Shipping checklist for new sellers Shipping checklist for new sellers
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Shipping checklist for new sellers

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Shipping on Whatnot is designed to be simple, but there are a few important steps you'll need to take along the way.

Use this checklist to understand how to manage shipping before and after you make a sale.

This page covers key tasks that help you ship confidently, keep buyers happy, and get paid: 

  1. Set up shipping before you sell
  2. Review your orders after a sale
  3. Create and print shipping labels
  4. Pack your orders
  5. Ship your orders
  6. Get paid

1. Set up shipping before you sell

Take a few minutes to review your shipping setup before you go live and start selling:

☐ Review your shipping settings. 

☐ Enter accurate item weights when creating listings, including the item and all packaging materials.

Why this matters: By default, buyers pay for shipping at checkout. Your shipping settings and item weights help determine those costs, so keeping them accurate helps avoid surprises for both you and your buyers.

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2. Review your orders after a sale 

After you make a sale, take a quick look at your Shipments in Seller Hub:

☐ Check for cancellation requests. If you plan to ship the orders, decline any requests before generating labels.

☐ Review automatically bundled orders, and bundle or unbundle shipments if needed.

☐ Update shipment weights or dimensions if they don't match the package you're sending.

Why this matters: A quick review now can help you catch issues and make sure your labels are accurate. It's much easier to make changes before labels are created.

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3. Create and print shipping labels

When you're ready to generate shipping labels: 

☐ Use a desktop browser and make sure you have access to a printer.

☐ Confirm your return address and label format. 

☐ Generate prepaid labels and packing slips.

Good to know: Packing slips are optional, but they can make packing easier and help buyers identify their orders when they arrive.

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4. Pack your orders

To prepare your shipments for transit:

☐ Package items securely for transit.

☐ Include the packing slip and a thank you note (optional).

☐ Attach the shipping label securely to the package. 

Why this matters: Secure packaging helps protect items in transit and can reduce the risk of delivery issues, damage claims, and refund requests.

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5. Ship your orders

☐ Drop off packages with the carrier within 2 business days of the sale.

Good to know: You don't need to wait for a carrier scan to show you've shipped on time. Before drop-off, scan your packages in the app to instantly share proof of shipment and notify buyers that their orders are on the way, complete with a photo of the package.

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6. Get paid

☐ Wait for your earnings to become available in your Whatnot account balance.

☐ Start a payout to transfer funds to your bank account.

Good to know: Until you qualify for Early Payout, your earnings typically begin processing after the carrier confirms delivery. You can track shipment status in Seller Hub, and monitor your Whatnot balance to see when earnings are processing or available for payout.

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