Shipping Letter Or Flats?

Where's My TCG? was created to provide buyers and sellers with visibility into the journey of First Class Letters and Flats sent through the United States Postal Service (USPS) for TCGplayer orders. Traditionally, tracking is only available for packages, which makes it cost-effective only for high-value items. As a result, lower-value trading cards are often shipped in plain white envelopes without tracking, leaving both parties in the dark about the status of their orders.

This lack of transparency forces sellers to rely on the buyer's honesty regarding whether the item was received, creating uncertainty and potential disputes.

Where's My TCG? solves this problem by leveraging USPS’s Informed Visibility (IV) system, introduced in 2018. This service enables commercial mailers—including marketplaces and sellers—to track smaller mail pieces using special barcodes. These barcodes are scanned as the mail moves through the USPS network, providing tracking updates all the way to the destination.

How Does USPS Informed Visibility Mail Tracking Work

USPS uses a mixture of tools and systems to complete the tracking data. Though physical scans through the automation machines, as well as "assumed" and "logical" events they can determine where your letter is. Assumed events are when a letter is placed into a shipping container, or other handling unit, and moves from destination to destination. When the container is recorded as moved, so will the letter. For logical events, mail carrier hand-held devices and vehicles both have GPS tracking data along with geo-fencing technologies. When a mail carrier enters a specific area that matches the letter's destination, it can be marked as delivered.

What Where's My TCG? Does

Buyers
Once a seller generates a tracking barcode and ships the order, buyers can simply enter their TCGplayer order number on the homepage to view tracking information. This provides greater transparency and peace of mind when tracking unregistered First Class mail.

Sellers
Sellers can upload the packing slip provided by TCGplayer, and Where's My TCG? will automatically embed a USPS-compatible barcode above the shipping address. When used with a windowed envelope, both the address and barcode are clearly visible, allowing automated USPS equipment to scan the mail piece as it moves through the network.

For those not using windowed envelopes, alternative options are available to generate and affix tracking barcodes directly to the mail piece, ensuring flexible tracking solutions for all sellers.

For more information visit the Tools page: Tools Information