How Whatnot Shipping Works
Whatnot handles shipping differently than eBay or Mercari. When a buyer wins items in your live show, Whatnot automatically bundles all their wins into a single order. You ship one package per buyer, regardless of how many items they won.
Here's the flow:
- Buyer wins multiple items during your show
- Whatnot combines them into one order after the show ends
- You get a shipping label (Whatnot covers the cost, deducted from your payout)
- You pack everything together and ship within 3 business days
- Buyer receives one package with all their wins
Critical rule: Whatnot expects you to ship within 3 business days. Late shipments hurt your seller metrics, reduce your visibility in search, and can get your account flagged.
Bundling Orders Efficiently
After a big show, you might have 20-50+ orders to ship. Organization is everything.
The Bin System
Top Whatnot sellers use a bin system during and after shows:
- During the show: As each item sells, place it in a labeled bin or bag with the buyer's username written on a sticky note.
- After the show: Pull up your Whatnot seller dashboard. Sort orders by buyer name.
- Match and pack: Match physical items to each order, verify quantities, then pack.
Some sellers use numbered bins (Bin 1, Bin 2, etc.) and write the bin number in the Whatnot chat when an item sells. This makes post-show sorting a breeze.
Using BundleLive for Order Tracking
BundleLive tracks every sale in real-time during your show. After the show, you can see exactly who bought what, organized by buyer — making the bundling process much faster than scrolling through Whatnot's interface. Try it free →
Essential Packing Supplies
Stock up on these before your show. Running out mid-packing session is a nightmare.
| Supply | Best For | Cost Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Poly mailers (10x13, 14x19) | Clothing, soft goods, cards in toploaders | $15-25 per 100 |
| Bubble mailers (8.5x12) | Trading cards, small electronics, coins | $20-30 per 50 |
| Shipping boxes (assorted) | Sneakers, electronics, fragile items | $0.50-2.00 each |
| Bubble wrap | Fragile items, electronics, glass | $15-20 per roll |
| Packing paper/kraft paper | Void fill, wrapping | $10-15 per roll |
| Packing tape | Everything | $8-12 for 6 rolls |
| Thank you cards | Every order (builds repeat buyers) | $5-10 per 100 |
| Thermal label printer | Printing shipping labels fast | $60-150 one-time |
Pro tip: Buy USPS Flat Rate boxes for free at usps.com. They ship to your door. Great for heavier items where Flat Rate beats weight-based pricing.
How to Pack Different Item Types
Trading Cards
- Sleeve → toploader → team bag → bubble mailer
- For higher-value cards, add a piece of cardboard on each side
- Write "DO NOT BEND" and "NON-MACHINABLE" on the envelope
- If a buyer won 10+ cards, use a small box instead of a stuffed bubble mailer
Sneakers
- Stuff shoes with paper to maintain shape
- Wrap each shoe individually in packing paper
- Place inside original box (if included), then inside a shipping box
- Never ship in just the shoe box — it'll arrive destroyed
Electronics
- Bubble wrap all sides — minimum 2 layers
- Ensure device can't move inside the box (shake test)
- Include all accessories (cables, manuals) in a separate bag
- Add "FRAGILE" labels
Clothing
- Fold neatly — presentation matters for reviews
- Poly mailer is fine for most clothing
- For high-value vintage/designer: use tissue paper and a poly mailer inside a box
Coins & Collectibles
- Coins in flips or capsules → bubble wrap → small box
- Funko Pops: double-box method (Pop box inside shipping box with padding)
- Never let items touch the walls of the shipping box
Printing and Managing Labels
A thermal label printer is the single best investment for any Whatnot seller doing 10+ orders per week. It eliminates ink costs and is 3x faster than paper printing.
Recommended printers:
- MUNBYN 4x6 Thermal — $70-90, works great, most popular among resellers
- DYMO 4XL — $150-200, industry standard, very reliable
- Rollo — $100-130, fan-free (quiet), great software
Print labels directly from the Whatnot seller dashboard. Batch print if possible — print all labels at once, sort them, then match to packed orders.
Carrier Comparison for Whatnot Orders
| Carrier | Best For | Speed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| USPS First Class | Under 1 lb packages | 2-5 days | Cheapest option for light items (cards, small clothing) |
| USPS Priority | 1-5 lb packages | 1-3 days | Includes $100 insurance, free boxes |
| USPS Flat Rate | Heavy small items (coins, etc.) | 1-3 days | Small box $10.20, medium $16.10, large $22.45 |
| UPS Ground | 5+ lb packages | 1-5 days | Often cheaper than USPS for heavy packages |
| FedEx Ground | Large/heavy items | 1-5 days | Good for sneaker boxes and electronics |
Use our free shipping calculator to find the cheapest option for each package.
Speed Tips from Top Whatnot Sellers
- Pre-cut bubble wrap — Before your show, cut standard sizes so you're not measuring during packing.
- Assembly line method — Don't pack one order at a time. Sort all items first, then pack all, then label all, then seal all.
- Dedicated shipping station — A table with supplies within arm's reach. Tape dispenser mounted. Scale nearby.
- Ship same day or next day — Don't wait until day 3. Fast shipping = better reviews = more viewers next show.
- Schedule USPS pickups — Free at usps.com. They come to your door. No post office lines.
- Use Pirate Ship for discounts — Up to 89% off commercial rates. Works with Whatnot labels too for non-Whatnot orders.
Keeping Shipping Costs Down
Shipping costs eat into your margin fast. Here's how to minimize them:
- Weigh everything — A digital postal scale ($15-20) pays for itself immediately. Don't guess weights.
- Use the smallest box/mailer possible — Dimensional weight pricing means oversized boxes cost more even if they're light.
- Reuse packaging — Save boxes and bubble wrap from your own purchases. Just remove old labels.
- Build shipping into your prices — If you're consistently paying $8-12 per shipment, factor that into your starting bids.
- Batch drop-offs — Dropping off 20 packages at once is faster than 5 trips of 4.
Shipping Mistakes That Kill Your Rating
- Shipping late — Whatnot tracks your ship time. Consistently late = less visibility = fewer viewers = less revenue. Ship within 24 hours if possible.
- Under-packing fragile items — One broken item = one bad review = viewers avoiding your show. It's cheaper to over-pack than to refund.
- Wrong items in wrong orders — Double-check every order before sealing. A mix-up means two unhappy buyers.
- No tracking updates — Always scan at the counter or schedule a pickup with scan. "Label created" sitting for 3 days makes buyers nervous.
- Ignoring insurance — For items over $100, insure the package. USPS Priority includes $100 free. Add more for high-value items.
The Bottom Line
Shipping is the unglamorous part of Whatnot selling, but it's what separates one-show sellers from sustainable businesses. Get organized during the show, pack efficiently after, and ship fast. Your reviews, repeat buyers, and Whatnot algorithm ranking all depend on it.