How Does Envelope Tracking Work for My TCGplayer Orders?

TCGplayer now offers free envelope tracking for eligible Marketplace orders of $49.99 or less shipped in windowed envelopes. With the new tracked packing slip, you and your buyer can follow your envelope's progress through the USPS mail network.

The tracking barcode is printed directly on your packing slip, so there's no need for a separate label, third-party tracking service, or additional postage. Simply print your tracked packing slip, insert it into a windowed envelope, and ship your order as usual.

What Is a Tracked Packing Slip?

A tracked packing slip looks similar to the standard packing slip you already use, but includes a USPS Intelligent Mail barcode (IMb) printed below the buyer's mailing address.

This barcode allows USPS to provide tracking updates as your envelope moves through its mail processing network, giving you and your buyer greater visibility into the shipment's progress.

As your envelope moves through USPS sorting facilities, the barcode is scanned to provide tracking updates. These updates help you and your buyer follow the envelope's progress through the USPS mail network.This is the same Informed Visibility (IV) infrastructure that USPS uses for commercial mailers.

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How Do I Print a Tracked Packing Slip?

Printing a Tracked Packing Slip for a Single Order

Go to your Orders tab in the TCGplayer Seller Portal. Note: Tracked envelopes are available in the new user experience Orders page experience. If you are still using the older user experience, simply toggle to the new experience at the top of the Orders page to access this feature.
Select the order you want to ship.
From the [insert] dropdown, select a packing slip with tracking.
Click Print Packing Slip. If the order is eligible for envelope tracking, a tracked packing slip will be generated automatically.
Print the packing slip on a standard 8.5" x 11" sheet of paper. Use a laser or inkjet printer set to at least 300 dpi — the barcode must print cleanly and at full resolution to be scannable.
Do not scale or resize the document when printing. Print at 100% (actual size). Scaling the page will distort the barcode and prevent USPS scanners from reading it.

Printing Tracked Packing Slips in Bulk

You can also print Tracked Packing Slips for multiple orders at once using the same bulk printing process you already use for standard packing slips.

Go to the Orders page in your Seller Portal.
Select the orders you want to print packing slips for.
Choose the tracked packing slip option from the bulk printing menu.
Print your packing slips at actual size (100%).

Note: Only eligible orders will receive a tracking barcode. If you include an ineligible order in your bulk selection, its packing slip won't include a tracking barcode. You'll need to reprint that order's packing slip using the standard, non-tracked option.

▎ Tip: After printing, check that the barcode bars are sharp and evenly spaced with no blurring or smearing. A barcode that looks fuzzy or faded will not scan reliably.

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What Is a Windowed Envelope?

A windowed envelope is a standard #10 envelope with a clear window that displays the buyer's mailing address and USPS tracking barcode.

When you fold and insert your tracked packing slip, both the address and barcode should be visible through the window. This eliminates the need to write the address or use a separate mailing label.

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How do I Fold and Insert the Packing Slip?

To ensure your envelope can be properly scanned by USPS, the buyer's mailing address and tracking barcode must be fully visible through the envelope window.

Follow these steps to fold and insert your tracked packing slip:

Lay the packing slip flat. Place it face-up with the top of the page closest to you.
Fold the bottom third up. Bring the bottom edge of the paper up approximately one-third of the way.
Fold the top third down. Fold the top of the page down over the first fold to create a standard letter fold (also called a C-fold).
Insert the packing slip. Place the folded packing slip into your windowed envelope, with the buyer's mailing address and barcode facing the window.
Check the window. Before sealing the envelope, make sure the full mailing address and tracking barcode are clearly visible through the window and aren't covered or cut off.

Important: If the address or barcode isn't fully visible, adjust the packing slip before mailing. An obscured barcode may prevent USPS from scanning and tracking your envelope.

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What Does the Tracking Number Look Like?

Your tracked packing slip includes a unique tracking number that allows you and your buyer to follow your envelope's progress through USPS.

The tracking number looks similar to this: 9201 9999 0000 0000 0000 00

Once you generate your tracked packing slip, you can find the tracking number on the order details page in your Seller Portal. Tracking information is also automatically shared with your buyer, so they can check for updates as their envelope moves through the USPS mail network.

Common tracking events your buyer may see:

Status	What It Means
Accepted at USPS Origin Facility	Your envelope entered the postal network
Origin Facility Processing	Sorted at your local or regional USPS hub
In Transit to Destination	Moving toward the buyer's delivery area
Arrived at Destination Facility	Reached the facility serving the buyer's ZIP code
Out for Delivery	Loaded on the carrier's route for delivery

Note: Unlike package tracking, USPS does not provide delivery confirmation for standard letter mail. "Out for Delivery" is typically the final tracking update, so your envelope may be delivered without any additional tracking updates.

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Will Every Envelope Be Scanned?

Not necessarily. While most envelopes will receive tracking updates, USPS may not scan every envelope as it moves through the mail network. Some envelopes may have fewer tracking updates or no updates at all.

If your envelope doesn't show any tracking updates, it doesn't necessarily mean it's lost. Allow 2–3 business days after shipping for the first scan to appear. If no updates appear after 5 business days, contact TCGplayer Support with your order number for assistance.

If the order still hasn't arrived after 10 business days from the ship date, it should be treated as potentially lost.

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What Happens If I Don't Use the Tracked Packing Slip?

You can still ship eligible orders using your standard packing slip and a regular envelope. However, without the tracked packing slip, your envelope won't receive USPS tracking updates.

This means:

No tracking updates: You and your buyer won't be able to track the envelope's progress through USPS.
Limited seller protection: Without a qualifying USPS tracking scan, your order won't be eligible for the additional seller protections available through this tracking feature.
Less visibility into delivery issues: If a buyer reports that their order hasn't arrived, you won't have USPS tracking information to help determine where the envelope may be.

If you use a tracked packing slip, make sure the barcode can be scanned. The following issues may prevent USPS from scanning your envelope:

Incorrect print size: Printing at a reduced scale may make the barcode unreadable.
Poor print quality: Blurry, faded, or smudged barcodes may not scan properly.
Incorrect folding: The barcode must be fully visible through the envelope window.
Obstructed barcode: Avoid placing tape, stickers, or labels over the barcode.

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What orders are eligible for envelope tracking?

Orders totaling $49.99 or less from an individual seller with a USPS-verified domestic U.S. shipping address are eligible for envelope tracking.

If the buyer's shipping address can't be verified by USPS, the Tracked Packing Slip option won't be available for that order. You can still fulfill the order using your standard, non-tracked packing slip.

Do I need to pay extra postage to use envelope tracking?

No. The IMb barcode does not change the mail class or add postage cost. Your envelope ships with a standard First-Class stamp, exactly as before. The tracking is provided through USPS Informed Visibility at no additional charge.

Can I still use my own packing slip template?

No. To generate a valid IMb barcode, the packing slip must be generated by TCGplayer. The barcode is created at the time of packing slip generation and is unique to that specific order. You cannot add a barcode to a custom or third-party packing slip.

What envelope size should I use?

Use a standard #10 windowed envelope (4 1/8" x 9 1/2"). This is the most common business envelope size and is widely available. Larger or smaller windowed envelopes may not align the address and barcode with the window correctly.

What if my buyer doesn't see any tracking updates?

Advise your buyer to allow 2–3 business days after your ship date for the first USPS tracking scan to appear. If no tracking updates appear after 5 business days, contact TCGplayer Support with the order number so we can investigate potential scanning delays. If the order still has no tracking updates after 10 days, it should be treated as potentially lost rather than simply delayed.

Does this work for international orders?

No. USPS Informed Visibility tracking is only available for eligible domestic U.S. mail. International orders are not eligible for this tracking feature.

For this feature, domestic U.S. mail includes mail sent within or between the 50 U.S. states, Washington, D.C., and eligible U.S. territories and military addresses, including:

U.S. territories and possessions: Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Wake Island.
Military and diplomatic addresses: Army Post Offices (APO), Fleet Post Offices (FPO), and Diplomatic Post Offices (DPO).
United Nations: United Nations addresses in New York.

Orders shipped to addresses outside these eligible domestic U.S. destinations are considered international and do not qualify for USPS Informed Visibility tracking.

What if I run out of windowed envelopes?

Do not use a tracked packing slip with a regular (non-windowed) envelope, as the tracking barcode must be visible for USPS sorting equipment to scan it.

If you run out of windowed envelopes and cannot obtain more in time to ship your order within the required 48-hour window, use the standard, non-tracked packing slip instead. This allows you to fulfill your order on time without delaying shipment while waiting for additional supplies.

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For additional help, contact TCGplayer Seller Support (https://help.tcgplayer.com/hc/en-us/requests/new).

For additional information on USPS Intelligent Mail Barcode (IMb), review support documentation from USPS

(https://postalpro.usps.com/mailing/intelligent-mail-barcode).