What TCGHaulTracker does well
TCGHaulTracker reads both of TCGplayer's packing slip formats straight from the PDF, and it lists eBay, Mana Pool and CollX packing slips as an open beta. PigeonTrail reads TCGplayer's shipping export file rather than the packing slip, so if you work from slips, TCGHaulTracker saves you a step.
It also sells things PigeonTrail doesn't. On paid plans it sells letter postage at the commercial rate plus a 7 cent label fee, once USPS has scanned 25 of your orders, and package labels at commercial rates plus 75 cents. Its Shipment Guarantee charges 2% of the order, at most $1, when the order gets its first USPS scan, and pays up to $50 on a claim. TCGHaulTracker's own terms call it "a discretionary seller protection program" and say "it is not an insurance policy." It publishes a public map of USPS delivery times by state, and it has a free address checking tool.
On delivery, its FAQ says it marks an order delivered 48 hours after a "Sorted for Delivery" scan, and labels USPS's own delivered event as an estimate. PigeonTrail shows only what USPS reports and calls USPS's event "USPS marked it delivered."
100 letters a month, free, every month
PigeonTrail's Free plan covers 100 letters every month with no card, and your first letter starts a 30 day Pro trial. TCGHaulTracker's trial lasts 25 orders or 30 days, whichever comes first, and its plans run from $9 a month for 75 orders to $149 for 3,000. Pro on PigeonTrail is $12.99 a month for 500 letters, then 2 cents each, and Shop is $49 for 2,500.
Emails your buyer gets from your shop
PigeonTrail gives every letter a tracking page with your logo, tagline and accent color, a map of the route so far and the day USPS expects it. When your order file includes the buyer's email address, we email your buyer the link at the first USPS scan. If you're on Pro, those emails come from your shop's name, and your buyer hears from you when the letter is mailed, when it's almost there and when USPS marks it delivered.
TCGplayer and Mana Pool don't share buyer email addresses with outside tools, so for those orders each letter's page in PigeonTrail has a message with the tracking link ready to paste into the marketplace's messages.
TCGHaulTracker's FAQ describes a tracking page with the order's scans and a one time email the buyer can opt in to when the order reaches the local post office. It lists branded buyer pages and emails as early access.
A warning before your buyer writes to you
PigeonTrail asks USPS how many delivery days a First Class letter gets between your ZIP code and your buyer's, and counts them out on the calendar. A letter more than a day past that date, or five days without a scan, is flagged in your letters list, and on Pro we email you about it, so you can reach the buyer first. Our free letter delivery time tool shows the same USPS numbers for any two ZIP codes.
More places your orders come from
PigeonTrail reads the order files that TCGplayer, eBay, Amazon, Etsy, Shopify, ShipStation and WooCommerce export, and Mana Pool orders arrive by themselves once you connect your account. TCGHaulTracker lists TCGplayer and eBay as native, with a template for Whatnot and others.
TCGHaulTracker and PigeonTrail side by side
Every TCGHaulTracker fact below comes from TCGHaulTracker's own website, read on October 21, 2026. The PigeonTrail column comes from our pricing table.
| TCGHaulTracker | PigeonTrail | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $9 a month for 75 orders, up to $149 for 3,000; 30 order credits for $4.50 | 100 letters a month free; Pro $12.99 a month for 500, then 2 cents each |
| Free allowance | A trial of 25 orders or 30 days | 100 letters every month |
| Order imports | TCGplayer packing slip PDFs, CSV for TCGplayer and eBay; eBay, Mana Pool and CollX slips in beta | Mana Pool connected; order files from TCGplayer, eBay, Amazon, Etsy, Shopify, ShipStation and WooCommerce |
| Postage | Letter postage at commercial rate plus 7 cents on paid plans; package labels plus 75 cents | Your own stamp; a Pirate Ship file for packages |
| Protection | Shipment Guarantee, 2% of the order up to $1, payout up to $50, which it says is not insurance | None |
| Buyer updates | A tracking page and an optional one time email | A tracking page in your shop's colors with a route map, and emails at the first scan, or three from your shop on Pro |
| Late letters | Dashboard flags for silent orders and a stale shipment export | USPS's expected day for each letter, a flag when it falls behind, and an email to you on Pro |
We read every fact about another company on its own website on the date shown. Prices and features change, so if something here is out of date, write to support@pigeontrail.com and we will correct it.
Questions
Is TCGHaulTracker free?
No. It has a trial of 25 orders or 30 days, and its plans start at $9 a month for 75 orders. PigeonTrail's first 100 letters each month are free, every month.
Does TCGHaulTracker have insurance?
It has a Shipment Guarantee that costs 2% of the order, at most $1, and pays up to $50. Its own terms say it is not an insurance policy. PigeonTrail sells neither insurance nor a guarantee.
Does TCGplayer accept either tracking number?
No. TCGplayer wants USPS, UPS or FedEx tracking over $49.99, and a letter barcode is not that, so PigeonTrail sends those orders to a Pirate Ship package list.
Which one emails my buyer?
Both can. TCGHaulTracker sends one email that the buyer opts in to. PigeonTrail emails the buyer at the first scan when the order file has an email address, and on Pro it sends three emails from your shop's name.
Sources
- TCGHaulTracker's home page, FAQ, terms (effective October 15, 2026), what's new page and its CSV upload guide, read October 21, 2026. We do not link to other companies' sites.
- TCGplayer, "How should I ship my TCGplayer orders?", read October 13, 2026: help.tcgplayer.com
- USPS, Informed Visibility Mail Tracking and Reporting User Guide, version 2.19.9, September 2026, Appendix E.3.2 on the logical delivery event, opcode 517: postalpro.usps.com