Glass, Paint & Wallpaper Stores
Retail of decorating, paint and glass products.
What MCC 5231 covers
Merchant Category Code 5231 is the ISO 18245 identifier used by the card networks for glass, paint & wallpaper stores. Acquirers, issuers and regulators use this code to set interchange, scheme fees, fraud rules and reporting categories for every transaction your business processes.
Retail of decorating, paint and glass products. Choosing the right MCC is critical: an incorrect code can lead to higher interchange, surcharges, or, in regulated categories, declined transactions and account holds.
MCC 5231 covers retailers specializing in glass, paint, and wallpaper. These merchants range from small independent outlets to larger chain stores, serving consumers for home improvement and professional decorators.
Ticket sizes are generally moderate, typically ranging from £20 for small items to several hundred pounds for larger paint or wallpaper orders. Frequency of purchase is usually low to moderate, driven by specific projects rather than regular replenishment.
Chargebacks are not a high concern for this MCC. Common reasons include 'incorrect item shipped' for online orders, 'damaged in transit,' or disputes related to colour accuracy for paint and wallpaper when expectations are not met.
Fraud rates are low, especially for in-store transactions. For online sales, disputes may arise if product images or descriptions are misleading or if items arrive damaged.
Cardflo's comprehensive APM coverage allows these merchants to cater to diverse customer payment preferences, enhancing conversion rates both in-store and online. Effective display of accurate product information and clear return policies can also help proactively reduce disputes.
Acquirer & underwriting stance
Low-risk standard board. This merchant type generally experiences low chargeback rates and fraud levels, particularly with prevalent card-present transactions.
No specific reserves are typically imposed.
How Cardflo handles MCC 5231
- Underwriting with acquirers that actively board MCC 5231 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
How can an online paint retailer manage disputes related to colour discrepancies?
Merchants should clearly state on their website that monitor colour calibrations can vary and that physical samples are recommended for critical colour matching. Offering small, affordable swatch samples can proactively reduce "Merchandise Not as Described" disputes.
Detailed product photography under consistent lighting and descriptive text are also vital to manage customer expectations.
Are there specific fraud patterns to watch for in online sales of paint and wallpaper?
While generally low-risk, be alert for suspicious order patterns such as unusually large quantities for a residential address, orders shipping to freight forwarders, or multiple orders placed with different cards but the same shipping address.
Implementing 3D Secure can effectively challenge suspicious transactions, shifting liability for fraud to the issuer in many cases. Cardflo's fraud monitoring tools can help identify these evolving patterns.
What are the common causes for 'damaged in transit' chargebacks for these products and how can they be prevented?
'Damaged in transit' often results from inadequate packaging for fragile items like glass or delicate wallpaper, or from mishandling by couriers. Prevention involves using appropriate protective packaging materials (e.
g. , bubble wrap for glass, sturdy tubes for wallpaper rolls), clearly marking packages as fragile, and partnering with reputable logistics providers.
Ensuring scheme-compliant evidence of proper packaging upon dispatch is key for successful representment.
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.