How Party Purchase works

Party Purchase lets buyers work toward shared rewards during a live show. A seller chooses participating Buy It Now (BIN) items, sets a purchase goal and time limit, and adds rewards that unlock as buyers purchase.

Party Purchase is currently in beta and available to select sellers. Features may vary depending on the seller’s beta access. Buyers need the latest Whatnot app on iOS or Android to participate. Party Purchase isn’t currently available to buyers on the web.

On this page

• At a glance
• For buyers
• For sellers

At a glance

• Buy participating items: Each eligible purchase moves the group’s progress bar forward.
• Unlock rewards together: Reach milestones to unlock discounts, coupons, or giveaways.
• Watch the countdown: The party ends when all milestones are reached or time runs out, whichever comes first.
• Keep unlocked rewards: If time runs out, rewards from completed milestones still count. Unreached milestones stay locked.

Your purchase goes through even if no rewards unlock. Only buy if you’re comfortable paying the full listed price.

For buyers

How do I join?

Look for the pinned Party Purchase in a live show. Once the party starts, you’ll see a progress bar and countdown timer. Buy a participating item while the party is running to help the group reach its next milestone.

Some parties include one item; others include multiple items. Purchases of participating items contribute toward the same shared goal.

You can buy more than one item. Each eligible purchase helps the group make progress.

Purchases made after the party ends don’t qualify for Party Purchase rewards, even if the item is still available. A party can end before the countdown reaches zero if all milestones are reached.

Why can I see a party but not buy yet?

A seller may pin a party before starting it so you can preview the items and rewards. Purchasing becomes available when the party begins.

If you can’t see the party, update your Whatnot app and rejoin the show. You’ll need to use the iOS or Android app to participate.

What rewards can I earn?

Milestone rewards may include:

• A discount on participating items
• A coupon
• Entry into a giveaway

You can receive more than one type of reward. However, Party Purchase discounts do not add together. If the group unlocks multiple discounts, you receive the largest one.

For example, if the group unlocks 5%, 10%, and 20% off, your eligible purchases receive 20% off.

Rewards are per person. Buying multiple items does not earn multiple copies of the same reward, but an unlocked discount applies to your eligible purchases.

When will I receive my rewards?

Most rewards are processed automatically shortly after the party ends. Any unlocked Party Purchase discount is applied when your final order total is charged.

Giveaways work differently: everyone with an eligible, authorized purchase by the time the giveaway milestone is reached is automatically entered. A winner is selected when that milestone unlocks. Purchases made afterward do not qualify for that giveaway.

How do I use a coupon reward?

A coupon reward is separate from a discount applied to your Party Purchase order.

If you have a coupon code to claim:

1. In the Whatnot app, join a live show from a seller the coupon is valid for.
2. Tap the Wallet icon.
3. Enter your code in the Coupon Code field.
4. Tap Apply.

Once claimed, the coupon appears under your Shipping & Payment information and applies automatically to your first qualifying purchase.

If you can’t find or claim a coupon you unlocked, contact Support with your Party Purchase order number.

What if the group doesn’t reach its goal?

You still receive rewards from any milestones the group reached. Any remaining rewards stay locked.

If no milestones are reached, your purchase still goes through at the full listed price. Rewards are a bonus, not a condition of your purchase.

How does payment work?

1. When you buy: We place a temporary hold on your payment method for the full listed price.
2. When the party ends: We apply any unlocked discount and charge your final order total.
3. After payment: We automatically release any remaining hold.

The temporary hold is not your final charge. Your banking or payment app may show a pending amount higher than your final total, but you won’t be charged more than your final order total.

Banks may take 1–2 business days to update the pending amount. If it still doesn’t match your order total after a few business days, contact Support.

Where can I check my discount?

After the party ends:

1. Go to Purchases.
2. Select your order.
3. Tap Receipt & shipping details to see the discount applied and your final order total.

If an unlocked discount is missing, contact Support with your order number.

For sellers

Get beta access

Party Purchase is currently available to a limited number of sellers. To request early access, submit the beta application.

Create a party

Open Party Purchases in Seller Hub on the web.

Choose:

• Participating BIN listings: Depending on your beta access, you can include one or multiple listings. Purchases of participating items contribute toward the shared goal.
• A purchase goal: The number of units you want the group to buy.
• A duration: 1, 3, 5, or 20 minutes.
• Milestone rewards: Choose rewards such as dollar-off or percentage discounts, coupons, or giveaways. You can have up to 10 milestones rewards.

For a guided walk through please watch this walk through that will help you get set up creating a party purchase.

Prepare your listings and rewards

Before starting your party:

• Plan enough inventory to reach the goal, with extra stock where possible. For a single-item party with a goal of 50 units, for example, set the listing quantity to 60. This helps prevent failed payments from blocking the group’s progress.
• Reserve participating BIN listings for the show. Turn off offers and flash sales for those listings.
• Use a unique coupon for each coupon milestone in each party. Buyers can receive a coupon only once, so reusing one may prevent them from receiving the intended reward.
• Set giveaway rewards up as Buyer Giveaways. You can reuse a giveaway across parties, but make sure it has enough quantity.

Understand discount milestones

If multiple discount milestones unlock, buyers receive the largest unlocked discount. Discounts are not added together.For example:

• Milestone: 2 units purchased, for 5% off
• Milestone: 5 units purchased, for 10% off
• Milestone: 10 units purchased, for 20% off

If the group purchases 10 units, all participating buyers receive 20% off their eligible purchases—including purchases made before that milestone was reached.

Start your party

1. Make sure any running giveaways or auctions have ended, and unpin any pinned BIN listing.
2. Once your show is live, open the Party Purchase tab in your shop.
3. Find your party and open Party Actions.
4. Select Pin Party to introduce the items and explain the milestones. Buyers can preview the party, but purchasing isn’t available yet.
5. Select Start Party Purchase when you’re ready. Purchasing opens, and the progress bar and countdown timer appear in the show.

Keep the live show open on a mobile device to monitor the buyer experience.

While your party is running

You can’t stop a party after it starts. It ends automatically when all milestones are reached or the timer runs out.

Only one party can run at a time. During a party, you can’t:

• Run a separate giveaway
• Start a new auction
• Pin a different product
• Edit participating listings

Flash sales for other listings can still run as long as they don’t replace the pinned party.

Explain the next reward and encourage buyers to invite friends to help reach the goal. Remind them that only eligible purchases made while the party is running qualify for its rewards.

When the party ends

Rewards from completed milestones are honored, even if the group doesn’t reach every milestone. Unreached rewards remain locked.

Buyers are charged their final order totals after unlocked discounts are applied. Your earnings are based on those final amounts.

Unlocked milestones are still honored if some orders are later canceled or refunded.

Tips for your first party

• Start small. Try a 1–3 minute party with a modest purchase goal.
• Make the first milestone easy to reach. An early reward helps buyers understand how the party works.
• Explain payment before buyers join. Let them know they’ll see a temporary hold for the listed price and receive any unlocked discount when the party ends.
• Experiment over time. You can run multiple parties during a show, one at a time. Try different goals and rewards to see what works for your community.