Buying from U.S.-based sellers on Whatnot? Here’s what you need to know about how shipping works, how much it might cost, and how long it usually takes.
On this page:
How U.S. shipping works
When you buy from a U.S. seller, your order ships through USPS, whether the destination is domestic or international. You won’t need to choose a USPS shipping service because Whatnot does that for you.
We automatically pick the most cost-effective USPS option based on:
- The product type/category
- The total weight and size of your shipment
- How far it’s traveling between the seller and your address (measured by USPS Zones)
- The seller’s shipping preferences and discounts
You’ll usually pay for shipping, unless the seller’s offering a discount or free shipping.
You’ll see the total shipping cost for your item before checkout, and in your order receipt later.
Typical USPS shipping services costs
Most orders ship using Whatnot’s discounted prices or standard USPS commercial rates:
| Type of shipment | What you’ll usually pay | How it might ship (USPS service) |
| Eligible cards or stickers (e.g. < 3 oz, < $20) | $0.74 – $1.32 depending on weight + fees | USPS First-Class Mail Letter (“Plain White Envelope”) |
| Small packages (< 1 lb) | USPS commercial rates that vary by weight and distance | USPS Ground Advantage |
| Medium packages (1–5 lbs) | $9.21 ($8.77 + fees) | USPS Priority Mail (default) or Flat Rate |
| Heavy packages (5–70lbs) | $9.21 for Flat Rate, or USPS commercial rates based on weight and distance | USPS Priority Mail (default), Ground Advantage, Flat Rate |
Notes:
- Shipments going to Alaska, Hawaii, U.S. territories, or military addresses (APO/FPO/DPO) aren’t eligible for Whatnot’s discounted rates or Flat Rate shipping, and use Priority Mail commercial rates instead.
- Large packages over 1 cubic foot are charged based on dimensional weight (how much space they take up), which can cost more than smaller packages of the same weight.
- International shipments typically ship via USPS First‑Class Package International Service (FCPIS) or USPS Priority Mail International (PMI).
When you buy multiple items from the same seller, Whatnot’s Smart Bundling™ feature may combine them into the most cost-efficient shipment. In some cases, items may ship in a single package or more than one package to keep overall shipping costs as low as possible. Bundling applies within the same seller and sales channel, so live show orders aren’t bundled with marketplace orders.
Example shipping during a show
Imagine you’re in Los Angeles buying from a seller in Boston during their show. For reference, USPS counts this as Zone 8 when their commercial rates apply.
Here's shipping costs might add up as you buy and bundle more items:
- First item: a 4 oz pack of cards → ships with Ground Advantage → $5.20 total
- Second item: another 4 oz pack of cards (8 oz total) → still Ground Advantage → +$0.35 ($5.55 total)
- Third item: a pair of sneakers (2 lb total weight) → now over 1 lb but under 5lb → switches to Priority Mail → +$3.66 ($9.21 total)
Each new purchase adds only the incremental cost, which is the small increase needed to move your package to the next USPS weight tier.
Once you reach the $9.21 Priority Mail rate, you can keep adding items from that seller at no extra shipping cost until your bundle hits 5 lb. After that, shipping adjusts again based on USPS commercial rates for heavier parcels.
Seller shipping discounts
Some sellers offer special shipping deals during shows.
You may see shows tagged with:
- Free shipping: The seller covers all costs.
- Reduced shipping: You pay up to a max amount during that show, no matter how many items you buy.
These discounts apply automatically at checkout.
Delivery times
- Sellers are asked to ship within 2 business days of purchase.
- Depending on distance and USPS service:
- Domestic orders can take up to 5-14 days to arrive
- International orders can take up to 28 days to arrive
- You can track your order directly in the app.
- If USPS tracking is available, you’ll also see an estimated delivery date.