Piece Goods, Notions & Other Dry Goods
Wholesale of textiles and dry goods.
What MCC 5131 covers
Merchant Category Code 5131 is the ISO 18245 identifier used by the card networks for piece goods, notions & other dry goods. Acquirers, issuers and regulators use this code to set interchange, scheme fees, fraud rules and reporting categories for every transaction your business processes.
Wholesale of textiles and dry goods. Choosing the right MCC is critical: an incorrect code can lead to higher interchange, surcharges, or, in regulated categories, declined transactions and account holds.
This MCC identifies wholesale distributors of piece goods, notions, and other dry goods, primarily serving B2B clients such as fashion designers, small manufacturers, craft businesses, and retailers.
Transaction volumes may fluctuate depending on seasonal demand and fashion cycles, with ticket sizes varying from small orders for notions to substantial bulk purchases of fabrics.
Chargebacks are typically moderate, often related to 'merchandise not as described' (e. g.
, colour discrepancies, fabric composition errors, or quality issues) or 'goods/services not received' due to shipping problems. 'Partial shipment' disputes are also common if certain items are backordered without clear communication.
Scheme rules do not have specific programmes for this MCC. Cardflo enables seamless B2B transactions with dedicated MID routing to optimise interchange costs for corporate cards, which are frequently used by these merchants, improving overall profitability.
Acquirer & underwriting stance
Low to medium-risk standard board. Risk is generally manageable, but quality-related disputes can elevate chargeback rates.
Monitoring of recurring dispute codes may be implemented. Reserves are uncommon unless specific risk flags are identified.
How Cardflo handles MCC 5131
- Underwriting with acquirers that actively board MCC 5131 businesses in your region.
- High-volume, low-ticket processing tuned for retail authorisation patterns.
- Omnichannel routing across in-store, ecommerce and click-and-collect.
- EMV, contactless and wallet acceptance enabled on a single integration.
- Refund, void and partial-capture flows aligned with retail operations.
Payment methods typically enabled
Common questions
What documentation is most effective in disputing a 'merchandise not as described' chargeback for wholesale fabric?
To dispute 'merchandise not as described' for fabric (e. g.
, colour, texture, composition), providing clear photographic evidence, original product specifications, order confirmations, and communication logs (emails/chat) with the buyer confirming details is crucial. Matching batch numbers and quality control reports also strengthen the case.
Do wholesale dry goods merchants frequently encounter 'friendly fraud'?
While less common than for consumer-facing businesses, 'friendly fraud' can occur if a smaller B2B client disputes a legitimate charge, perhaps due to internal accounting errors or buyer's remorse disguised as a merchant error.
Detailed delivery confirmations and proof of previous successful transactions with the same client can help refute these claims.
How can Cardflo assist wholesale dry goods merchants with international B2B payments?
Cardflo's extensive acquiring network supports multiple currencies and local payment methods, which is vital for international B2B transactions. Our platform can optimise routing for corporate cards from various regions, ensuring high approval rates and competitive interchange pricing, while simplifying cross-border reconciliation.
Ready for velocity?
Tell us about your business. We'll match you with the right acquiring partners and the right route, typically inside a week.