Managed Inventory

Frequently Asked Questions

This guide is here to help you understand what to expect, how to prepare your first submission, and where to go if you need support. We’ll keep you informed of any updates and make sure you have the latest guidance before you need to take action.

Index

• Program Overview
• Getting Started
• Submissions and CSVs
• Eligibility and Inventory Selection
• Packing and Shipping
• Fees
• Store Your Products (SYP)
• Support and Feedback

Program Overview

What is TCGplayer Managed Inventory?

Managed Inventory is a TCGplayer service within TCGplayer Direct where you send eligible inventory to TCGplayer, keep ownership and pricing control, and TCGplayer stores the inventory, fulfills orders, ships to buyers, and supports buyer customer service. It is designed to help you grow with less day-to-day fulfillment work.

How will I know if a process changes?

We will provide you with at least 14 calendar days notice via the email associated with your Managed Inventory account before any material changes to processes or policy. Process guides will also be updated accordingly.

Getting Started

What do I need to do first?

Start by reviewing the pilot resources provided by your dedicated support agent, including the Submission Guide, Packing & Shipping Guide, Product Eligibility Guide, Fee Rates & Schedule, and any other policy or process guidance you have received.

What should I have ready before my first submission?

Before creating your first submission, make sure you have eligible inventory selected, your submission CSV prepared, packaging materials ready, access to a printer for your packing slip, and a plan to ship each package separately with tracking.

Will I need a separate account for Managed Inventory?

Yes. Managed Inventory requires a separate TCGplayer account and login with a unique store name, email address, phone number, and bank account that is not linked to another active TCGplayer storefront.

You do not necessarily need to open a new bank account. Banking information from an old or inactive TCGplayer account can be reused after it is removed from that account. However, the same bank account cannot be linked to two active storefronts.

What can carry over from my existing store?

Your Managed Inventory store name must be unique, but you can add a suffix such as “Managed” or “MI” to your existing name so buyers recognize your business. Eligible store badges, such as WPN or Certified Hobby Shop badges, will also carry over. Your existing feedback history will not transfer.

Submissions and CSVs

What is a submission CSV?

A submission CSV is a file that contains all of the necessary information of the inventory that you plan to send in for Managed Inventory. It includes the product and quantity information needed to create and process your submission.

How do I create a submission CSV?

You can export a submission CSV via the “Export Filtered CSV” tool in the Pricing tab of the Seller Portal. Please see the Managed Inventory Submissions Guide for a step-by-step guide on how to create, format, and submit your submission CSVs.

How many submissions can I make in a day?

As you onboard into the program, we will work with you to ensure you have clear guidance about card volume limitations, should these apply at any time. Updates will come in through the email associated with your account, so we ask that you monitor this account regularly for any changes.

Where do I submit my submission CSV?

You can submit your submission CSV via the “Submissions” page of the Seller Portal by clicking the “New Submission” button, then “Upload CSV.”

Is there a template I should use?

Yes. As long as the “Export for Managed Inventory Submission” box is checked, the CSV file exported directly from the Pricing tab of the Seller Portal will be correctly formatted for the submissions process.

What fields are required in the CSV?

CSVs exported from the “Export Filtered CSV” tool in the Pricing tab will automatically include all necessary columns. Do not change or delete any of the columns or column headers, or the system will not accept the submitted CSV.

Can I edit my CSV after submitting it?

No. Once you finalize your submission, you will not be able to modify or cancel it. Contact your dedicated support agent if you have any issues.

What happens if my CSV has errors?

The submission system will automatically notify you of any specific errors encountered when importing your CSV, and provide instructions on how to resolve the error(s). Once you have fixed the error(s), you can re-upload the CSV for submission.

How many items should I include in my first submission?

We anticipate that your first two submissions will be limited to a maximum of 500 cards combined, split across one Preferred shipment and one Standard shipment. However, you will need to work with your dedicated support agent to determine the exact volume we can accept for your first shipment. We will ensure you are informed ahead of time. Starting with smaller shipments will help us support your onboarding, confirm the process is working as expected, and make sure you feel confident before sending in larger shipments.

The following applies to shipments after you have successfully made your first two submissions, but your dedicated support agent will confirm when we are ready for these increased volumes.

Can I send all of my inventory?

Not all at once. Submissions must follow the outlined quantity limits based on the Shipment type. You can send your inventory over time across multiple shipments as long as they follow these limits, and any other volume or submission limitations that may be in place.

Eligibility and Inventory Selection

What products are eligible for Managed Inventory?

At this time, the Managed Inventory program is only accepting products from Magic: The Gathering, Pokémon, and Yu-Gi-Oh! that meet the following criteria:

• English Language
• Near Mint and Lightly Played condition cards

What products are not eligible?

The following is a non-exhaustive list of ineligible products:

• Moderately Played, Heavily Played, and/or Damaged condition cards
• Non-English Language cards
• Oversized cards
• Metal cards
• Thick-stock cards
• Serialized cards
• Sealed products or ‘Slabbed’ products
• Products that have been signed, marked, or otherwise modified after printing.

A more thorough explanation of ineligible products can be found in our Managed Inventory Product Eligibility Guide.

How often does eligibility change?

Product eligibility is updated monthly to account for new products and set releases for the game lines accepted in Managed Inventory.

Where can I find the latest eligibility guidance?

Please refer to the Managed Inventory Product Eligibility Guide for the latest guidance and CSV file of the list of ineligible products.

Please note, as the list of ineligible products is updated monthly, sets and products that have been released between updates may not be present on the list yet. We advise that you assume that products from newly released sets that fall under the broader categories listed above (eg. new Serialized cards) are ineligible, even if the list has not yet been updated to include them.

How can I make sure my submissions do not include ineligible products?

The “Export Filtered CSV” tool in the Pricing tab of your seller portal will automatically filter out ineligible products, as long as the “Export for Managed Inventory Submission” box is checked. The Submission portal will also perform a check for any ineligible products (see the Submission Guide for further details).

Be sure to check your packing slip for any products that need to be removed after fully submitting your CSV. If you are unsure whether a product is eligible, check the Ineligible Products CSV shared in the Product Eligibility Guide, or contact your dedicated support agent before mailing your inventory.

What happens if I send an ineligible product?

Ineligible products included in a shipment are subject to a discrepancy fee, but will not be subject to a receiving fee. However, during the pilot period, you will not be charged discrepancy fees, as outlined in the Fee Rates & Schedule document. You will receive notice ahead of these fees becoming applicable.

To help avoid delays, be sure to review the Product Eligibility Guide before creating your submission, and check your shipment’s packing slip and remove any ineligible products from the shipment before mailing. Contact your dedicated support agent if you need help.

Can I get my ineligible products back?

Any ineligible products will be removed from their respective shipments, and will be returned to you once every 90 days. You will be charged for the return postage of the shipment of ineligible products back to you.

Packing and Shipping

When should I ship my package(s)?

You should mail your package(s) as soon possible once the shipment has been successfully submitted. Per the TCGplayer Managed Inventory policy, all packages are required to arrive at our Authentication Center within 10 business days of approval for domestic sellers, and 15 for international sellers.

Does my package need to match the exact order on my packing slip?

Yes, the inventory in your package needs to match the order on the packing slip. Your shipment should be grouped by:

• By product line (game) – Magic, then Pokemon, then Yu-Gi-Oh!.
• By condition – Near Mint first, then Lightly Played.
• By Non-Foil, then Foil.
• Cards with the same ID (name and version) within a given set

Where do I ship my packages?

Packages should be shipped to one of the following, depending on shipment type. Please double check your shipment type matches the address you are sending it to.

Preferred (PRF) Packages should be addressed to:

TCGplayer Managed Inventory - PRF
4500 Commerce Crossings Dr
Louisville, KY 40229

Standard (STD) Packages should be addressed to:

TCGplayer Managed Inventory - STD
4500 Commerce Crossings Dr
Louisville, KY 40229

Do I need to provide tracking?

Yes, unique tracking numbers are required on all Managed Inventory shipments. After you create the shipping label, add the carrier and tracking information in the Seller Portal as soon as possible.

What should I do if I need to change the tracking information?

If the tracking information changes, please contact your dedicated support agent as you will not be able to update it in the Seller Portal.

What happens after my shipment is received?

After your shipment is received, TCGplayer will process it through intake. If there are discrepancies, packaging issues, or questions about your shipment, your dedicated support agent will follow up with more information. You’ll receive an automated email alerting you when your inventory is ready to be priced.

Fees

What fees apply to Managed Inventory?

The following fees may apply to Managed Inventory, depending on your account activity, submissions, inventory, and sales. For full rates and timing, please review the Managed Inventory Fee Rates & Schedule.

Please refer to the Managed Inventory Fee Rates & Schedule document for a full breakdown of the program’s fees and timing.

When do fees begin?

Transaction fees (Marketplace Fee, Managed Inventory Sale & Fulfillment Fees, etc.) are charged immediately from the sales payout.

Monthly fees (Receiving Fee, Discrepancy Fee, Noncompliant Packaging Fee, Storage Fee, Product Return/Disposal Fees) are invoiced on the 1st of the calendar month. The invoice is required to be paid within 30 calendar days.

Store Your Products (SYP)

I also have a Store Your Products (SYP) account. Can I still submit to SYP?

No, once you join the Managed Inventory service, you will no longer be eligible to submit products to SYP. Managed Inventory is meant to be an upgraded version of SYP that provides a better experience for sellers.

I have inventory in my SYP account. Can I convert that inventory to Managed Inventory?

Yes, if this is something you are interested in, we will gladly work with you to move your SYP cards to your Managed Inventory account. We will coordinate with you on the timing and process. This may be impacted by how much inventory you have to convert.

If I want to convert my SYP inventory to Managed Inventory, will I be charged a Receiving Fee?

No, all products converted from your SYP account over to your Managed Inventory account will not be charged a Receiving fee.

If you convert your products after the first 90 days of the Managed Inventory service, you may be charged a Receiving Fee, but it will be reimbursed as an adjustment on your account.

Will I get to choose what inventory is converted?

Yes, we will reach out to you about your current SYP inventory to provide you with the options for converting. If you choose not to have some of your SYP inventory converted over to Managed Inventory, we will return it to you.

Does the launch of TCGplayer Managed Inventory mean that SYP will be decommissioned?

Yes, SYP will be decommissioned as TCGplayer Managed Inventory is able to scale to more sellers and inventory. Your participation in the TCGplayer Managed Inventory pilot will help us ensure that the service is a significant improvement.

What will happen to SYP accounts and inventory when SYP is decommissioned?

First, know that you don’t have to worry about this yet. We will communicate widely with all SYP sellers before SYP is scaled down.

When the time comes, we will work with all impacted sellers to either convert SYP inventory to a Managed Inventory account, or return inventory to sellers if that is their preference.

Support and Feedback

Who should I contact if I need help or need to report an issue?

If you're a new seller in Managed Inventory, route any questions through your dedicated support agent. Established sellers should contact TCGplayer Support. As you become established, the dedicated support agent will make sure you know the best way to route questions and concerns.

I have feedback. Who should I contact?

For new sellers in Managed Inventory, you can share feedback with your dedicated support agent. For established sellers, you can reach out to TCGplayer support at any time.