The MCC assigned to the Book Buddy merchandise business by the payment gateway/acquiring bank must correctly reflect the actual nature of the business, so that transactions are classified and processed correctly.
- Since Book Buddy Merch sells apparel and lifestyle merchandise (t-shirts, mugs, tote bags, etc.), the MCC should fall under an apparel/clothing or general retail merchandise category (e.g., MCC 5651 – Family Clothing Stores, or MCC 5699 – Miscellaneous Apparel and Accessory Shops, depending on what the payment gateway offers).
- This must be confirmed and set correctly with the payment gateway/bank at the time of merchant account setup.
- An incorrect or mismatched MCC (e.g., one meant for a different industry) can lead to transaction declines, compliance flags, or issues during bank audits.
- If Book Buddy Merch is registered under the same merchant account as the main Book Buddy platform (books/education), it is advisable to confirm with the payment gateway whether a separate MCC is needed for the merchandise line, since it is a different product category.