Fresh & Specialty Foods on Whatnot - Best Practices

In addition to complying with Whatnot’s Food & Drink Policy, we encourage sellers to follow certain best practices to assist with providing a smooth, and positive experience in Fresh & Specialty Food for both buyers and sellers. 

On this page: 

• Best Practices for Sellers
  • Listing and Show Disclosures
  • Setting Up Your Fresh & Specialty Food Packaging Weight Buffer
• Best Practices for Buyers

Best Practices for Sellers

Listing and Show Disclosures 

• To ensure buyers understand exactly what they are bidding on and buying, we recommend clearly disclosing as much information as possible about your items in both your listings and show, including: 
  • Ingredients
  • Allergen warnings
  • Sell-by or use-by date
  • Storage and handling instructions upon arrival 
  • Product weight and quantity 
• Sellers should use their show to reinforce these details. This is a great opportunity to engage viewers and answer questions in real time. 
• Sellers should disclose how the product will be shipped (i.e. frozen with dry ice, chilled with gel packs, shipped live). 

Setting Up Your Fresh & Specialty Food Packaging Weight Buffer

Because packaging materials like boxes, dry ice, and gel packs add weight that varies by seller, we've built in a customizable packaging weight buffer to make sure your shipment weight is accurately represented. 

How it works

• When listing Fresh & Specialty Food items, enter only the weight of the product itself - do not include packaging weight. Your weight buffer covers the rest.
• The weight buffer applies to all Fresh & Specialty Food perishable shipments.
• The buffer is applied once per shipment, regardless of how many items a buyer orders. So whether a buyer purchases 1 item or 5 items from your show, the buffer is only added to that shipment once. Therefore, your buffer should reflect the total weight of your packaging materials for a single shipment (box, coolant, etc.).
• The buffer defaults to 2.5lbs, but you should update it to match your actual average packaging weight. If your packaging weight varies (e.g., sometimes 3 lbs, sometimes 10 lbs), set the buffer at a reasonable average value. If you have special shows with specific products, update your weight buffer for that show. If your buffer is consistently set incorrectly and as a result your shipment exceeds the estimated weight frequently, you may be charged the difference.

Updating Your Fresh & Specialty Food Packaging Weight Buffer

You can update your buffer in two places: Shipping Settings (your default for all future shows & marketplace listings) or directly in your livestream before a show starts (this overrides your default for that show only).

How to update  

1. From the Whatnot app, tap Seller Hub at the bottom of the screen.
2. Tap the menu icon (☰) in the top right.
3. Scroll down to Settings > Shipping Settings. 
4. Select “Fresh & Specialty Food Packaging” 
5. Edit the weight based on your average packaging weight 
6. Select "Also apply to scheduled shows" to apply this weight to all future shows. If you don't check this box, shows you've already scheduled will retain their previous weight buffer.
7. Tap Save

Selecting your Express Shipping Method 

For shipping their perishable products, sellers have the option between two different methods: Next Day Air and Second Day Air. 

How it works

• You can choose between Next Day Air or Second Day Air for shipping your perishable products. 
• You cannot use both Next Day Air andSecond Day Air  UPS Express shipping within the same show, but you can switch between these two options for different shows. 
• Choose Next Day Air or Second Day Air shipping based on what is needed to ensure your product arrives to your customer safely - see the Whatnot’s Food & Drink Policy for guidance. Note that you may be billed back for any spoiled food issues caused by incorrect shipping method selection.
• You can use both express shipping (UPS) and non express (USPS) within the same show
  1. Express shipping will apply to any product listed under the Fresh & Specialty Food product listing category
  2. Non-express shipping will apply to all other categories 

Updating Your Express Shipping Method 

You can update your express shipping method in two places: Shipping Settings (your default for all future shows & marketplace listings) or directly in your livestream before a show starts (this overrides your default for that show only).

How to update in Shipping Settings 

1. From the Whatnot app, tap Seller Hub at the bottom of the screen.
2. Tap the menu icon (☰) in the top right.
3. Scroll down to Settings > Shipping Settings. 
4. Select “Domestic Shipping Settings”  
5. Scroll down to Fresh Food Shipments
6. Select the method that you want to utilize for shipping your perishable items 
7. Select "Also apply to scheduled shows" to apply this weight to all future shows. If you don't check this box, shows you've already scheduled will retain their previous weight buffer.
8. Tap Save

Best Practices for Buyers

• Ensure you have reviewed all seller-provided information (whether in the Listing or Show) and asked any questions you have before purchasing the product so you are prepared to best receive, store, and enjoy the Fresh & Specialty Food product. 
• Monitor your tracking and pick up your package promptly when delivered to avoid spoilage due to extended exposure to heat. 
• If there is an issue with your order once it’s been delivered, take a photo of the item in its package upon receipt, then contact Whatnot support and the seller within one day of delivery. You can also review Whatnot’s Buyer Protection Policy for more information.  
• Do not ship to P.O. Boxes or APO/FPO addresses.