{
  "object": "doc",
  "title": "Reference data: retailers and categories",
  "description": "Free endpoints listing covered retailers, categories and brands.",
  "section": "API reference",
  "url": "https://cart-route.com/docs/api/reference",
  "updated": "2026-09-23",
  "prev": "https://cart-route.com/docs/api/coupons",
  "next": "https://cart-route.com/docs/api/account",
  "text": "`GET /api/v1/retailers` and `GET /api/v1/categories` are free and need no key. They return the valid values for the `retailers`, `category` and `brand` search filters, plus each retailer's membership rule, free-shipping threshold, return window and refresh interval.\n\nGET https://cart-route.com/api/v1/retailers\n\nGET https://cart-route.com/api/v1/categories\n\n## Which retailers are covered?\n\n| id | Name | Membership | Free shipping over | Returns | Refresh |\n\n| `amazon` | Amazon | No | $35 | 30 days | 10 min |\n\n| `bhphoto` | B&H Photo | No | $49 | 30 days | 30 min |\n\n| `bestbuy` | Best Buy | No | $35 | 15 days | 15 min |\n\n| `costco` | Costco | Required | always | 90 days | 30 min |\n\n| `lowes` | Lowe's | No | $45 | 90 days | 30 min |\n\n| `microcenter` | Micro Center | No | pickup only | 30 days | 10 min |\n\n| `newegg` | Newegg | No | $25 | 30 days | 10 min |\n\n| `samsclub` | Sam's Club | Required | always | 90 days | 30 min |\n\n| `staples` | Staples | No | $35 | 14 days | 30 min |\n\n| `target` | Target | No | $35 | 90 days | 15 min |\n\n| `homedepot` | The Home Depot | No | $45 | 90 days | 30 min |\n\n| `walmart` | Walmart | No | $35 | 90 days | 15 min |\n\n## What does /retailers return?\n\n```\n{\n  \"object\": \"retailer_list\",\n  \"count\": 12,\n  \"retailers\": [\n    {\n      \"id\": \"costco\",\n      \"name\": \"Costco\",\n      \"domain\": \"costco.com\",\n      \"membership_required\": true,\n      \"free_shipping_over_usd\": 0,\n      \"returns_window_days\": 90,\n      \"refresh_interval_seconds\": 1800,\n      \"coverage_note\": \"Membership required to purchase. Bundle contents often differ from the equivalent SKU elsewhere.\",\n      \"url\": \"https://cart-route.com/retailers/costco\"\n    }\n  ]\n}\n```\n\n## Which categories exist?\n\nAppliances (2), Audio (4), Computing (4), Fitness (1), Gaming (5), Home (3), Kitchen (4), Laptops (4), Office (1), Outdoor (2), Phones (3), TVs (3), Tools (2), Wearables (2). `/categories` also lists every brand with its product count.\n\n## How often should I call these?\n\nThey change rarely. Cache them for a day, or read them once when an agent session starts. They are also available as MCP resources (`cartroute://retailers`, `cartroute://categories`) and as the free tools `list_retailers` and `list_categories`."
}