Why an item number matters more than the name

Short answer: The name can change, be translated and be shortened, while the number stays the same everywhere. The system, the factory and the shop talk to each other through the number. Here is why it is the safest way to point to one specific item.

Names differ between countries

The same item can have different names in four languages and in two shops. A Danish title is not the same as a German one, and a short title on a list is not the same as the full one on the product page. The number, on the other hand, is identical in every case.

The number points to one variant

The number holds model, colour and size in one code. That makes it unambiguous where a name could fit several items. A shirt in two colours and five sizes is ten different items to the warehouse, each with its own number. See bamboo shirt for men.

Mistakes appear without the number

Ordering by name can bring the wrong colour or size. Two models can look alike in the name and still differ in cut or fabric. With the number there is only one answer. See offers and offers for men for the items that are on offer.

The system looks the number up

When the number is read, the system looks it up in its register and finds name, price, colour, size and location. That is why a price can change without a new label on the item. Everything that can change sits in the register, and the number is the key that leads there.

The factory uses the number too

Factory and warehouse use the number when an order is put together. That means shop and factory talk about the same item even though they use different names and languages. An order written as a list of numbers is hard to misread, which also makes it easy to check afterwards.

Where to find the item number

On the order confirmation, on the packing slip and often on the label inside the garment. If you bought the item some time ago, the order confirmation is the easiest source, as it sits in your mail. If the number is on the label, you can use it even if the packing slip is gone.

When you contact the shop

If you write to the shop about an item, give the number. It is the quickest way for the shop to find the right item, since they do not have to guess from a name or a description. Mention size and colour too, so the reply is as precise as possible.

The number rarely changes

A new number usually means a new version of the item, for example with a different cut, composition or colour. So you can count on the same number being the same item, even when the name on the page has been corrected or translated.