Free Shipping for First-Time Buyers

Converting new users into loyal buyers is crucial for growing your business, and we’ve found that free shipping is one of the most powerful incentives to help make that happen. In fact, based on our surveys, buyers ask for cheaper shipping more than three times as often as any other request. That's a huge opportunity!

To make this benefit more accessible, Whatnot is trying out free shipping for first-time buyers on iOS and Android (in U.S. Only)—up to $25 on their first purchases, whether that’s from your show or your store. That means new customers can join your show, confidently place their first bid, and enjoy their items without worrying about the shipping cost. This isn’t a small boost—shipping can be one of the top barriers to converting new buyers, and removing that hurdle could make the difference between a window shopper and a new repeat customer.

Note: Incentives, including free shipping for first-time buyers, may change over time. 

Buyer Experience

The free shipping incentive: 

• Is currently available to new U.S. buyers on iOS or Android.
• Applies to a buyer’s first purchase on Whatnot. 
• Covers up to $25 in shipping.
• Can apply to multiple orders from the same seller, either in the same show as the buyer's first purchase, or for marketplace orders bundled in one shipment.
• Expires 60 days after the user signs up for Whatnot.

New users will see that free shipping is available throughout the product experience, including live show tiles in Discovery, pinned listings during a show, and checkout for Buy It Now listings. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is this incentive available for a buyer’s first purchase with each seller, or only once?

Free shipping is available only for a buyer’s first purchase on Whatnot overall.

What if a buyer signed up a while ago but didn’t use the free shipping credit?

The free shipping incentive expires 60 days after signup. After that, it’s no longer available.

What happens if a buyer’s first purchase costs more than $25?

If the buyer's first purchase costs more than $25 in shipping, they receive a $25 discount and pay the remaining shipping cost. 

Does this incentive require any setup from a seller?

No, this incentive is applied automatically and doesn't require any action from sellers. 

Does this incentive cost a seller anything?

No, this incentive is free for sellers!