Shipping live plants requires extra care to help ensure they arrive safely and in good condition.
This guide covers best practices for preparing, packaging, and shipping plants sold on Whatnot.
In this guide:
- Before you sell
- Preparing plants for shipment
- Plant shipping timelines
- Common shipping mistakes with plants
Before you sell
Create accurate listings
When creating listings, be sure to:
- Include the correct item weight, including packaging materials.
- Use accurate dimensions when applicable.
- Use a custom shipping profile if you need special handling or strict bundling rules.
Accurate shipping details within your listing can help prevent shipping adjustments, carrier surcharges, and delivery issues.
Set up custom shipping profiles
If you frequently ship plants of similar sizes or plants that require extra care, consider creating custom shipping profiles.
Custom shipping profiles let you:
- Save package weights and dimensions.
- Reuse shipping settings across listings.
- Limit how many items can be bundled together in a single shipment.
- Reduce the risk of oversized or fragile shipments.
For large, delicate, or high-value plants, consider setting a maximum bundle quantity to support safer, more reliable packaging.
Preparing plants for shipment
Before shipping a plant:
- Water the plant appropriately before shipment.
- Remove any damaged leaves or stems if needed.
- Secure soil and roots to minimize movement during transit.
- Use pots and containers that can withstand shipping conditions.
- Consider weather conditions that may affect the plant during transit.
Recommended packing materials
Depending on the type of plant you're shipping, you may use:
- Sturdy shipping boxes
- Plastic bags and ties
- Packing paper
- Bubble wrap or other cushioning materials
- Lightweight pots
- Insulation materials
- Heat or cool packs when appropriate for weather conditions
Account for heat and cool packs
If you plan to pack the plant using a heat or cool pack, add its weight to the item's shipping profile. Otherwise, the shipping label may be underpaid.
If you want to charge separately for heat or cool packs, consider creating a Buy It Now listing that buyers can purchase and add to their order. Be sure to clearly explain the risks of shipping without a heat or cool pack when weather conditions could affect plant health.
Package plants safely
When packaging plants:
- Secure the plant to prevent shifting during transit.
- Protect leaves, stems, and roots from damage.
- Fill empty space in the package with cushioning material.
- Avoid excessive movement inside the box.
- Use packaging that is appropriately sized for the plant.
Proper packaging can help reduce damage and improve the buyer experience.
Before generating shipping labels
Before generating a shipping label:
- Weigh your package.
- Review the shipment in Seller Hub.
- Ensure bundled shipments remain within the size and weight limits supported by your packaging.
- Make a shipping adjustment to create a new label or void and replace the existing label if needed.
This can help prevent delivery issues, including refused packages or postage due.
Plant shipping timelines
Unlike items in other categories, which must be shipped within 2 business days of a sale, eligible plant orders can be shipped within 8 business days.
If weather conditions or other circumstances require a delayed shipment, contact Whatnot Support for assistance.
Common shipping mistakes with plants
Incorrect item weights
- Listing items with inaccurate weights can result in shipping adjustments or additional shipping costs.
- Best practice: Weigh items with all packaging materials included before creating listings.
Over-bundling shipments
- Shipping multiple plants in a package that is too small can increase the risk of damage.
- Best practice: Use custom shipping profiles and bundle limits for larger, fragile, or specialty plants.
Using packaging that is too large or too small
- Oversized packaging can increase shipping costs, while undersized packaging can damage plants.
- Best practice: Choose packaging that fits the plant securely and minimizes movement during transit.
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