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Goods vs. Merchandise — What's the Difference?

By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on November 6, 2023
Goods are tangible items that satisfy human wants, merchandise specifically refers to goods bought and sold in business.
Goods vs. Merchandise — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Goods and Merchandise

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Key Differences

Goods encompass all types of tangible items that can be bought, sold, or traded. Merchandise, however, is a term more closely related to the retail environment, referring specifically to goods that are procured for sale to customers.
While goods can be used to denote raw materials, products, and commodities of all sorts, merchandise typically denotes items in a finished state, ready for consumption by the end-user.
Goods may be transferred in various stages of the production process, including as raw materials or work-in-progress items. Merchandise usually implies that the items are on the retail shelves, available for purchase by consumers.
In accounting and inventory management, goods can refer to items at any stage, including those in production or transit. Merchandise often represents a subset of goods, primarily those held by a retailer and intended for sale to the public.
The usage of "goods" can be broader, sometimes even including services, whereas "merchandise" strictly refers to tangible products available in the marketplace.
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Comparison Chart

Definition

Tangible items of value
Goods intended for sale

Usage Context

General, any stage of production
Retail and final sale

Scope

Broader, includes raw materials
Narrower, typically finished goods

Associated with

Trade, commerce, and production
Retail environment, shopping

Implication

May not be for immediate sale
Usually ready for consumers

Compare with Definitions

Goods

Items for sale or trade.
The market stall displayed an array of goods.

Merchandise

Goods to be bought and sold.
The company's merchandise was well-received in the overseas market.

Goods

In economics, goods are items that satisfy human wants and provide utility, for example, to a consumer making a purchase of a satisfying product. A common distinction is made between goods which are transferable, and services, which are not transferable.A good is an "economic good" if it is useful to people but scarce in relation to its demand so that human effort is required to obtain it.

Merchandise

Items for retail trade.
The new merchandise was a hit with customers.

Goods

Being positive or desirable in nature; not bad or poor
A good experience.
Good news from the hospital.

Merchandise

Commercial goods, particularly fashion.
The latest merchandise from the designer was expensive.

Goods

Having the qualities that are desirable or distinguishing in a particular thing
A good exterior paint.
A good joke.

Merchandise

Stock available for distribution.
The warehouse was full of unsold merchandise.

Goods

Serving the desired purpose or end; suitable
Is this a good dress for the party?.

Merchandise

Goods bought and sold in business; commercial wares.

Goods

Not spoiled or ruined
The milk is still good.

Merchandise

To buy and sell (goods).

Goods

In excellent condition; sound
A good tooth.

Merchandise

To promote the sale of, as by advertising or display
Merchandised a new product.

Goods

Superior to the average; satisfactory
A good student.

Merchandise

To buy and sell goods; trade commercially.

Goods

Used formerly to refer to the US Government grade of meat higher than standard and lower than choice.

Merchandise

(uncountable) Goods which are or were offered or intended for sale.
Good business depends on having good merchandise.

Goods

Of high quality
Good books.

Merchandise

(uncountable) Commercial goods connected (branded) with an entity such as a team, band, company, charity, work of fiction, festival, or meme. merch.}}

Goods

Discriminating
Good taste.

Merchandise

A commodity offered for sale; an article of commerce; a kind of merchandise.

Goods

Of moral excellence; upright
A good person.

Merchandise

The act or business of trading; trade; traffic.

Goods

Benevolent; kind
A good soul.
A good heart.

Merchandise

To engage in trade; to carry on commerce.

Goods

Loyal; staunch
A good Republican.

Merchandise

(intransitive) To engage in in-store promotion of the sale of goods, as by display and arrangement of goods.
He started his career merchandising in a small clothing store chain.

Goods

Well-behaved; obedient
A good child.

Merchandise

To engage in the trade of.

Goods

Socially correct; proper
Good manners.

Merchandise

(transitive) To engage in in-store promotion of the sale of.
He got hired to merchandise some new sporting goods lines.

Goods

Worthy of respect; honorable
Ruined the family's good name.

Merchandise

(transitive) To promote as if for sale.
The record companies don't get as good a return on merchandising artists under contract.

Goods

Attractive; handsome
Good looks.

Merchandise

The objects of commerce; whatever is usually bought or sold in trade, or market, or by merchants; wares; goods; commodities.

Goods

Beneficial to health; salutary
A good night's rest.

Merchandise

The act or business of trading; trade; traffic.

Goods

Competent; skilled
A good machinist.

Merchandise

To trade; to carry on commerce.

Goods

Complete; thorough
A good workout.

Merchandise

To make merchandise of; to buy and sell.

Goods

Reliable; sure
A good investment.

Merchandise

Commodities offered for sale;
Good business depends on having good merchandise
That store offers a variety of products

Goods

Valid or true
A good reason.

Merchandise

Engage in the trade of;
He is merchandising telephone sets

Goods

Genuine; real
A good dollar bill.

Merchandise

Products on sale in a store.
The store stocked its shelves with new merchandise.

Goods

In effect; operative
A warranty good for two years.
A driver's license that is still good.

Goods

Ready or able for a specified or assumed activity
I'm good for another round of golf.

Goods

Able to pay or contribute
Is she good for the money that you lent her?.

Goods

Able to elicit a specified reaction
He is always good for a laugh.

Goods

Ample; substantial
A good income.

Goods

Bountiful
A good table.

Goods

Full
It is a good mile from here.

Goods

Pleasant; enjoyable
Had a good time at the party.

Goods

Propitious; favorable
Good weather.
A good omen.

Goods

Landing within bounds or within a particular area of a court and therefore in play
The first serve was wide, but the second was good.

Goods

Passing between the uprights of the goal and therefore scoring, as a field goal in football.

Goods

Used to form exclamatory phrases expressing surprise or dismay
Good heavens! Good grief!.

Goods

Something that is good.

Goods

A good, valuable, or useful part or aspect.

Goods

Welfare; benefit
For the common good.

Goods

Goodness; virtue
There is much good to be found in people.

Goods

A product that is bought and sold
Frozen goods.

Goods

Goods Portable personal property.

Goods

(used with a sing. or pl. verb) Fabric; material.

Goods

Goods(Slang) Incriminating information or evidence
Tried to get the goods on the crook.

Goods

Well.

Goods

Plural of good

Goods

That which is produced, then traded, bought or sold, then finally consumed.

Goods

Freight, as opposed to passengers.

Goods

Something authentic, important, or revealing.

Goods

(slang) The female body, especially when seen as desirable.

Goods

(slang) The male genitals.

Goods

Articles of commerce

Goods

Products manufactured for consumption.
The factory produced goods faster than last quarter.

Goods

Tangible personal property.
His goods were damaged during the shipment.

Goods

Commodities or wares.
The trade agreement focused on agricultural goods.

Goods

Items in possession.
She packed her goods and moved to a new city.

Common Curiosities

What are goods?

Goods are tangible items that can be bought or sold.

Are all goods considered merchandise?

Not all goods are merchandise, but all merchandise is considered goods.

What is considered merchandise?

Merchandise refers to products that are on sale, particularly in a retail setting.

Is merchandise always ready for sale to consumers?

Generally, yes; merchandise is ready for consumers to purchase.

Is inventory the same as goods?

Inventory is a subset of goods that a company has on hand for sale.

What does 'goods in transit' mean?

It refers to goods that are currently being transported from one place to another.

Can the term merchandise be used for wholesale?

It can be, but it's more commonly associated with retail goods.

Do businesses sell both goods and merchandise?

Yes, businesses sell both, but merchandise is specifically the goods they sell to customers.

Can the term goods refer to services?

Typically, no; "goods" refers to tangible items, not services.

Are merchandise returns a common retail practice?

Yes, returning merchandise is a common policy in retail stores.

What is a goods receipt?

A goods receipt is a document confirming the reception of goods delivered to a business.

Is there a difference between goods and cargo?

Cargo specifically refers to goods transported by large-scale means, such as ships or planes.

Do goods include raw materials?

Yes, goods can include raw materials, work-in-progress, or finished products.

Can digital products be considered merchandise?

Typically, merchandise is a term used for tangible items, not digital products.

How does one account for damaged merchandise?

Damaged merchandise is often written off as a loss or sold at a discount.

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Author Spotlight

Written by
Tayyaba Rehman
Tayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.

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