General and specialty retail · Merchant category codes
What is MCC 5331 (Variety Stores)?
Checked
MCC 5331 (Variety Stores) is the merchant category code for stores that sell a limited selection of various products in a lower price range, like a smaller discount store. Visa requires 3D Secure on online 5331 sales for merchants located in the Philippines. Visa requires 3D Secure on its online sales for merchants located in the Philippines.
- Visa name
- Variety Stores
- Stripe name
- Variety Stores
- Restricted by Stripe
- No
- Visa high-integrity risk
- No
- Visa 3D Secure rule for online sales
- Required for merchants located in the Philippines
- In PlatformDTC's Industry picker
- Yes, under "Retail"
- Typical products
- Variety stores, Dollar-style stores
What PlatformDTC does
PlatformDTC's payments setup lists 5331 in its Industry picker as "Variety stores" under "Retail"; typing 5331 in the search box finds it. The choice is sent to Stripe as the category code of the store's own payments account and can be changed later under Settings, Payments, Professional details, subject to Stripe's check.
What sells under MCC 5331
Visa uses 5331 for stores that sell a limited selection of various products in a lower price range, like a smaller discount store.
Visa requires 3D Secure on online 5331 sales for merchants located in the Philippines.
- Variety stores
- Dollar-style stores
Codes it is confused with
Choose the code for the line of business that makes up most of your sales. Visa also allows a separate code for each line of business.
| Code | Name | Use it instead when |
|---|---|---|
| 5310 | Discount Stores | You run a larger discount store |
| 5947 | Gift, Card, Novelty and Souvenir Shops | Most sales are gifts and novelties |
Risk, 3D Secure and Stripe rules
5331 is not on Visa's high-integrity risk list, so no extra Visa registration is tied to the code itself.
Stripe's list of supported codes does not mark it restricted, so a Stripe account can use it without asking Stripe first.
Visa's rules require acquirers to process online sales under 5331 with Visa Secure (3D Secure) for merchants located in the Philippines. Elsewhere, 3D Secure for this code follows the general rules of the merchant's country and the issuer's request.
Frequently asked questions
- Is MCC 5331 high risk?
- No. 5331 is not on Visa's high-integrity risk list. Stripe does not mark it restricted. Visa does require 3D Secure on online 5331 sales for merchants located in the Philippines.
- Can a PlatformDTC store use MCC 5331?
- Yes. It is in the Industry picker of PlatformDTC's payments setup under "Retail", and typing 5331 in the search finds it. PlatformDTC sends the choice to Stripe for the store's own payments account.
Sources
Related
- 5310 — A general line of merchandise sold at a discount.
- 5399 — A general line of goods, like a smaller department store.
- 5300 — Warehouse-style stores selling a full range of goods, often in bulk.
- 5262 — Registered online marketplaces bringing many retailers under one brand.
- 5309 — Gift and import items typically exempt from customs fees.
- 5995 — Pets, pet food and pet supplies.
- 5533 — Car parts, equipment and accessories, including home EV chargers.