This page lists the cookies and browser storage MerchantDesk uses and why. In short: only what's needed to sign you in and keep chat conversations working. No advertising cookies.
1. What cookies are
Cookies are small files a website saves in your browser. Browser storage (such as “local storage”) works in a similar way. We use both only where they're needed to make MerchantDesk work.
2. What we don’t use
3. Cookies in the MerchantDesk portal
These keep you securely signed in. They're strictly necessary, so they don't need consent and can't be switched off without breaking sign-in.
| Name | What it does | How long |
|---|---|---|
| nc_session, nc_sig | Keep you signed in and protect your session from tampering | Until you sign out or the session expires |
| nc_session_at | Records when the session started, for security time-outs | Session lifetime |
| nc_role, nc_merchant_id, nc_member_id, nc_admin_id | Remember which account and role you signed in with | Session lifetime |
| nc_store_id | Remembers which of your stores you’re viewing | Session lifetime |
| nc_oauth_state, nc_oauth_ref | Protect “Sign in with Google” and store connections from forgery | A few minutes |
4. Browser storage used by the chat widget
When a store adds our chat widget, it saves a few items in the shopper's browser so the conversation can continue if they reload the page or come back later. Nothing here is used for advertising.
| Name | What it does | How long |
|---|---|---|
| nc_visitor_*, nc_visitorkey_* | A random ID that links the shopper to their own conversation | Until cleared from the browser |
| nc_name_* | The name the shopper typed, so they don’t have to enter it again | Until cleared from the browser |
| nc_cart_items_* | Products added to the cart from the chat | Until cleared from the browser |
| nc_teaser_seen_* | Stops the welcome bubble from popping up again | Until cleared from the browser |
Stores that use our widget are responsible for mentioning it in their own cookie notice where their local law requires it.
5. Our website
On merchantdesk.ai we keep simple first-party statistics, such as which pages are viewed and where visitors come from, to understand what's useful. These are not shared with advertising networks.
6. Third-party pages
When you pay through Stripe or sign in with Google, those services may set their own cookies on their pages, for example to prevent fraud. Their own cookie policies apply.
7. How to control cookies
You can delete or block cookies and browser storage in your browser settings. If you block the portal cookies you won't be able to sign in, and if you clear the widget storage a shopper starts a new conversation.
8. Questions
Email support@merchantdesk.ai. More about how we handle personal data is in our Privacy Policy.