diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/commerce/README.rst b/lms/djangoapps/commerce/README.rst
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..fdc0f90cb1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/commerce/README.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+Status: Maintenance
+
+Responsibilities
+================
+The Commerce app is an older implementation of e-commerce related functionality.
+
+Direction: Deprecate
+====================
+This app is replaced by functionality in the `ecommerce service`_. New functionality should not be added here. Effort is needed to determine who the existing clients are so they can be updated and this app can be removed. This app is in a similar situation to the ```lms/djangoapps/shoppingcart``` app.
+
+.. _ecommerce service: https://github.com/edx/ecommerce
+
+Glossary
+========
+
+More Documentation
+==================
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/shoppingcart/README.rst b/lms/djangoapps/shoppingcart/README.rst
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..a977526937
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+++ b/lms/djangoapps/shoppingcart/README.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+Status: Maintenance
+
+Responsibilities
+================
+The Shopping Cart is an older implementation of e-commerce related functionality.
+
+Direction: Deprecate
+====================
+This app is replaced by functionality in the `ecommerce service`_. New functionality should not be added here. Effort is needed to determine who the existing clients are so they can be updated and this app can be removed. This app is in a similar situation to the ```lms/djangoapps/commerce``` app.
+
+.. _ecommerce service: https://github.com/edx/ecommerce
+
+Glossary
+========
+
+More Documentation
+==================