Set up shipping before your first show Set up shipping before your first show
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Set up shipping before your first show

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Shipping on Whatnot is simple to get started. No complex setup required.

Before your first show, focus on just one thing: setting an accurate packaged weight for each item.

After your first show, you may unlock more shipping options. You don’t need to use them right away, but this guide will help you understand what’s coming so you can grow with confidence.

In this guide: 

What to expect when you start shipping

As a new seller, here’s a simple view of what happens from listing to payout:

  1. List your item and enter the total packed weight (item + packaging)
  2. Buyers pay for shipping as they purchase each item
  3. Orders may bundle if the same buyer purchases multiple items 
  4. Generate a prepaid shipping label after each sale
  5. Pack and ship within 2 business days
  6. Earnings become available after delivery is confirmed (learn more)

Tip: Multiple purchases from the same buyer are often bundled using Whatnot’s Smart Bundling™ feature. This can help reduce shipping costs. Orders placed during a show and outside a show won’t be bundled. Learn more. 

Who pays for shipping

By default, buyers pay for shipping and they’ll always see the cost before checkout. 

As a seller, you may pay for shipping if:

What to do before your first show

Before your first show, focus on one thing: choosing an accurate packaged weight when listing items.

At checkout, Whatnot will automatically select a shipping option based on the package weight, destination, and available carriers—so you don’t need to manage that yourself.

At this point, shipping costs are based on:

  • Your item’s packed weight (item + packaging)
  • Distance to the buyer

If your weight is off:

  • Too high → Shoppers may pay more than expected, which can impact trust and sales
  • Too low → You may pay the difference later, or the package may be refused by the carrier 

To help keep things accurate:

  • Use a scale to weigh your items
  • Include all packaging (box, mailer, padding)
  • Round up slightly, but avoid overestimating

If your product weights are accurate, you’re set for your first show.

What changes after your first show

After your first show, more shipping options may become available. You don’t need to use every setting right away, start with what matters most and build from there.

Here are the three areas to know:

1. Shipping profiles (still the most important)

Every item you list has a shipping profile where you set its packed weight. This helps determine shipping cost and how items bundle together.

Whatnot may suggest shipping profiles by item category, but you’re responsible for choosing an accurate weight.

After your first show, you can also create your own custom profiles if your items need special handling during shipping. 

👉 Learn how to choose or create shipping profiles. 

2. Your default shipping settings in Seller Hub 

These are your baseline settings for all future shows.

In Seller Hub, you can choose:

  • Who pays for shipping (buyer-paid or seller-covered)
  • Available domestic shipping services
  • Whether to offer Free Pickup for local buyers

👉 Learn how to set your default shipping settings.

3. Shipping settings for individual shows

Each show starts with your default settings, but you can adjust them for specific events.

For example, you might:

  • Offer free shipping for a special show
  • Change shipping services for certain items

These changes apply only to that show and any repeated versions of it. 

Tip: Before you go live, review your show’s shipping settings to make sure everything looks right. You can’t change these once the show starts. 

👉 Learn how to update shipping for a specific show. 

How shipping works for orders outside a show

If you sell an item outside of a show:

  • Your default shipping settings in Seller Hub don’t apply
  • Shipping is based on the item’s shipping profile (packed weight)  and distance to the shopper
  • Whatnot selects a shipping option based on the package details and available services
  • Back-to-back purchases from the same buyer may be bundled automatically to help reduce shipping costs

Because of this, setting accurate shipping profiles during listing is especially important.

If you need to fix a shipment after a sale

You can adjust the shipment before handing it to the carrier. Shipping adjustments update, or void and replace, the shipping label with the correct details.

However, if the cost of the label increases, you may pay the difference. 

The easiest way to avoid adjustments is to get your shipping profiles and settings right before the sale.

👉 Learn how to make a shipping adjustment. 

Shipping tips for new sellers

  • Don’t guess high on weight just to be safe—this can lead to overcharging buyers.
  • Always include the shipping materials when weighing your products.
  • Keep bundling in mind as adding items can increase total weight and change shipping costs.
  • Review your shipping settings before you go live to make sure they match your preferences.
  • Double-check shipment details before generating labels so they match your package. 

If you focus on accurate weights and review your shipping settings as you grow, shipping will stay simple and smooth. 

More resources

Seller shipping guides by country:

Shipping how-tos: 

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