Prohibited or Restricted Items on Whatnot

While we encourage Whatnot sellers to offer a diversity of items on the platform, there are some items that Whatnot does not support at this time, or that require additional restrictions to sell on Whatnot.  

Our decision to prohibit or restrict certain items is based on varied reasons – some items pose legal or safety risk to the Whatnot community, some items negatively impact other users’ experience, and some items aren’t well-suited for the Whatnot platform at this time. 

As always, sellers must ensure that any item they are offering for sale (or giving away) is permitted by, and complies with, all applicable laws in their jurisdiction, and in the jurisdictions of their buyers. In addition, sellers must ensure they comply with applicable shipping terms and requirements in their jurisdiction, for example, sellers in the United States using USPS must comply with all USPS shipping requirements. 

Adult & explicit items

Whatnot has specific rules around the display and sale of adult items. We do not permit the sale of sex toys or sexually explicit items. Please see Whatnot’s Adult & explicit items policy for more information on what can be sold, displayed and when to use the Sensitive Content toggle.  

Alcohol

Alcohol products are not permitted to be offered for sale, or given away, on Whatnot, this includes spirits, wine, and beer. 

Air guns, pellet guns, BB guns, airsoft pistols, airsoft rifles, and toy guns 

Air guns, pellet guns, BB guns, airsoft pistols, airsoft rifles, and toy guns may be sold on Whatnot only within the US, provided the seller complies with this policy.  

• US only: air guns, pellet guns, BB guns, airsoft guns may only be sold within the United States in the Knives & Hunting category.
• Orange tip: Airsoft guns must have a blaze orange tip (¼ inch or longer), permanently attached and covering the muzzle of the gun.
• Size: caliber is 0.25 or smaller.
• Comply with all laws: Sellers must follow all applicable laws in their jurisdiction and the jurisdiction of their buyer related to the sale of these items.

Toy guns are permitted on the platform provided they are clearly marked as a toy, and are not meant to imitate a real firearm. Under Whatnot’s hazardous materials policy, we do not permit the sale of caps for toy guns.

Animal related policy 

Whatnot has specific rules around the sale of animals and animal products. See Whatnot’s animal product policy here for details.

Bombs, explosives, and fireworks

Bombs and explosives are not permitted to be offered for sale, or given away, on Whatnot. This includes bombs, bomb-making kits, explosives, explosive precursors, fireworks, sparklers, instructions to make bombs or explosives, and similar items that may be designed to harm people or for the mass destruction of property.

Cannabis, CBD, and hemp items

Given the varying legality of cannabis products in different jurisdictions, Whatnot does not currently permit sellers to offer for sale, or give away, any cannabis seeds, or any marijuana, or cannabidiol (CBD) products containing delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Whatnot permits the sale of hemp products. 

Cosmetics 

Whatnot has specific rules around the sale of cosmetics and related products. Please see Whatnot’s Cosmetics Policy for more details.  

Credit cards and debit cards

Credit cards (including prepaid credit cards), and debit cards are not permitted to be offered for sale, or given away, on Whatnot. Cash is not permitted to be offered for sale or given away unless it is collectible currency in the Coins and Money category.

Embargoed items

Items originating from certain countries or regions are not permitted to be offered for sale, or given away, on Whatnot. This includes items that directly or indirectly originate from Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, or the Crimea, Donetsk People’s Republic, or Luhansk People’s Republic regions of Ukraine. 

Expired items

Expired items are not permitted to be offered for sale, or given away, on Whatnot in most cases (this includes items with a “best before” date or equivalent). In limited circumstances, we may permit the sale of an expired item where the item is disclosed as expired, and the item is being sold as a collectible item, not for consumption or use. 

Falsified documents or other items promoting illegal & deceptive activity

Falsified documents, or other items promoting illegal or deceptive activity, are not permitted to be sold or given away on Whatnot. This includes the following: 

• falsified identification, qualifications or government documents, 
• falsified test results
• items designed to fake the results of drug tests (e.g., synthetic urine)
• ballots or votes 
• malware or other products or services to harm, hack, or disrupt the infrastructure of another’s software, services or infrastructure
• instructions to carry out illegal activity

Firearms, firearm parts, and accessories 

Whatnot has specific rules around the sale of firearms, firearm parts, ammunition and accessories. Please see Whatnot’s Firearm and Firearm Part Policy for more details.  

Food & drink policy

Whatnot has specific rules around the sale of food and drink items. Please see Whatnot’s Food & Drink Policy for more details.  

Gambling products

Gambling-related items are not permitted to be offered for sale, or given away, on Whatnot. This includes lottery tickets, raffle tickets, and functioning slot machines. 

Hateful and derogatory items 

Whatnot does not permit any items that promote violence or hate on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, caste, national origin, immigration status, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, serious medical condition, or veteran status. This includes:

• items displaying violent, demeaning, or intolerant images or commentary against protected characteristics, including hateful slurs, and harmful stereotypes or theories
• items in support of known hate organizations, or their leaders
• historical or replica Nazi items or propaganda (including any Nazi memorabilia, coins, bills, postcards, posters, uniforms, etc.)
• historical or replica slavery items, including bills of sale and shackles. 
• Black Americana items containing grotesque or derogatory depictions from the Jim Crow era, including gollywog dolls, or individuals in blackface. 
• items depicting the Confederate battle flag, except where it is being displayed in a non-hateful artistic or historically accurate context, for example: historically accurate miniatures/models, artistic depictions denouncing the flag and/or slavery, Civil War-themed (or related) art on the cover of books or video-games.
• items that mock, celebrate, glorify or deny hateful crimes and violence.

When determining whether an item violates this policy, we consider relevant context. For example, we would allow a pre-1933 swastika with no hateful context. 

Harassing items

Items that harass specific individuals are not permitted to be offered for sale, or given away, on Whatnot.  

Hazardous materials and flammable substances

Whatnot generally prohibits the sale of hazardous, flammable, and other unsafe substances and materials, including: 

• radioactive materials 
• ozone-depleting substances
• fuel of any kind (including gasoline, propane, kerosene, butane, or lamp oil)
• combustibles (including caps for toy guns, red phosphorus, flash paper)
• explosives, explosive precursors (including explosive fuses, exploding targets, flares)
• airbags
• carcinogens
• toxigenic substances 
• metallic mercury
• paint thinners and removers
• strike anywhere matches and flamethrowers
• items containing the above materials 

Please see Whatnot’s Hazardous Materials and Flammable Substances Policy for more details.  

Human parts and remains 

Human remains or any body part or fluid produced by the human body (excluding human hair from scalp) are not permitted to be offered for sale, or given away, on Whatnot. This includes cremated remains and ancient skulls or bones. 

Illegal and harmful content or activity

Illegal content or activity is not permitted to be offered for sale, or given away on Whatnot. This includes: 

• items that display or depict child sex abuse or that present children in a sexual manner, whether real or fictionalized
• items displaying graphic or obscene content, including items displaying or claiming to contain graphic violence or gore, or other obscene content.

Illegal drugs & related products

Illegal drugs and drug paraphernalia are not permitted to be offered for sale, or given away, on Whatnot. This includes narcotics, steroids, controlled substances, analogue drugs, items claiming to provide a "legal high", pill presses, encapsulating machines, counterfeit dies, or information or tutorials on how to make illegal drugs.

Intellectual property infringing items & counterfeit items 

Whatnot does not permit counterfeit items to be offered for sale or given away on the platform. These are items that imitate an authentic item, often by using a brand’s name, logo, or protected design without the brand owner’s consent. For example, replica luxury and non-luxury items like bags and branded apparel. Please see our Counterfeit Policy and IP Policy for more details.

Knives policy

Given the laws around knives vary in different jurisdictions, Whatnot has specific rules around the sale of knives and related products. Please see Whatnot’s Knives Policy for more details.  

Medicine, medical devices, and health-related items 

Medicine and medical devices are not permitted to be offered for sale, or given away, on Whatnot.  This includes prescription drugs, prescription medical devices, prescription veterinary medicine, injectable substances, and over-the-counter medicines. Whatnot permits the sale of vitamins and supplements provided they are unused, unopened, unexpired and are not marketed with any health-related claims or misleading information. 

Personal information

Others’ personal information is not permitted to be offered for sale, or given away, on Whatnot.  This includes:  phone numbers, email lists, addresses, credit card numbers, confidential national ID numbers, or account passwords 

Plants

Whatnot has specific rules around the sale of plants and related products. Please see Whatnot’s Plant Policy and Plants Best Practices, and Plant Shipping Guide for more details.  

Recalled products

Recalled products are not permitted to be offered for sale, or given away, on Whatnot. 

Stocks, securities and financial instruments

Stocks, bonds, items redeemable for financial assets, security interests, and related financial instruments are not permitted to be offered for sale, or given away, on Whatnot. Gift cards are permitted to be offered for sale, or given away, on Whatnot.

Stolen items

Stolen items are not permitted to be offered for sale, or given away, on Whatnot. 

Tobacco and e-cigarettes

Tobacco, nicotine, and related products are not permitted to be offered for sale, or given away, on Whatnot.  This includes cigarettes, cigars, tobacco, herbal cigarettes, electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) including e-cigarettes, e-liquids and e-cigarette parts and accessories.

The following items are permitted to be sold on Whatnot, provided they are described and listed precisely: 

• Collectible vintage cigarette or related packages (provided they are empty).
• Tobacco pipes, and other smoking accessories not intended for drug use, are allowed.

Unknown items

Items that are unknown to the seller (including unclaimed and unopened packages) are not permitted to be offered for sale, or given away, on Whatnot.

Violent items 

Items that glorify or promote violence or self-harm are not permitted to be offered for sale, or given away, on Whatnot. This includes

• Items that glorify or celebrate real world incidents of violence or natural disasters, including items celebrating violent criminals and their acts
• Items that threaten credible acts of violence against humans or animals
• Items promoting violent conspiracy theories
• Items promoting or supporting terrorism or terrorist organizations
• Instructional materials on how to engage in violent activities
• Items promoting suicide, self-injury, starvation or other self-harm

Weapons

Weapons intended to cause harm are not permitted to be offered for sale, or given away, on Whatnot. This includes: stun guns or tasers, mace or pepper spray, plans or blueprints to make harmful weapons, ninja stars, brass knuckles, leaded canes, nightsticks, tear gas, nunchakus, sansetsukons, dart guns, flare guns, tear gas, and other items being sold with clear intent to be used as a weapon.  

The following items are permitted: crossbows, archery broadheads, arrows, training or practice weapons (when made with plastic, foam, or otherwise cannot cause serious physical harm).