Pet Shops, Pet Foods & Supplies
Pet retailers, pet food and supplies.
What MCC 5995 covers
Merchant Category Code 5995 is the ISO 18245 identifier used by the card networks for pet shops, pet foods & supplies. Acquirers, issuers and regulators use this code to set interchange, scheme fees, fraud rules and reporting categories for every transaction your business processes.
Pet retailers, pet food and supplies. Choosing the right MCC is critical: an incorrect code can lead to higher interchange, surcharges, or, in regulated categories, declined transactions and account holds.
Merchants in MCC 5995 include pet shops, pet food suppliers, and retailers of pet products and accessories. This can encompass both physical stores and a growing segment of online retailers offering subscription boxes or one-off purchases.
Ticket sizes range from small purchases of treats (£5-£20) to larger regular purchases of pet food (£30-£100) or high-value items like premium accessories, aquariums, or live animals (hundreds of pounds). Online subscription models lead to recurring revenue streams.
Chargebacks are generally low but can arise from 'goods not as described' (e. g.
, damaged pet food bags, incorrect product variant), 'non-receipt' for online deliveries, or disputes related to live animal sales (e. g.
, health issues, misrepresentation). Fraudulent transactions are also a risk for high-value online purchases.
Schemes generally classify pet supply as standard retail, but some acquirers might apply additional scrutiny for live animal sales.
Cardflo’s recurring billing optimisation features are highly beneficial for subscription-based pet food services, helping to reduce involuntary churn due to failed payments. For physical stores and e-commerce, Cardflo’s chargeback management tools assist in demonstrating proof of delivery and product quality to contest disputes effectively.
Acquirer & underwriting stance
Low-to-medium risk standard board. Generally low risk, but higher ticket items (specialised pets, large aquariums) and recurring billing models warrant closer monitoring.
A small rolling reserve (e. g.
, 2-5% for 90-120 days) might be considered for new online merchants with high average ticket values.
How Cardflo handles MCC 5995
- Underwriting with acquirers that actively board MCC 5995 businesses in your region.
- MCC review during onboarding to confirm the right code for your products.
- Reclassification support if scheme rules or product mix change post-launch.
- Multi-acquirer routing to keep approvals stable for broad merchant categories.
- Dispute support tuned to the mixed-product chargeback profile this MCC sees.
Payment methods typically enabled
Common questions
How can pet shops offering subscription boxes minimise failed recurring payments?
Minimising failed recurring payments is crucial for subscription-based pet businesses. Common reasons include expired cards, insufficient funds, or soft declines.
Cardflo offers intelligent retries, where failed transactions are automatically re-attempted at optimal times and with updated card data when available (Account Updater service).
Merchants can also leverage dunning management tools to communicate effectively with customers about updating payment details before a subscription fails entirely, significantly improving successful renewal rates.
What are the key considerations for shipping live animals or highly sensitive pet products when it comes to chargebacks?
Shipping live animals or sensitive products requires meticulous attention to detail to prevent 'not as described' or 'damaged goods' chargebacks. Merchants must use specialised, compliant shipping methods, provide detailed care instructions, and ensure robust packaging.
Documenting the animal's healthy condition prior to shipping with photos/videos, using tracked and insured shipping, and clearly stating return/refund policies specific to live animals (e. g.
, requiring veterinary proof of health issues) are essential for dispute defence. Some acquirers may classify live animal sales as higher risk due to their perishability and welfare concerns.
Are there any specific scheme rules regarding the sale of live animals or unique pet supplies?
While there are no specific MCC-level scheme rules for live animal sales, the general principles of 'goods not as described' and 'merchandise not received' are highly relevant.
Merchants selling live animals must comply with all local animal welfare laws and regulations, which can impact customer satisfaction and subsequently lead to payment disputes if not adhered to.
Furthermore, some acquirers may have internal policies that limit or surcharge merchants selling endangered species or certain exotic pets, due to increased regulatory and reputational risk, even if these are not directly payment scheme rules.
Other MCCs in Miscellaneous Stores
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