAD
How do I obtain a BIPAD number?
How many BIPAD Numbers do I need?
How much is the processing fee?
What forms of payment are accepted?
How will I be notified of my BIPAD number assignment?
How do I get my BIPAD number encoded into a machine readable barcode?
What do we do when we change the cover price?
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How do I obtain a BIPAD number?
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For new and independent magazines, BIPAD numbers are available only from and assigned only by BIPAD Inc.
Publishers can obtain a BIPAD number(s) by applying to BIPAD Inc. An application form (in PDF format)
is available by clicking here, or on the link indicator to the right on this page.
The application can be mailed to
BIPAD Inc., with a check, or faxed, including credit card information. There is also an email format, which may be
accessed by clicking here, or on the
link indicator to the right on this page. The email application must
be accompanied by a credit card information.
Both the fax and email application routes are secure, dedicated lines.
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How many BIPAD Numbers do I need?
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A different BIPAD number must be used with each magazine title for which separate distribution records are to
be maintained by wholesaler-distributors and/or retailers. It is not necessary to obtain a different BIPAD
number for each issue.
The BIPAD number never changes. It is the permanent identification of a magazine title for the life of the magazine.
The issue identifier changes, of course, with each new issue.
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How much is the processing fee?
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The minimum processing fee for a single BIPAD number is $300. The price schedule for multiple
titles is listed below and on the application form.
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FEE SCHEDULE *
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BIPAD
Numbers
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Fee
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BIPAD
Numbers
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Fee
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BIPAD
Numbers
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Fee
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BIPAD
Numbers
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Fee
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1
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$300
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3
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$500
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5
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$700
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11-15
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$1500
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2
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$400
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4
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$600
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6-10
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$1000
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16-20
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$2000
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* Multiple number fee rates are not
retroactive and are available only at time of original application.
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What forms of payment are accepted?
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To expedite the application, fee should be paid Credit Card, Certified Check, bank or postal money order.
The Email or FAX application must be accompanied by a credit card. Canadian checks must be made in US Dollars.
We accept MasterCard (MC), VISA, American Express (AMEX). The credit card charge will appear on your statement
under the name of HARRINGTON ASSOCIATES.
Please note that, if you pay with a personal or business check, your number assignment may be delayed until your check clears our bank,
which could be up to 10 business days.
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How will I be notified of my BIPAD number assignment?
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Once we receive the application and process it, we will notify you, via email if available, of your number(s)
assignment. We will include technical information about how the number is encoded in the barcode and printed on the
cover of your magazine. You will be notified not later than the end of the next business day, after we
receive your application.
Please note that, if you pay with a personal or business check, your number assignment may be delayed until your check clears our
bank, which could be up to 10 business days.
The technical information is also available (in PDF format) by clicking here, or on the link.
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How do I get my BIPAD number encoded into a machine readable barcode?
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Please be advised that BIPAD Inc. manages the BIPAD numbering system, and assigns numbers to applicants. We do
not provide the barcodes. Our barcode consultant is PIPS Inc. (Periodical Identification and Processing Systems),
the largest supplier of barcodes to the publishing industry. Click here for a link to PIPS website,
www.pips.com. You can also reach PIPS at 212-996-6000.
Once you are assigned a BIPAD number, contact PIPS, and they can deliver, electronically, a machine-readable magazine
BIPAD-encoded barcode to you, for printing on your magazine cover, also by the end of the next business
day. Their charge for a single barcode is under $30.
There are many other barcode providers and most of them can provide magazine distribution BIPAD encoded barcodes as well.
In any event, you will need to first obtain a number(s) from BIPAD Inc.
BIPAD Inc. is managed on a contract basis by Harrington Associates, LLC.
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What do we do when we change the cover price?
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When changing cover prices, the company prefix, the first six digits ( 0 74470 in the sample), changes.
If you do not have an alternate prefix, please call BIPAD Inc. and we will provide you with one. Remember,
the BIPAD number itself never changes! After, you have your new complete 12-digit barcode number, with a
new prefix and the same BIPAD, notify your wholesaler-distributors of your new number and the new price.
If you are dealing directly with any retailers, you should notify them as well. These notifications should
be accomplished before the issue with the new cover price goes on sale.
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The Magazine Barcode and the Position of the BIPAD Number
In a typical magazine barcode (using the above color coded example), the first 6 digits, 0 74470 in the
example represent the company prefix. The next 5 digits, 00001, is the BIPAD number. The
single digit, 3, is the "check digit," which is computer determined. The shorter section, with
the 09 above it, is the issue identifier, add-on portion. In this instance, 09 represents the
September issue.
The company prefix and the BIPAD number represent the basic barcode. The company prefix will remain
constant, unless there is a price change. BIPAD Inc. will provide applicants with access to 2 "industry"
company prefixes, which will be alternated when cover prices change. The BIPAD number never changes.
It is the permanent identification of a magazine title for the life of a the magazine. The issue identifier
changes, of course, with each new issue.
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Additional Information
If you are paying by check, please enclose your fee payment with a bank draft or money order made out
to BIPAD, Inc. Otherwise, company and personal checks must clear our bank, and this can take as long
as 10 business days. In the case of a check not clearing a bank, there will also be a $50 bad check penalty.
Canadian checks must be for U.S. dollars.
If you are paying by credit card, please
include your credit card number on the application, along with the card owner's full name and
the expiration date. We accept MasterCard, Visa, and American Express.
Open Email Application Form
Open Bipad Application, PDF format
Open a Summary of Technical Information, PDF format
Link to PIPS website - www.pips.com
You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader
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The BIPAD numbering system is managed for BIPAD, Inc. by
P.O. Box 1332 • Charlestown, RI 02813-1332
Phone 401-213-6830 • Fax 401-213-6832
John Harrington
Eileen Harrington
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