How Does Whatnot Work? Everything You Need to Know to Get Started

PDF download Download Article
Learn to buy and sell collectibles, toys, and more on Whatnot
PDF download Download Article

Have you heard of Whatnot? It's a live shopping app that has become quite popular recently. But how exactly does Whatnot work, and how do you use it? In this article, we go over how Whatnot works as a shopping platform, as well as how to get started as a buyer and as a seller. Read in to learn more.

Whatnot: How it Works

  • Whatnot is a shopping app where sellers can livestream to show products they are selling, and buyers can bid on those products auction-style.
  • To buy on Whatnot, go to a live stream and bid on an object by swiping the yellow bar at the bottom of the screen.
  • To sell on Whatnot, apply for a seller account and complete Seller 101 training to learn how to sell on the platform.
Section 1 of 3:

How Whatnot Works

PDF download Download Article
  1. Live shopping is popular overseas, and it's only now just starting to make its way over to the Western part of the world.
    • Sellers will list their items for sale on Whatnot and then go live to show those items on stream. Buyers will watch these streams and purchase items, though items can be purchased outside of a stream as well. [1]
    • There are four in-show buying formats:
      • Auctions (where you bid on an item during the stream)
      • Buy it Now (fixed-price items that can be purchased outright)
      • Flash sales (a fixed-price item that is discounted for a short period of time)
      • Breaks (where multiple buyers can split a box or pack of trading cards)
      • Some sellers also do giveaways. While the items are given away for free, buyers usually have to pay the shipping costs.
    • There are also four out-of-show buying formats:
      • Buy it Now (fixed-price items that can be purchased outright)
      • Make Offer (you'll send an offer to a seller for a fixed-price item, and they can accept or deny the offer)
      • Pre-bid (submitting a bid for an auction item before the auction goes live)
      • Auction (just like auctions during shows, but these auctions usually last longer)
    2. Advertisement
Section 2 of 3:

Using Whatnot as a Buyer

PDF download Download Article
  1. 1
    Add a payment method and shipping address. Before you can buy anything on Whatnot, you'll need to add a payment method and shipping address. To do this, follow these steps:
    • Tap Account in the bottom-right corner of the screen.
    • Tap Payments & Shipping .
    • Tap Add Payment Method .
    • Choose the type of payment method you'd like to connect.
    • Follow the on-screen instructions to add your payment method.
    • Once you're back on the "Payments & Shipping" screen, tap Add Shipping Details .
    • Enter your address.
    • Click Confirm Address .
  2. 2
    Join a livestream. When you signed up for your Whatnot account, you should have selected your interests so Whatnot could formulate a home page for you. You can either choose one of the streams from your homepage or search for an item you want to buy.
  3. 3
    Swipe at the bottom of the screen to place a bid. Most Whatnot sellers sell their items via auction. When an auction is live, you'll see the current bid at the bottom of the screen. Simply swipe the yellow bar to place your bid. If your bid is the highest when the auction ends, you'll win the item.
    • Most auctions only last for a few seconds, and many bidders usually wait for the last few moments of the auction to place their bid.
    • If you don't want to purchase during a livestream, you can also access a Whatnot seller's shop and buy from there.
  4. 4
    Wait for your item to arrive. If you win the auction or purchase an item, you'll need to wait for it to arrive. Keep an eye on the Whatnot app for shipping and tracking information from the seller.
    5. Advertisement
Section 3 of 3:

Using Whatnot as a Seller

PDF download Download Article
  1. Download the Whatnot app from the App Store or Google Play Store . Then, create an account when you first launch the app.
  2. 2
    Tap the Sell button at the bottom of the screen. Before you can start selling on Whatnot, you'll need to complete the seller application. The application only takes a few minutes to complete. [2]
    • You must be at least 13 years old to sell on Whatnot. Sellers between the ages of 13 and 17 must have a parent or guardian's permission and supervision to sell on the app.
  3. 3
    Complete the Seller 101 tutorial. After you complete the seller application, Whatnot will direct you to complete the Seller 101 tutorial. During this tutorial, you will learn all the ins and outs of selling on Whatnot.
  4. 4
    Add products to your shop inventory. You can do this from the Seller Hub in the Whatnot app. Tap Create a Product and follow the on-screen prompts to add the product to your storefront. [3]
  5. 5
    Set up your shipping settings. From your Seller Hub, set up your shipping settings before you schedule your first show. You can adjust whether you offer free item pickup for local buyers, what domestic shipping options you offer, who will pay for shipping, and any custom shipping profiles for specific items. [4]
  6. 6
    Schedule your first show. In the Seller Hub, tap Schedule a Show . Follow the on-screen prompts to create your first show, then schedule it. On iOS, you can choose to repeat the show daily, weekly, or monthly. [5]
  7. 7
    Complete your first show. Once the scheduled date of your show arrives, go live and start selling. If you want to practice before you go live, you can set up a practice show or private show from the Seller Hub.
  8. Once the stream is complete, package and ship out any items you sold during the stream. Use the Seller Hub to print shipping labels.
    • Once your earnings have been processed, they'll be in your Whatnot account. To move the money to your bank, you'll need to verify your account and add a payout method.
      • Verifying your account involves verifying your phone number, adding a valid credit card to your account, and submitting a photo ID and selfie. [6]
      • Payout methods can be set up in your Seller Hub.
    9. Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Video

      Tips

      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

      You Might Also Like

      Is Whatnot Legitimate & Safe to Use? All You Need to Know
      A Guide to Using Facebook Marketplace on Android
      How to
      Get Gifts on TikTok
      Removing Payment Methods from WhatNot: Guide + Troubleshooting
      How to
      List an Item in Your Etsy Shop
      How to
      Access Facebook Marketplace on an iPhone or iPad
      How to
      Sell on Amazon
      How to
      Make Money on eBay
      How to
      Sell on eBay
      How to
      Add PayPal to Facebook Marketplace
      How to
      Buy on eBay
      How to
      Sell Concert Tickets
      How to
      Sell Funko Pop Collectibles (Online & In-Person)
      How to
      Buy on Amazon
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://help.whatnot.com/hc/en-us/articles/360061194792-Buying-on-Whatnot
      2. ↑ https://help.whatnot.com/hc/en-us/articles/8442834600333-Apply-to-sell-on-Whatnot
      3. ↑ https://help.whatnot.com/hc/en-us/articles/9779149424269-How-to-list-products-on-Whatnot
      4. ↑ https://help.whatnot.com/hc/en-us/articles/36860251881869-Set-up-shipping-settings-before-your-show
      5. ↑ https://help.whatnot.com/hc/en-us/articles/9778927885581-How-to-schedule-a-show
      6. ↑ https://help.whatnot.com/hc/en-us/articles/360061604151-Add-a-payout-method-and-start-a-payout

      About This Article

      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 126 times.

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement