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TrustRails MCP Server

by james-webdev

TrustRails MCP Server

Search UK electronics products - compare prices, find deals, and discover products across multiple retailers.

Built for the Model Context Protocol (MCP) - works with Claude Desktop, Claude Code, and other MCP-compatible AI assistants.

npm version License: MIT


Quick Start

No installation needed — just add TrustRails to your Claude config.

Configuration

For Claude Desktop (~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json on macOS):

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "trustrails": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@trustrails/mcp-server"],
      "env": {
        "TRUSTRAILS_API_KEY": "mcp-public-2026"
      }
    }
  }
}

For Claude Code (~/.config/claude/config.json):

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "trustrails": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@trustrails/mcp-server"],
      "env": {
        "TRUSTRAILS_API_KEY": "mcp-public-2026"
      }
    }
  }
}

That's it! Restart Claude and start searching.


Related MCP server: idealo MCP Server

What You Can Do

Just ask Claude naturally — it will decompose your request into the right query and filters:

"Find me a gaming laptop under £1000"
"I need Sony noise cancelling headphones"
"What HP laptops are available between £500-£700?"
"Show me Anker chargers"

Claude will search across multiple UK retailers and show you:

  • Real-time prices & availability

  • Purchase links (trustrails.app/go/ redirects to the retailer, through an affiliate link)

  • Every known structured spec (attributes), so products can be compared from the search alone

  • Then get_product for your final 1-3 picks, only when you need what search lacks: the retailer's description, or every retailer's offer and buy link (search carries only the best offer's purchase_url, cheapest in stock)


Available Tools

search_products

Search 26,000+ UK electronics products across 7 retailers with price comparison. Prices are in GBP. The tool text tells the assistant to split the request into filters first: brand, category and price go in their own arguments, RAM, storage, screen size, resolution, refresh rate, wattage and Wi-Fi generation go in constraints, and only what is left over goes in query.

Parameters:

  • query (string, optional) - Refinement terms ONLY: model lines, series, variants, model numbers (e.g. 'neo', 'ultra', 'oled', 'WH-1000XM5', 's25 ultra'). Never a category name (BAD query='tablet', query='smartwatch', query='laptop': set the category filter instead), never a brand name (BAD query='Sony': set the brand filter instead), never a price. Omit entirely when browsing a category or brand: 'show me tablets' = category='Tablets', no query. Query words must appear in the title, except words naming the category ('router' in Networking) and bare numbers or specs ('4070', '16GB'), which are ignored when finding products and only rank them. Put a model number with its prefix ('RTX 4070', not '4070') and check each title for it. Leave out use-case words like gaming, cheap or best.

  • min_price (number, optional) - Minimum price in GBP.

  • max_price (number, optional) - Maximum price in GBP.

  • brand (string, optional) - Filter by brand name (exact match, case-insensitive). Examples: Apple, Samsung, Sony, HP, Dell, Lenovo, Anker, Bose, LG

  • category (string, optional) - Filter by product category. Use ONLY these exact values: Laptops, Desktops, Tablets, Phones, TVs, Monitors, Headphones, Speakers, Cameras, Keyboards, Mice, Printers, Networking, Storage, Gaming, Wearables, Drones, Audio, Cables & Chargers. 'Smartphones' is not valid (use 'Phones'), nor is 'Televisions' (use 'TVs'). Gaming headsets are category='Headphones', query='gaming headset': the Gaming category is consoles, controllers and accessories only.

  • constraints (object, optional) - Hard spec requirements, checked per product against its attributes. Shape {name: {op: number}} with op eq, gte or lte; a range is {gte, lte}. On every operator, storage matches within 3% and screen size within 0.5 inch; a whole-number screen size N also covers up to N+1 on eq and lte (gte is unchanged); other specs exactly: gte 1024 accepts a 1TB drive, eq 22 a 21.5" screen, eq 13 a 13.6" one, lte 15 a 15.6" one. Example: {"memory_gb": {"gte": 24}, "storage_gb": {"gte": 1000}, "screen_in": {"eq": 15}}. Names and units: memory_gb (RAM, GB), storage_gb (GB, 1TB = 1000), screen_in (inches), resolution_p (pixels high: 4K = 2160, QHD = 1440, Full HD = 1080), refresh_hz (Hz), power_w (W), wifi_gen (Wi-Fi generation: 6, 6E = 6.5, 7). A spec written in query counts only when it says what it is ('24GB RAM', '1TB', '144Hz', '55"') and means at least, except screen size (that size); a bare '24GB' stays a search word. Explicit constraints win over it. A plain 16GB or 65W is gte; use eq only when the user says exactly, and for screen size. Always set category (and brand if known) with constraints: a search of only specs is rejected, as is a bad request (unknown name or operator, negative value, a combination nothing can meet such as gte above lte); the error lists the valid ones. See Structured specs.

  • lite (boolean, optional) - Return trimmed product objects with only essential fields (id, title, brand, price, currency, availability, image_url, purchase_url, offer_count, attributes (every known spec as {status, value}, without sources) and, with constraints, constraint_status). Always set to true; it still carries attributes. Use false only for ean, category, provenance or all sources at once.

  • limit (number, optional) - Maximum number of products to return (default 50, max 100)

  • sort (string, optional) - Sort order: 'relevance' (default), 'price_asc' (in stock first, then cheapest), 'price_desc' (in stock first, then most expensive). With constraints, matched products still come first.

Returns: products and a total. Each product carries every known attributes spec (a product with no attributes key has none of these seven specs known: say so only if the user asked about one): compare specs from these. State the value of a confirmed or inferred spec; only conflicting (retailers disagree) or a missing name (unknown) needs a caveat. With constraints, each product has constraint_status per name (matched: a retailer's title states a value that meets it; unverified: not known to meet it, so never treat it as a match), total counts the products that match every constraint, unverified_total the unverified ones that passed the other filters, and excluded_by_constraints the products whose stated value fails. candidates_truncated: true means the first 2,000 candidates in the chosen sort order were checked and more exist: add a brand or category, or a narrower query, and search again. availability is in_stock, low_stock, out_of_stock or unknown (the retailer gave no stock signal), and with purchase_url and price it comes from the product's best offer: in stock first, then cheapest. If offer_count is above 1, call get_product for your final 1-3 picks to compare retailers. Before claiming a saving, read offers[].title (from get_product): they must name the same model; if they differ, don't claim one. Before recommending any pick, check its title is the product type asked for (not a cable, accessory or adapter).

get_product

Get full details for a single product by ID. Returns structured attributes (see Structured specs), specs.description (the retailer's own prose, for processor, GPU, ports, weight, battery and features that attributes does not cover), pricing, availability, delivery time, and all retailer offers with per-retailer pricing (offers[].stock is a unit count only when the retailer supplies one, otherwise null). Accepts both canonical product IDs and original retailer offer IDs. Use after search_products only for your final 1-3 picks, and only when you need what search lacks: details only the description has (if it doesn't give a detail, tell the user it isn't listed), or every retailer's offer and buy link (search carries only the best offer's purchase_url, cheapest in stock). Search results already carry attributes to compare specs. A pick with offer_count 1 needs no call unless the user asked for a description-only detail.

Parameters:

  • product_id (string) - The unique product ID from search results

Returns: Complete product with structured attributes, specs (including the retailer's specs.description), offers sorted in stock first then cheapest, and provenance information

Structured specs

Search results and get_product return attributes: structured specs (RAM, storage, screen size, resolution, refresh rate, power, Wi-Fi generation) read from retailer titles when the catalogue is imported. Each has a status, and a spec nobody states is absent (unknown); a product with no attributes key has none of these seven specs known (say so only if the user asked about one). What each call returns:

Call

Returns

search_products with lite=true (what agents should always set)

id, title, brand, price, currency, availability, image_url, purchase_url, offer_count, every known attribute as {status, value} (or {status, values} when conflicting) without sources, and constraint_status when constrained

search_products without lite

the lite fields plus ean, category, product_type, provenance and every attribute with its sources

get_product

everything, including specs.description and dimensions, offers and delivery_time

Names and units are as in constraints. State the value for confirmed and inferred; only conflicting or a missing name needs a caveat. The statuses:

  • confirmed: two or more retailers state the same value.

  • inferred: one retailer's title states it.

  • conflicting: retailers state different values. None is picked; the values are listed with their retailers, and a retailer can appear under two values (check offers[].title).

specs.description is the retailer's prose. It can describe another configuration or a maximum ("up to 32GB"), so it never overrides or fills in an attribute: a spec missing from attributes is unknown.

For one Galaxy S26 Ultra, where only JoyBuy states the RAM (12GB) and two retailers disagree about the storage:

{
  "memory_gb": { "status": "inferred", "value": 12,
    "sources": [{ "retailer": "JoyBuy", "field": "title" }] },
  "storage_gb": { "status": "conflicting", "values": [
    { "value": 256, "sources": [{ "retailer": "Laptops Direct", "field": "title" }] },
    { "value": 512, "sources": [{ "retailer": "JoyBuy", "field": "title" }] } ] }
}

Searches with constraints return the constraints applied, excluded_by_constraints, unverified_total, and a constraint_status on each product: matched (a retailer's title states a value that meets the constraint) or unverified (not known to meet it: never treat as a match, tell the user it is unconfirmed; check attributes[name], where conflicting means retailers disagree and missing means unknown). Products whose stated value fails a constraint are left out. A lite result carries the status and value of every known spec, without sources, so a 64GB laptop is told apart from a 16GB one and disagreeing from unknown.

  • Tolerance: storage within 3% (1TB = 1000–1024GB) and screen size within 0.5 inch, on every operator. Retailers round sizes down, so a whole-number screen size N also covers up to N+1 on eq and lte (eq 13 accepts 13.6", lte 15 accepts 15.6", gte is unchanged). Other specs, memory included, are exact.

  • Specs in query: only a spec that says what it is counts ("24GB RAM", "1TB", "512GB SSD", "144Hz", 55"). A bare "24GB" stays a search word. Memory, storage, resolution, refresh rate, power and Wi-Fi mean at least; screen size means that size.

  • With only specs: a search with no category, brand or search words is rejected rather than checking an arbitrary 2,000 products. If a requirement is ambiguous (a bare "16GB" could be RAM or storage), ask the user or search without that constraint.

  • total: with constraints it counts the products that match every constraint, and unverified_total the unverified products that passed the other filters (only some may be in products). Without constraints total is every product matching the filters.

  • Candidate window: constraints are checked on the first 2,000 candidates in the chosen sort order. If more exist, the response has candidates_truncated: true: add a brand or category, or a narrower query, and search again before concluding that nothing matches. If the search was already narrowed, the results may be incomplete.


Supported Retailers

Search across 26,000+ electronics products from major UK retailers including AO, with new retailers added regularly.


Example Usage

Budget shopping:

"Find laptops with at least 16GB RAM under £800"
→ category='Laptops', constraints={"memory_gb": {"gte": 16}}, max_price=800, sort='price_asc', lite=true

Brand search:

"I need Sony headphones under £200"
→ brand='Sony', category='Headphones', max_price=200, sort='price_asc', lite=true

Category browsing:

"Show me cheap monitors"
→ category='Monitors', max_price=200, lite=true

Spec requirements:

"A 15 inch laptop with at least 24GB RAM and 1TB storage"
→ category='Laptops', constraints={"memory_gb":{"gte":24},"storage_gb":{"gte":1000},"screen_in":{"eq":15}}, lite=true

Detailed specs:

"Tell me the specs of this laptop"
→ compare specs from search; get_product(product_id) only for description-only details or every offer

Price range:

"Apple products between £500 and £1000"
→ brand='Apple', min_price=500, max_price=1000, lite=true

Rate Limits

  • 50 requests per hour per IP address

  • Rate limit info included in response headers

  • Limits reset every hour


Environment Variables

  • TRUSTRAILS_API_KEY - API key (use mcp-public-2026 for shared public access)

  • TRUSTRAILS_BASE_URL - API endpoint (optional, defaults to https://trustrails.app)


Why TrustRails?

  • ✅ Real-time data - Product feeds updated twice daily

  • ✅ Multiple retailers - Compare prices in one search

  • ✅ Stock information - See what's actually available to buy

  • ✅ Purchase links - Click through to the retailer to buy (affiliate links)

  • ✅ Zero setup - Works out of the box with shared public key

  • ✅ UK-focused - Optimized for UK electronics shopping


Troubleshooting

"Command not found" or server not starting

  • Make sure Node.js is installed and npx is available: npx --version

  • Try running manually: npx -y @trustrails/mcp-server

  • Using nvm? Claude Desktop doesn't inherit your shell PATH. Use the full path to node instead:

    {
      "command": "/Users/YOUR_USERNAME/.nvm/versions/node/vX.X.X/bin/node",
      "args": ["/Users/YOUR_USERNAME/.nvm/versions/node/vX.X.X/lib/node_modules/@trustrails/mcp-server/dist/index.js"]
    }

    First run npm install -g @trustrails/mcp-server, then find your node path with which node.

"Rate limit exceeded"

  • Wait an hour for limits to reset

  • Check X-RateLimit-Reset header for exact reset time

  • 50 requests/hour is plenty for normal usage

"No results found"

  • Try broader search terms (e.g., "laptop" instead of specific model)

  • Check spelling of brand names

  • Try searching without filters first


Development

Local Setup

# Clone the repo
git clone https://github.com/james-webdev/trustrails-mcp-server
cd trustrails-mcp-server

# Install dependencies
npm install

# Run locally
npm run dev

Testing

# Run the MCP inspector to test tools
npx @modelcontextprotocol/inspector npm run dev


License

MIT © TrustRails


About MCP

This server implements the Model Context Protocol, a standard for connecting AI assistants to external tools and data sources. Learn more about building MCP servers at modelcontextprotocol.io.

Available Tools

2 tools
get_productA

Get full details for a single product by ID. Returns complete technical specifications including specs.description (full prose spec text with processor, RAM, storage, display, ports etc), pricing, stock level, delivery time, and all retailer offers with per-retailer pricing. Accepts both canonical product IDs and original retailer offer IDs. Use this after search_products to get detailed specs for comparison or recommendations. Always call this when a user needs precise product attributes, compatibility info, side-by-side comparisons, or price comparison across retailers.

ParametersJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
product_idYesThe unique product ID

TDQS

A4.7/5.0
Behavior4/5

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

With no annotations, the description carries full transparency burden. It reveals input flexibility (accepts both canonical and retailer IDs), return content (technical specs, pricing, offers), and no side effects. Could be slightly improved by noting response structure or limitations, but overall sufficient for a read-only tool.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness4/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

Concise at three sentences, front-loaded with main purpose. The enumerated return types are helpful but could be tightened. No wasted words.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness5/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

Given the tool's simplicity (one parameter, no output schema), the description fully covers purpose, usage, input variants, and output content. No gaps remain for effective tool selection and invocation.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters5/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

The schema describes product_id as 'The unique product ID'. The description adds critical detail: 'Accepts both canonical product IDs and original retailer offer IDs', which significantly clarifies acceptable inputs beyond the schema.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose5/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

The description clearly states the tool's function: 'Get full details for a single product by ID'. It enumerates the types of data returned (specs, pricing, stock, offers) and distinguishes from sibling search_products by indicating it is used for detailed retrieval after search.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines5/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

Explicitly provides usage context: 'Use this after search_products to get detailed specs for comparison or recommendations' and 'Always call this when a user needs precise product attributes'. This gives clear guidance on when and why to invoke the tool.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.

search_productsA

Search 26,000+ deduplicated UK electronics products across multiple retailers with price comparison. Returns summary data: title, brand, price, availability, category, purchase link, and offer_count. When offer_count > 1, the product is available from multiple retailers — call get_product to see all offers. Specs are minimal — for full technical specifications, call get_product with the product ID. Covers: Laptops, Desktops, Phones, Tablets, Headphones, Monitors, TVs, Cameras, Keyboards, Mice, Speakers, Gaming, Wearables, Printers, Networking, Storage, Audio, Drones, Cables & Chargers. All prices in GBP. IMPORTANT RULES: 1) Decompose the user's request: extract brand → brand filter, category → category filter, price → price filters. What remains is the query. Example: 'Sony headphones under £200' → brand='Sony', category='Headphones', max_price=200, query omitted. Example: 'MacBook Neo' → brand='Apple', category='Laptops', query='neo'. Example: 'Samsung QLED TV' → brand='Samsung', category='TVs', query='qled'. Example: 'Sony WH-1000XM5' → brand='Sony', category='Headphones', query='WH-1000XM5'. 2) DO NOT put brand names, product family names, full product name strings, or prices in the query — use filters. DO put differentiating identifiers: model lines, series, variants, technology descriptors, and model numbers (e.g. 'neo', 'ultra', 'oled', 'qled', 'WH-1000XM5', 's25 ultra'). Any product family name uniquely associated with a brand (e.g. MacBook→Apple, Galaxy→Samsung, ThinkPad→Lenovo) is already implied by brand+category — never put it in query. BAD: query='macbook neo' → GOOD: brand='Apple', category='Laptops', query='neo'. 3) If brand + category alone fully describe what the user wants, omit the query entirely — fewer query words gives cleaner results. 4) Always set lite=true to reduce payload size. 5) If 0 results, try a shorter/broader query or drop filters. 6) Use get_product for full specs — do not rely on search results for detailed attributes. AI USAGE PROTOCOL: For simple browsing, search with lite=true is sufficient. For spec-based queries (wattage, ports, RAM, screen size, weight, etc.), ALWAYS search first, then call get_product on the top 3-5 results and validate constraints against the full specs before recommending. Do not assume technical specs from titles alone. If specs are missing, state that explicitly. STOCK AVAILABILITY: When a product is availability: out_of_stock, do not recommend it as a purchase. Instead mention it as a notable alternative — especially if it offers a meaningful price advantage — and suggest the user check back. Example: 'This model is £X cheaper at [retailer] but currently out of stock — worth checking back if you're not in a rush.' Never silently omit out-of-stock results; surface them transparently.

ParametersJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
queryNoRefinement terms after brand and category are extracted. Use for model lines, series names, variants, or model numbers (e.g. 'neo', 'ultra', 'oled', 'qled', 'WH-1000XM5'). DO NOT include brand names, product family names, or prices — use filters. Omit entirely if brand + category fully describe what the user wants.
min_priceNoMinimum price in GBP. Use this instead of putting prices in the query.
max_priceNoMaximum price in GBP. Use this instead of putting prices in the query.
brandNoFilter by brand name (exact match, case-insensitive). Use this instead of putting brand names in the query. Examples: Apple, Samsung, Sony, HP, Dell, Lenovo, Anker, Bose, LG
categoryNoFilter by product category. Use ONLY these exact values: Laptops, Desktops, Tablets, Phones, TVs, Monitors, Headphones, Speakers, Cameras, Keyboards, Mice, Printers, Networking, Storage, Gaming, Wearables, Drones, Audio, Cables & Chargers. NOTE: 'Smartphones' is not valid — use 'Phones'. 'Televisions' is not valid — use 'TVs'. For TVs, use query: 'smart TV' — it returns far more results than 'TV' alone. Avoid query: 'television'.
liteNoReturn trimmed product objects with only essential fields (id, title, brand, price, availability, image_url, purchase_url). Always set to true unless the user specifically needs full product objects.
limitNoMaximum number of products to return (default 50, max 100)
sortNoSort order: 'relevance' (default), 'price_asc' (cheapest first), 'price_desc' (most expensive first). Use 'price_asc' when comparing prices.

TDQS

A4.9/5.0
Behavior5/5

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

No annotations are provided, so the description fully compensates by detailing that the tool returns summary data, that offer_count>1 indicates multiple retailers, that specs are minimal, and how out-of-stock items should be surfaced. It also notes all prices are in GBP.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness4/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

The description is well-structured with sections (important rules, AI usage protocol, stock availability) and front-loaded with the main purpose. However, it is somewhat verbose and contains some repetition in the query rules.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness5/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

Given the absence of an output schema, the description adequately explains the return fields (title, brand, price, availability, etc.) and covers all parameters, usage guidelines, edge cases like zero results and out-of-stock items. It is thorough for a search tool.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters5/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

Even though schema coverage is 100%, the description adds significant value by explaining the decomposition logic for query, brand, and category parameters, listing valid category values, and specifying when to omit the query. It goes beyond the schema descriptions.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose5/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

The description clearly states the tool's main function: 'Search 26,000+ deduplicated UK electronics products across multiple retailers with price comparison.' It lists covered categories and distinguishes itself from sibling tool get_product by noting that this tool provides summary data while get_product offers full specs.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines5/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

The description provides explicit guidance on when to use this tool versus get_product, how to decompose user requests into filters and query, when to omit the query, and important rules like setting lite=true. It also addresses zero-result handling and AI usage protocol.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.

Tool Schema Changelog

Recent tool additions, removals, and schema changes observed during successful MCP inspections.

  1. 2 tool updatesv1.0.22
    • First observedget_product
    • First observedsearch_products

TDQS

A4.6/5.0

Scored across 2 tools

Disambiguation5/5

The two tools have clearly distinct purposes: search_products performs broad searches with summary data, while get_product retrieves full details for a single product. There is no overlap, and the descriptions explicitly guide when to use each.

Naming Consistency5/5

Both tool names follow a consistent verb_noun pattern (search_products, get_product) using snake_case, which is predictable and clear.

Tool Count3/5

With only 2 tools, the server is on the low end for a product search domain. While the tools are essential and well-designed, the small set feels thin compared to typical expectations of at least 3-5 tools for search, details, and possibly categories or comparison.

Completeness4/5

The server covers core search and detail retrieval workflows. Minor gaps include lack of an explicit category listing or multi-product comparison tool, but the descriptions provide guidance for workarounds (calling get_product on multiple results).

Maintenance

ActivityMaintained
ResponsivenessNo issues

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