How To Sell On Whatnot: A Step-By-Step Guide (Fees, Shipping & Tips)

Have you been scrolling through Instagram or TikTok lately and noticed a shift?

The old, static “post and wait” style of selling is slowly being overtaken by something much more energetic: Live Shopping. And right now, no platform is capturing that energy quite like Whatnot.

Learning how to sell on whatnot can feel like unlocking a new level in e-commerce. It isn’t just a marketplace; it’s a community where collectibles, fashion, and toys move fast—often in 15-second intervals.

But it is also an exclusive club. Unlike eBay, you can’t just sign up and list. You have to apply, get approved, and master a unique set of rules.

In this guide, we walk you through everything from the application process to the complex mechanics of Whatnot shipping.

What is Whatnot?

Think of Whatnot as a cross between a live Twitch stream and an eBay auction house. It is currently one of the fastest-growing marketplaces in North America and Europe.

What makes it different? It’s built on two things: Trust and Speed.

• Trust: Every seller is vetted manually.
• Speed: Most sales happen via “livestreams” where sellers run rapid-fire auctions.

If you have inventory sitting on shelves that isn’t moving on other platforms, Whatnot’s “Sudden Death” auctions can clear it out in hours, not months.

Step 1: Apply to become a seller

Whatnot is a “gated” community. They care deeply about trust and safety, which means you need to apply to become a seller before you can host a stream.

Here is how to apply:

1. Download the app or go to Whatnot.com.
2. Provide your info: Fill out a brief form about yourself. You will typically need to provide personal contact information and links to your existing shops (Etsy, eBay, Depop) or social media.
3. Show social proof: Whatnot wants to see inventory and history. A short 1-2 minute video introduction explaining what you plan to sell goes a long way.
4. Wait for approval: Approval times usually range from 5 to 14 days.

Once approved, you will likely need to attend a mandatory onboarding session (usually a Zoom call) to learn the rules regarding counterfeits and shipping expectations.

Step 2: Understanding Whatnot fees

One of the most common questions new sellers ask is: “How much does this actually cost me?”

The Whatnot fees structure is transparent, but you need to do the math correctly to protect your margins. It breaks down into two parts: the Commission and the Payment Processing Fee.

The Commission Fee (The platform cut)

• Standard Rate: 8% of the sold price.
• Electronics: 5% (to stay competitive with other tech platforms).
• Coins & Money: 4% (the lowest rate on the platform).

Pro Tip: Watch out for the High-Value Promo. If you sell an item for over $1,500, Whatnot charges 0% commission on the amount above $1,500.

The Payment Processing Fee (The bank cut)

• Rate: 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction.

Note: The 2.9% is calculated based on the Total Order Value (Item Price + Shipping + Taxes).

Step 3: Mastering Whatnot shipping

If you are coming from eBay or Mercari, Whatnot shipping will feel like magic—if you use it right. If you use it wrong, it will cost you money.

The burning question is often: how does shipping work on whatnot?

How “Smart Bundling” works

Whatnot uses a dynamic system that aggregates orders.

Here is the scenario: A buyer enters your stream and wins an auction for a card. Ten minutes later, they win another. Twenty minutes later, they buy a third.

The magic is that Whatnot does not charge the buyer full shipping three times. It automatically combines the weights of all three items into a single virtual package.

Your Job: Do not generate the shipping label until your livestream is over. When you click “Generate Label” at the end, the system calculates the total weight and gives you one label for that buyer.

Weight tiers & logistics

Whatnot integrates with USPS via a backend partner. You need to know your tiers:

• < 1 lb (16 oz): USPS Ground Advantage. You must use your own packaging (poly mailers, plain boxes). NEVER use USPS Priority boxes for this tier.
• 1 lb – 5 lbs: USPS Priority Mail. You can use plain boxes OR standard “Priority Mail” boxes (not Flat Rate).
• > 5 lbs: Priority / Flat Rate. If the label says “Flat Rate,” you must use the specific Flat Rate box.

The “Adjustment” trap

Whatnot shipping for sellers has one major pitfall: Weight Adjustments.

If you estimate an item weighs 4oz, but with bubble wrap it weighs 6oz, USPS will flag it. If the package bumps up a tier (e.g., from Ground Advantage to Priority), USPS charges Whatnot, and Whatnot deducts that difference from your earnings.

Strategy: Always overestimate weight slightly when listing. If a Pop figure is 6oz, list it at 10-11oz to account for the box and protection.

Step 4: Understanding the tech stack (Shippo & XCover)

You might see names like Shippo or XCover in your seller dashboard. Here is what they actually do for you.

Shippo: You don’t need a Shippo account, but Whatnot uses Shippo’s technology to generate commercial-rate labels and handle international customs forms automatically. They are the reason you don’t have to fill out address labels by hand.

XCover: This is your safety net. Standard USPS Priority Mail only covers up to $100.

For high-value items (like a $2,000 Rolex), Whatnot integrates with XCover to provide insurance. If a package is lost, XCover handles the claim, ensuring you and the buyer are protected.

Step 5: Going live and selling

You’re approved, your banking is set up, and you understand the shipping. Now, it’s showtime.

Here is how to run a successful stream:

1. Schedule your show: Don’t just go live randomly. Schedule it in the app so followers get notified. Use a hook in your title (e.g., “Vintage Nike – Starts at $1”).
2. Load your store: Pre-load your inventory with accurate weights before the camera turns on.
3. Run Auctions: This is the heart of the platform.
   • Standard Auction: Bidding runs for 30-60 seconds.
   • Sudden Death: 15-second auctions. These create a frenzy and are great for clearing lower-value inventory quickly.
4. Giveaways: Use the “Giveaway” feature to run a raffle for a small item. This keeps viewers in your room, boosting the algorithm’s favor.

Essential gear

You don’t need a professional studio, but you do need the basics:

• A Smartphone: With a good camera.
• Stabilization: A tripod or a sturdy arm mount. Shaky hands kill sales.
• Lighting: A ring light or bright desk lamp. Customers need to see the condition of the card or the stitching on the shoe.
• Power: Keep a charger plugged in. Streaming drains battery life incredibly fast.

Final thoughts

Selling on Whatnot is demanding. It requires high energy, good lighting, and the ability to talk to a camera for hours.

But the payoff is liquidity. There is no other platform where you can list 50 items and sell them all within two hours.

Ready to start? Download the app, take good photos of your inventory, and submit that application. The live shopping wave is just getting started.