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Commerce

Merchant of Record

Merchant of record names who sells the item, who handles the return, and when a store blocks the agent. Seller of record is the line to show when the legal seller and the name on the card statement differ. UCP and ACP keep the retailer as merchant of record during in-app checkout. Amazon can refuse the agent.

Interactive demo

Overview

How might we tell a shopper who actually sells the item when an agent checks out for them?

When to use

  • Buy happens in chat, a wallet, or an AI mode, and the retailer still owns the order.
  • A marketplace splits the payment name from the shop that ships the goods.
  • A store can refuse agents, and the UI has to say so before Buy.
  • Returns and support need a named party, not “the assistant.”

When to skip

  • A single-brand store where the shopper is already on that brand’s site and the seller is obvious.
  • A quote or invoice flow where a sales contract names the seller in a different document.

States

Seller identity is part of the offer, the approval, and the receipt.

  1. 01

    Offered

    The product card names the merchant of record next to the price.

  2. 02

    Blocked

    The store does not accept this agent. Buy is unavailable. Offer the store’s own page.

  3. 03

    Reviewing

    Agent payment approval repeats the seller, the statement name, and who handles returns.

  4. 04

    Split

    Merchant of record and seller of record differ. Show both, with the job each one owns.

  5. 05

    Recorded

    The activity log row keeps the seller and the statement descriptor after the charge.

Key UX elements

The seller facts to put on the card.

Seller

Name the merchant of record.

The party who owns the payment, the tax, and the dispute.

Statement

Show the name on the card statement.

If it differs from the storefront brand, print both.

Returns

Say who takes the return.

Point at the seller of record, with the window, when you know it.

Reach

Say whether this agent can buy here.

If the store blocks agents, say that and remove Buy.

Handoff

Offer the store when the agent cannot pay.

Open the product on the merchant site with the item intact.

Rules

  • Checkout that names the AI app as the seller when the retailer still owns the order.

  • A blocked store that still shows a Buy button.

  • Returns copy that points at the agent instead of the merchant of record.

  • Hiding the name that will appear on the card statement.

Evidence

ProductImplementation
Google UCPCheckout can run inside AI Mode or Gemini. The retailer stays merchant of record for the order, returns, and support.
OpenAI ACPInstant Checkout kept the business as merchant of record. Later checkout often hands the cart to the merchant’s own site.
AmazonAmazon can block third-party shopping agents and ask them to respect a retailer’s choice to opt out.
ShopifyCatalog and checkout can be reached by an agent such as Muse, while the shop remains the seller for that order.

FAQ

What is merchant of record in agent shopping?

Merchant of record is who owns the sale: payment, tax, the charge on the statement, and the dispute. In UCP and ACP that is the retailer, even when the person checks out inside an AI app.

What is seller of record?

Seller of record is who legally sells the goods and handles delivery and returns. On a marketplace the merchant of record and the seller of record can be different parties. Show both when they differ.

What should the UI do when a store blocks agents?

Say the store does not accept this agent, name the store, and offer another path, such as opening the product page for the person to buy. Leave the Buy button off.

Where should this appear in the flow?

On the product card, on agent payment approval, and on the activity log row. The person should see who they are buying from before they approve, and again on the receipt.