Free Pickup Best Practices

Physical Safety:

Brick and Mortar Sellers: Many Whatnot sellers have brick and mortar store locations, and for those sellers, our free local pickup feature functions much like online purchases made through big-box stores: buyers come to the brick and mortar location to pick up their orders. Make sure to check the store hours before going to pick up your purchase. 

Online-First Sellers: When buying from sellers who operate without a brick and mortar location, we recommend the following:

• Make a meet up plan, and share it with a friend or family member. 
• Meet the seller in a well-lit public space.
• Bring your phone with you and ensure you have it charged.
• Message the seller letting them know you are on your way. 

Purchasing Safety:

For Buyers: 

Always send money through Whatnot. Items sold in person through cash or other direct payment payment methods aren’t eligible for Whatnot Buyer Protection, nor will we be able to offer support for these transactions. Also encouraging or participating in these transactions on Whatnot violates our Community Guidelines.

Communicate on Whatnot. Always communicate with the seller through Whatnot.  In case there is an issue with your purchase, having a record of the conversation can help us resolve the issue. We cannot resolve disputes where the record exists off-platform. 

Be wary of emails, DMs, or other communications from sellers asking for money or claiming payment error. If a seller reaches out claiming there was an issue with your transaction and requesting money through an alternate payment system, this can be a sign of a scam. Please report these to us directly through our in-app reporting option, and do not send them additional payments.

For Sellers:

If you are a seller without a brick and mortar location, for your physical safety, we recommend meeting buyers in a well-lit public place. This not only ensures your safety, but also helps your buyers feel more comfortable.

Only sell items allowed on Whatnot; please review our prohibited items policy. Please note that we do not allow either counterfeit items or recalled items, both of which are also illegal to sell in most locations. 

Verify payment. Always input the buyer confirmation code in the Whatnot app during pickup; this ensures that their payment has been processed correctly and the sale is recorded. Be wary of any transactions outside of the app, including requests for refunds made outside of the Whatnot app, which can be a common scam tactic. 

Handle customer service issues through Whatnot. Refunds and cancellations should be handled through the app, not through person-to-person transactions.  Handling refunds and cancellations through the app helps ensure the safety of your transactions and prevents scams.  

Communicate on Whatnot. Always communicate with the buyer through Whatnot.  In case there is an issue with your purchase, having a record of the conversation can help us resolve the issue. We cannot resolve disputes where the record exists off-platform.