Thrifle

Official24 tools

by ejazmu · JavaScript

US return policies, price-match rules, discounts, deals and Amazon price verdicts. Read-only.

com.thrifle/mcp (MCP) Server

This Model Context Protocol (MCP) server provides access to US return policies, price-match rules, discounts, deals, and Amazon price verdicts. The service is read-only and focuses on retrieving policy and pricing-related information.

🛠️ Key Features

US return policies
Price-match rules
Discounts and deals
Amazon price verdicts
Read-only access

🚀 Use Cases

Check US return policy information
Verify price-match rules
Look up discount and deal details
Retrieve Amazon price verdicts for referenced items

⚡ Developer Benefits

Read-only tool behavior for safe information retrieval
Clear scope centered on returns and pricing guidance

Topics

chatgptclaudemcpmcp-servermodel-context-protocolreturn-policyshopping

Captured live from the server via tools/list.

get_return_policy

Verified return policy for a US retailer: return window, free returns, restocking fee, holiday extension, non-returnable items, an A+–D− grade, how it compares with its category, and the retailer's own policy URL. Optionally pass what the shopper bought to surface a product-specific exception (e.g. electronics at Costco). Call this for any 'what is X's return policy' question.

Parameters2

merchant	string	required	Retailer name or thrifle.com slug, e.g. "Costco", "best-buy", "Nordstrom"
product	string	optional	Optional: the product being returned, e.g. 'MacBook Air' or 'gift card', to check for a category exception

Raw schema

{
  "type": "object",
  "properties": {
    "merchant": {
      "type": "string",
      "minLength": 1,
      "maxLength": 80,
      "description": "Retailer name or thrifle.com slug, e.g. \"Costco\", \"best-buy\", \"Nordstrom\""
    },
    "product": {
      "type": "string",
      "maxLength": 200,
      "description": "Optional: the product being returned, e.g. 'MacBook Air' or 'gift card', to check for a category exception"
    }
  },
  "required": [
    "merchant"
  ],
  "additionalProperties": false,
  "$schema": "http://json-schema.org/draft-07/schema#"
}

compare_return_policies

Side-by-side comparison of two US retailers' return policies with grades, per-axis winners (window, free returns, restocking fee, holiday extension) and an overall winner. Use for 'is it easier to return to X or Y' questions.

Parameters2

merchant_a	string	required	Retailer name or thrifle.com slug — first retailer, e.g. "Costco", "best-buy", "Nordstrom"
merchant_b	string	required	Retailer name or thrifle.com slug — second retailer, e.g. "Costco", "best-buy", "Nordstrom"

Raw schema

{
  "type": "object",
  "properties": {
    "merchant_a": {
      "type": "string",
      "minLength": 1,
      "maxLength": 80,
      "description": "Retailer name or thrifle.com slug — first retailer, e.g. \"Costco\", \"best-buy\", \"Nordstrom\""
    },
    "merchant_b": {
      "type": "string",
      "minLength": 1,
      "maxLength": 80,
      "description": "Retailer name or thrifle.com slug — second retailer, e.g. \"Costco\", \"best-buy\", \"Nordstrom\""
    }
  },
  "required": [
    "merchant_a",
    "merchant_b"
  ],
  "additionalProperties": false,
  "$schema": "http://json-schema.org/draft-07/schema#"
}

search_return_policies

Find retailers in Thrifle's return-policy database by name fragment and/or category (e.g. 'Fashion', 'Electronics', 'Home'). Returns slim rows with the return window and a link. With no arguments it returns the category list and total count. Use it when get_return_policy says a retailer was not found, or to list retailers in a category.

Parameters3

query	string	optional	Name fragment, e.g. 'best' matches Best Buy
category	string	optional	Category name as shown on thrifle.com/return-policy
limit	integer	optional	Max results (default 10, max 25)

Raw schema

{
  "type": "object",
  "properties": {
    "query": {
      "type": "string",
      "maxLength": 80,
      "description": "Name fragment, e.g. 'best' matches Best Buy"
    },
    "category": {
      "type": "string",
      "maxLength": 60,
      "description": "Category name as shown on thrifle.com/return-policy"
    },
    "limit": {
      "type": "integer",
      "minimum": 1,
      "maximum": 25,
      "description": "Max results (default 10, max 25)"
    }
  },
  "additionalProperties": false,
  "$schema": "http://json-schema.org/draft-07/schema#"
}

get_price_match_policy

Whether a US retailer matches competitors' prices (which competitors, proof required, exclusions, how to claim) and whether it offers a post-purchase price adjustment (window in days). Call for 'does X price match' or 'will X refund the difference if the price drops' questions.

Parameters1

merchant

string

required

Retailer name or thrifle.com slug, e.g. "Costco", "best-buy", "Nordstrom"

Raw schema

{
  "type": "object",
  "properties": {
    "merchant": {
      "type": "string",
      "minLength": 1,
      "maxLength": 80,
      "description": "Retailer name or thrifle.com slug, e.g. \"Costco\", \"best-buy\", \"Nordstrom\""
    }
  },
  "required": [
    "merchant"
  ],
  "additionalProperties": false,
  "$schema": "http://json-schema.org/draft-07/schema#"
}

who_will_price_match

Reverse lookup: the US retailers whose price-match policy explicitly names the given store as an accepted competitor. Optionally filter by the product category being bought so only stores that plausibly stock it are listed. Use for 'who will match Amazon's price on this' questions.

Parameters2

merchant	string	required	Retailer name or thrifle.com slug — the store whose price you found, e.g. "Costco", "best-buy", "Nordstrom"
category	string	optional	Optional deal category, e.g. 'Tech & Electronics', 'Home & Furniture', 'Toys & Hobbies'

Raw schema

{
  "type": "object",
  "properties": {
    "merchant": {
      "type": "string",
      "minLength": 1,
      "maxLength": 80,
      "description": "Retailer name or thrifle.com slug — the store whose price you found, e.g. \"Costco\", \"best-buy\", \"Nordstrom\""
    },
    "category": {
      "type": "string",
      "maxLength": 60,
      "description": "Optional deal category, e.g. 'Tech & Electronics', 'Home & Furniture', 'Toys & Hobbies'"
    }
  },
  "required": [
    "merchant"
  ],
  "additionalProperties": false,
  "$schema": "http://json-schema.org/draft-07/schema#"
}

get_merchant_discounts

Verified military (active duty, veterans, reserve) and student discount programmes for a US retailer: value, eligibility, verification method (e.g. ID.me, SheerID), online vs in-store, stackability, exclusions, whether it is running right now, and the source URL. Call for 'does X have a military/student discount' questions.

Parameters1

merchant

string

required

Retailer name or thrifle.com slug, e.g. "Costco", "best-buy", "Nordstrom"

Raw schema

{
  "type": "object",
  "properties": {
    "merchant": {
      "type": "string",
      "minLength": 1,
      "maxLength": 80,
      "description": "Retailer name or thrifle.com slug, e.g. \"Costco\", \"best-buy\", \"Nordstrom\""
    }
  },
  "required": [
    "merchant"
  ],
  "additionalProperties": false,
  "$schema": "http://json-schema.org/draft-07/schema#"
}

search_discounts

Browse Thrifle's discount database: filter by programme type (military, student, or both), retail category, and/or a name fragment. Returns slim rows with the discount value and a link per retailer.

Parameters4

type	string	optional	Only retailers with this programme
category	string	optional	Retail category, e.g. 'Apparel', 'Electronics'
query	string	optional	Name fragment, e.g. 'nike'
limit	integer	optional	Max results (default 15, max 50)

Raw schema

{
  "type": "object",
  "properties": {
    "type": {
      "type": "string",
      "enum": [
        "military",
        "student",
        "both"
      ],
      "description": "Only retailers with this programme"
    },
    "category": {
      "type": "string",
      "maxLength": 60,
      "description": "Retail category, e.g. 'Apparel', 'Electronics'"
    },
    "query": {
      "type": "string",
      "maxLength": 80,
      "description": "Name fragment, e.g. 'nike'"
    },
    "limit": {
      "type": "integer",
      "minimum": 1,
      "maximum": 50,
      "description": "Max results (default 15, max 50)"
    }
  },
  "additionalProperties": false,
  "$schema": "http://json-schema.org/draft-07/schema#"
}

get_cancellation_guide

Step-by-step guide to cancelling a US subscription or membership: available channels (online, app, phone, in person), notice period, fees, refund after cancelling, retention tactics to expect, and an ease-of-cancellation grade. Coverage is still small; the response lists what is available when the merchant is not found.

Parameters1

merchant

string

required

Retailer name or thrifle.com slug — the service, e.g. 'Planet Fitness', e.g. "Costco", "best-buy", "Nordstrom"

Raw schema

{
  "type": "object",
  "properties": {
    "merchant": {
      "type": "string",
      "minLength": 1,
      "maxLength": 80,
      "description": "Retailer name or thrifle.com slug — the service, e.g. 'Planet Fitness', e.g. \"Costco\", \"best-buy\", \"Nordstrom\""
    }
  },
  "required": [
    "merchant"
  ],
  "additionalProperties": false,
  "$schema": "http://json-schema.org/draft-07/schema#"
}

get_birthday_freebie

What a US restaurant or retailer gives away for your birthday, whether it is actually free or needs a purchase or prior spend, how to sign up and how far ahead, the validity window, ID requirements, and known gotchas. Call for 'what does X give you on your birthday' questions.

Parameters1

merchant

string

required

Retailer name or thrifle.com slug — brand, e.g. 'Starbucks', 'Sephora', e.g. "Costco", "best-buy", "Nordstrom"

Raw schema

{
  "type": "object",
  "properties": {
    "merchant": {
      "type": "string",
      "minLength": 1,
      "maxLength": 80,
      "description": "Retailer name or thrifle.com slug — brand, e.g. 'Starbucks', 'Sephora', e.g. \"Costco\", \"best-buy\", \"Nordstrom\""
    }
  },
  "required": [
    "merchant"
  ],
  "additionalProperties": false,
  "$schema": "http://json-schema.org/draft-07/schema#"
}

search_birthday_freebies

Browse verified birthday offers from US brands. Filters: actually_free (no purchase and no prior spend required), kids (child-eligible), no_signup, category (e.g. 'Restaurant', 'Beauty'), name fragment. Returns slim rows; use get_birthday_freebie for the full terms of one brand.

Parameters6

query	string	optional
category	string	optional
actually_free	boolean	optional	Only offers with no purchase or prior-spend requirement
kids	boolean	optional
no_signup	boolean	optional
limit	integer	optional	Max results (default 15, max 50)

Raw schema

{
  "type": "object",
  "properties": {
    "query": {
      "type": "string",
      "maxLength": 80
    },
    "category": {
      "type": "string",
      "maxLength": 60
    },
    "actually_free": {
      "type": "boolean",
      "description": "Only offers with no purchase or prior-spend requirement"
    },
    "kids": {
      "type": "boolean"
    },
    "no_signup": {
      "type": "boolean"
    },
    "limit": {
      "type": "integer",
      "minimum": 1,
      "maximum": 50,
      "description": "Max results (default 15, max 50)"
    }
  },
  "additionalProperties": false,
  "$schema": "http://json-schema.org/draft-07/schema#"
}

search_deals

Search Thrifle's curated US deals by product, brand or keyword. Returns live deals with price, list price, discount %, merchant, coupon code when there is one, the thrifle.com deal page, and a buy link. Expired deals are excluded unless include_expired is set. Use for 'is there a deal on X' or 'best price on X right now' questions.

Parameters4

query	string	required	Product, brand or keyword, e.g. 'AirPods Pro', 'Dyson', 'robot vacuum'
sort	string	optional	Default newest
include_expired	boolean	optional
limit	integer	optional	Max results (default 8, max 20)

Raw schema

{
  "type": "object",
  "properties": {
    "query": {
      "type": "string",
      "minLength": 2,
      "maxLength": 120,
      "description": "Product, brand or keyword, e.g. 'AirPods Pro', 'Dyson', 'robot vacuum'"
    },
    "sort": {
      "type": "string",
      "enum": [
        "newest",
        "popular"
      ],
      "description": "Default newest"
    },
    "include_expired": {
      "type": "boolean"
    },
    "limit": {
      "type": "integer",
      "minimum": 1,
      "maximum": 20,
      "description": "Max results (default 8, max 20)"
    }
  },
  "required": [
    "query"
  ],
  "additionalProperties": false,
  "$schema": "http://json-schema.org/draft-07/schema#"
}

get_deal

Everything Thrifle knows about one deal, by its thrifle.com URL or slug: price and list price, merchant, coupon, why it's great, the editorial verdict, the price-history verdict for Amazon items, FAQ, and the buy link. Use after search_deals when the shopper wants detail on one item.

Parameters1

deal

string

required

thrifle.com deal URL or the slug at the end of it

Raw schema

{
  "type": "object",
  "properties": {
    "deal": {
      "type": "string",
      "minLength": 3,
      "maxLength": 300,
      "description": "thrifle.com deal URL or the slug at the end of it"
    }
  },
  "required": [
    "deal"
  ],
  "additionalProperties": false,
  "$schema": "http://json-schema.org/draft-07/schema#"
}

get_deal_of_the_day

Thrifle's editor-picked deal of the day with price, merchant and buy link. Cheap to call; returns found:false when none is set.

Parameters

No parameters.

Raw schema

{
  "type": "object",
  "properties": {},
  "$schema": "http://json-schema.org/draft-07/schema#"
}

get_store_deals

A retailer's store page on Thrifle: how many live deals it has, the most recent ones with prices and buy links, and its military/student discount summary when known. Use for 'what deals does Costco have right now' questions.

Parameters2

merchant	string	required	Retailer name or thrifle.com slug, e.g. "Costco", "best-buy", "Nordstrom"
limit	integer	optional	Max results (default 8, max 8)

Raw schema

{
  "type": "object",
  "properties": {
    "merchant": {
      "type": "string",
      "minLength": 1,
      "maxLength": 80,
      "description": "Retailer name or thrifle.com slug, e.g. \"Costco\", \"best-buy\", \"Nordstrom\""
    },
    "limit": {
      "type": "integer",
      "minimum": 1,
      "maximum": 8,
      "description": "Max results (default 8, max 8)"
    }
  },
  "required": [
    "merchant"
  ],
  "additionalProperties": false,
  "$schema": "http://json-schema.org/draft-07/schema#"
}

predict_amazon_price

Thrifle's Price Predict verdict for an Amazon product (ASIN or amazon.com URL): BUY / HOLD / WAIT with a buy score, current vs typical price, all-time low, 30/90/365-day averages, probability of a drop in the next 30/60 days, the expected low and timing basis. Reads Thrifle's tracked-price database (US and major international Amazon stores); untracked products return found:false with a link to run a live check on the site.

Parameters1

asin_or_url

string

required

10-character ASIN (e.g. B0CHX3QBCH) or any Amazon product URL

Raw schema

{
  "type": "object",
  "properties": {
    "asin_or_url": {
      "type": "string",
      "minLength": 5,
      "maxLength": 500,
      "description": "10-character ASIN (e.g. B0CHX3QBCH) or any Amazon product URL"
    }
  },
  "required": [
    "asin_or_url"
  ],
  "additionalProperties": false,
  "$schema": "http://json-schema.org/draft-07/schema#"
}

search_blog

Find Thrifle articles by keyword: original data studies (e.g. what actually dropped on Black Friday, Prime Day fact-checks), buying guides, and the Money section's credit and BNPL explainers. Returns title, one-line summary, date, author and URL. Use get_blog_post to read one.

Parameters3

query	string	required
section	string	optional	Default all
limit	integer	optional	Max results (default 8, max 20)

Raw schema

{
  "type": "object",
  "properties": {
    "query": {
      "type": "string",
      "minLength": 2,
      "maxLength": 120
    },
    "section": {
      "type": "string",
      "enum": [
        "all",
        "shopping",
        "money"
      ],
      "description": "Default all"
    },
    "limit": {
      "type": "integer",
      "minimum": 1,
      "maximum": 20,
      "description": "Max results (default 8, max 20)"
    }
  },
  "required": [
    "query"
  ],
  "additionalProperties": false,
  "$schema": "http://json-schema.org/draft-07/schema#"
}

get_blog_post

The full text of one Thrifle article by URL or slug (HTML stripped, long posts truncated at ~20,000 characters), plus its FAQ, author, date and URL for citation.

Parameters1

post

string

required

thrifle.com article URL or its slug

Raw schema

{
  "type": "object",
  "properties": {
    "post": {
      "type": "string",
      "minLength": 3,
      "maxLength": 300,
      "description": "thrifle.com article URL or its slug"
    }
  },
  "required": [
    "post"
  ],
  "additionalProperties": false,
  "$schema": "http://json-schema.org/draft-07/schema#"
}

search_credit_cards

Browse Thrifle's US credit-card database (store and co-branded cards first): filter by issuer, retailer, store cards only, or cards that use deferred-interest promotional financing. Rows carry purchase APR range, annual fee, financing type, data confidence and the verification date. Numbers come from issuer pricing pages, never roundups.

Parameters6

query	string	optional	Name fragment matched against card name, issuer or partner retailer
issuer	string	optional	Exact issuer name, e.g. 'Synchrony Bank', 'Citi Retail Services'
merchant	string	optional	Partner retailer, e.g. 'Amazon', 'Lowe's'
store_cards_only	boolean	optional
deferred_interest_only	boolean	optional	Only cards whose promo financing is deferred interest (retroactive interest if not paid in full)
limit	integer	optional	Max results (default 20, max 60)

Raw schema

{
  "type": "object",
  "properties": {
    "query": {
      "type": "string",
      "maxLength": 80,
      "description": "Name fragment matched against card name, issuer or partner retailer"
    },
    "issuer": {
      "type": "string",
      "maxLength": 80,
      "description": "Exact issuer name, e.g. 'Synchrony Bank', 'Citi Retail Services'"
    },
    "merchant": {
      "type": "string",
      "maxLength": 80,
      "description": "Partner retailer, e.g. 'Amazon', 'Lowe's'"
    },
    "store_cards_only": {
      "type": "boolean"
    },
    "deferred_interest_only": {
      "type": "boolean",
      "description": "Only cards whose promo financing is deferred interest (retroactive interest if not paid in full)"
    },
    "limit": {
      "type": "integer",
      "minimum": 1,
      "maximum": 60,
      "description": "Max results (default 20, max 60)"
    }
  },
  "additionalProperties": false,
  "$schema": "http://json-schema.org/draft-07/schema#"
}

get_credit_card

Full record for one card by its card_key (from search_credit_cards): APR tiers, intro and penalty APRs, fees, promotional financing terms with the issuer's own fine-print quote, rewards, perks, welcome offer, and provenance (pricing-terms URL, verification date, confidence). Store cards link to the partner retailer's return policy.

Parameters1

card_key

string

required

card_key from search_credit_cards, e.g. 'amazon-store-card'

Raw schema

{
  "type": "object",
  "properties": {
    "card_key": {
      "type": "string",
      "minLength": 2,
      "maxLength": 120,
      "description": "card_key from search_credit_cards, e.g. 'amazon-store-card'"
    }
  },
  "required": [
    "card_key"
  ],
  "additionalProperties": false,
  "$schema": "http://json-schema.org/draft-07/schema#"
}

get_store_credit_cards

The store and co-branded credit cards a US retailer offers, with APR, annual fee, whether promotional financing is deferred interest, and links to each card's full terms, the retailer's store-card page and its return policy. Call for 'is the X store card worth it' or 'does X card have deferred interest' questions.

Parameters1

merchant

string

required

Retailer name or thrifle.com slug — e.g. 'Lowe's', 'Amazon', 'Best Buy', e.g. "Costco", "best-buy", "Nordstrom"

Raw schema

{
  "type": "object",
  "properties": {
    "merchant": {
      "type": "string",
      "minLength": 1,
      "maxLength": 80,
      "description": "Retailer name or thrifle.com slug — e.g. 'Lowe's', 'Amazon', 'Best Buy', e.g. \"Costco\", \"best-buy\", \"Nordstrom\""
    }
  },
  "required": [
    "merchant"
  ],
  "additionalProperties": false,
  "$schema": "http://json-schema.org/draft-07/schema#"
}

get_money_monitor

Current US macro numbers from Thrifle's Money Monitor: GDP growth, personal saving rate, average credit-card APR, revolving and total consumer credit, the federal debt, and mortgage / fed funds / 10-year Treasury rates, each with the previous reading and year-ago value. Sourced from FRED and the U.S. Treasury; refreshed daily.

Parameters

No parameters.

Raw schema

{
  "type": "object",
  "properties": {},
  "$schema": "http://json-schema.org/draft-07/schema#"
}

get_price_pulse

Latest US Consumer Price Index by spending category (headline, food, energy, shelter, apparel, etc.) with month-over-month and year-over-year change, plus average gas prices by grade with week-ago and year-ago comparisons. Sourced from BLS and EIA.

Parameters

No parameters.

Raw schema

{
  "type": "object",
  "properties": {},
  "$schema": "http://json-schema.org/draft-07/schema#"
}

check_product_recalls

Matches a product name (and optional brand) against recent U.S. CPSC recalls using a strict matcher tuned for zero false positives. Returns matching recalls with hazard and remedy, or an empty list. Useful before recommending a product.

Parameters2

product	string	required	Product title as sold, e.g. 'Peloton Tread+ treadmill'
brand	string	optional

Raw schema

{
  "type": "object",
  "properties": {
    "product": {
      "type": "string",
      "minLength": 3,
      "maxLength": 200,
      "description": "Product title as sold, e.g. 'Peloton Tread+ treadmill'"
    },
    "brand": {
      "type": "string",
      "maxLength": 80
    }
  },
  "required": [
    "product"
  ],
  "additionalProperties": false,
  "$schema": "http://json-schema.org/draft-07/schema#"
}

about_thrifle

What Thrifle is, what each database covers and how big it is, how to cite it, and which tool answers which kind of question.

Parameters

No parameters.

Raw schema

{
  "type": "object",
  "properties": {},
  "$schema": "http://json-schema.org/draft-07/schema#"
}

README.md6 KBView on GitHub

Thrifle MCP server

US return policies, price-match rules, discounts, deals, credit-card terms and Amazon buy-or-wait verdicts — as read-only tools for Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor and any MCP client.

code

https://api.thrifle.com/api/mcp

No auth. No signup. 24 tools. Every answer links to the thrifle.com page it comes from.

What you can ask

Tool	Example
`get_return_policy`	What is Costco's return policy on a laptop?
`compare_return_policies`	Is it easier to return to Target or Walmart?
`search_return_policies`	Which furniture stores offer free returns?
`get_price_match_policy`	Does Best Buy price match Amazon?
`who_will_price_match`	Who will match this Amazon price on a TV?
`get_merchant_discounts` · `search_discounts`	Does Home Depot have a military discount?
`get_cancellation_guide`	How do I cancel Planet Fitness?
`get_birthday_freebie` · `search_birthday_freebies`	What does Starbucks give you on your birthday?
`search_deals` · `get_deal` · `get_deal_of_the_day` · `get_store_deals`	Is there a deal on AirPods Pro right now?
`predict_amazon_price`	Should I buy this Amazon product now or wait?
`search_credit_cards` · `get_credit_card` · `get_store_credit_cards`	Does the Lowe's card use deferred interest?
`get_money_monitor` · `get_price_pulse`	What is the average credit-card APR right now?
`check_product_recalls`	Has this product been recalled?
`about_thrifle`	What is Thrifle and what does it cover?

The data behind these tools: a return-policy database covering 2,250 US retailers with an A+–D− grade computed from the policy's own terms, price-match and price-adjustment policies, military/student discount programmes, birthday offers, cancellation guides, a curated deal feed, a credit-card database built from issuer pricing pages, and price history for hundreds of thousands of Amazon products. All of it is editor-verified and every record carries a last_verified date.

Connect it

Claude.ai / Claude Desktop (every plan; Free allows one custom connector) Settings → Connectors → Add custom connector → paste the URL → leave authentication empty.

Claude Code

claude mcp add --transport http thrifle https://api.thrifle.com/api/mcp

ChatGPT — Settings → Apps & Connectors → Create (developer mode) → paste the URL, no authentication.

Cursor — click the badge above, or add to ~/.cursor/mcp.json:

json

{ "mcpServers": { "thrifle": { "url": "https://api.thrifle.com/api/mcp" } } }

VS Code — click the badge above, or code --add-mcp '{"name":"thrifle","type":"http","url":"https://api.thrifle.com/api/mcp"}'.

Perplexity (+ Custom connector → Remote), Grok (grok.com/connectors → Custom), Mistral Le Chat (Connectors → Custom MCP Connector), Gemini CLI (httpUrl under mcpServers), Gemini Enterprise (Manage team → Connected apps → Add MCP Server) all accept the same URL.

Claude Code plugin — this repo is also a Claude Code plugin (.claude-plugin/plugin.json, .mcp.json, and a thrifle-shopping skill that teaches the model which tool answers which question).

Try it from a terminal

curl -s https://api.thrifle.com/api/mcp | jq .tools

curl -s -X POST https://api.thrifle.com/api/mcp \
  -H 'content-type: application/json' -H 'accept: application/json, text/event-stream' \
  -d '{"jsonrpc":"2.0","id":1,"method":"tools/call","params":{"name":"get_return_policy","arguments":{"merchant":"Costco"}}}'

Run it yourself

git clone https://github.com/ejazmu/thrifle-mcp && cd thrifle-mcp
npm install
npm start          # http://127.0.0.1:8787/mcp, reading Thrifle's public API
npm test           # 17 protocol + shaping fixtures, no network needed

This is the same code that serves api.thrifle.com/api/mcp. THRIFLE_API_BASE points it at a different API base; MCP_RATE_PER_MIN / MCP_RATE_PER_DAY set the per-IP limits; MCP_API_KEYS (comma-separated) lists keys that bypass them via Authorization: Bearer.

How it is built

Stateless Streamable HTTP. One McpServer + transport per request, JSON responses, no sessions — nothing to resume, nothing shared between callers, nothing for a CDN to buffer. GET on the endpoint returns a human-readable discovery document.
Tools call Thrifle's public REST API, never a database. That keeps the MCP answer identical to the website's answer: affiliate-link handling, expired-deal rules and serve-time grading all apply automatically. src/api-client.js is a 60-line loopback fetch.
Shapers, not raw payloads. src/shape.js turns each API response into the facts plus the canonical thrifle.com url and a cite block, and drops internal fields. Pure functions, all covered by fixtures.
Read-only by construction. Every tool declares readOnlyHint: true; the catalogue in src/tools.js has no write path.
Price verdicts never trigger a live fetch — they read the tracked-price database only.

Fair use and licensing

Free for assistants answering a person's question: 60 calls a minute and 1,500 a day per address. Bulk or commercial use is licensed — see thrifle.com/data-licensing; a licence comes with a key that lifts the limits. Deal buy_url values are thrifle.com redirects and may be affiliate links.

Links

Docs: https://thrifle.com/mcp · Return-policy database: https://thrifle.com/return-policy · Price Predict: https://thrifle.com/price-predict · Money: https://thrifle.com/money · Contact: hello@thrifle.com

Install

Tools (24)

get_return_policycompare_return_policiessearch_return_policiesget_price_match_policywho_will_price_matchget_merchant_discountssearch_discountsget_cancellation_guide

Remote endpoint

Streamable HTTP

Hosted server - connect over the network, no local install.

url

https://api.thrifle.com/api/mcp

Add to VS Code Add to Cursor

claude_desktop_config.json

json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "mcp": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "mcp-remote",
        "https://api.thrifle.com/api/mcp"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Desktop config is stdio-only; this bridges via mcp-remote. Native remote: Settings > Connectors.

com.thrifle/mcp (MCP) Server

🛠️ Key Features

🚀 Use Cases

⚡ Developer Benefits

Topics

get_return_policy

compare_return_policies

search_return_policies

get_price_match_policy

who_will_price_match

get_merchant_discounts

search_discounts

get_cancellation_guide

get_birthday_freebie

search_birthday_freebies

search_deals

get_deal

get_deal_of_the_day

get_store_deals

predict_amazon_price

search_blog

get_blog_post

search_credit_cards

get_credit_card

get_store_credit_cards

get_money_monitor

get_price_pulse

check_product_recalls

about_thrifle

Thrifle MCP server

What you can ask

Connect it

Try it from a terminal

Run it yourself

How it is built

Fair use and licensing

Links

Install

Remote endpoint

Related servers